I have heard the “but” one too many times today from some progressives and Democrats in my life, although I understand it. And, I understand many jumping in to say how this is not the solution. Although to be honest, I wonder at that, because it took last night in the Twin Cities to get the cop who killed George Floyd arrested. And even though that was at least 72 hours later, it still stands in this country as a pretty fast arrest of a cop who wantonly killed a black man.
Martin Luther King once said “A riot is the language of the unheard.” My version of the same is that a pot does not boil over unless its been untended, uncared for, unseen. And while I understand the “but” I think we all have to fight very hard not to make it the headline. We know the GOP will make it the headline, we absolutely cannot just assume it must be so.
I feel here at the DK, I simply don’t need to type out all the reasons why the priority should be “what has caused this rage” rather than the end result of it. There are others here doing that here 24/7 and very well---which is why I come here, because for the better part, I find my values expressed here, although of course, not without debate. Which I also like and welcome about this place.
Still, I find in my real time life, chatting with many others on our side of the aisle today, that they REALLY DO understand what they call “the anger,” but that they are also much faster to talk about the damage to our cities and how this is just not the way to go about it.
My response is, what the hell is the way to “go about it?”
I live in St. Paul, and although the spotlight has been on Minneapolis, there was rioting here too. In fact, in my city neighborhood---a couple miles from the hot spot the news was covering last night---everything is pretty much boarded up and closed, and we are under curfew. It’s like the lock down all over again, PLUS the curfew and without the liquor stores (small and sad ha ha). I awoke this morning to find out how far the damage had extended in both cities , and it is extensive. And most of it is in neighborhoods that can ill afford it. Just throwing down my “I get it” cards. But so many others will cover that.
What I want to talk about is the “damage” done to our communities of color over so many, many years and incidents. They have been unending without recompense, like a funeral drum beat in this country, and YES, the pot has boiled over into rage.
Rage is many steps above anger. We all get angry and get over it. Rage on the other hand, is visceral and it is wild. And that is what this country has earned itself.
I do want to say all is not gloom and doom. I watched the news almost all day today, on MSNBC, and I have to say, for the most part, they did a stellar job of staying away from the big “but.” My fave little progressive radio station, not so much. My Democratic and progressive friends, not terrible but could be better. And I suspect it’s going to get worse, as the shock wears off.
All I ask is that the headline, the BFD here is about the rotten to the core, rancid neglect of what has long been, with more warnings than your local weather station will ever give you, a festering problem in this country.
And now, the Co-vid just adds to the tinder. People are out of work and scared to death. And we have NO federal leadership worth a shit. Other than that, yes, I’m actually going to get thru this whole diary without mentioning him. F him. It’s up to us now.
As these days go by, I am quite sure the GOP will fight tooth and nail to make it all about the “lawless protestors.” Believe me, they have not even gotten started, but I can hear their motors revving. There is absolutely nothing to be done about them, imo, except to fight them at the polls.
All I ask is that as you discuss this with other Democrats and progressives and independents and anyone you feel safe enough to discuss it with, leave your “but” till the very end, where I think it belongs. Give the bulk of your comment and voice to FIRST mourn and grieve what got us here to begin with. And pass it on.