MLK Day

I'm all twisted up inside right now. Really, it's like my body is so confused it doesn't know what to do. Go left or go right? Do I write something or read something? Workout or rest. What is productive, what is not? So many thoughts going through my head and body, and I'm so paralyzed I don't even know where to begin.

I found myself today at the tail end of an MLK march. I actually don't know which one as there were several in Sacramento and I do believe more than one ended up at the convention center. There was a diversity festival taking place there, so it seems like a natural ending point to this event.

The ordeal of marching is quite simple. There are leaders. The lead the way and then there are followers with their signs who, well, follow. The leader yell into their megaphone the odd phrase and the crowd responds. Don't worry if you don't know the proper response, you pick it up quick. Call:   "No Justice" Response: "No peace."  Over and over. My thought churn as I listen. Do marches really work? But they must - they have. MLK marched, Gandhi marched, students in Canada marched when the government increased their tuition. All created change. Was it the march, the energy, the display of unity? And does the chanting add, or is it just a way to express anger and fear. Would we be better off just walking - or is that my introvert self afraid of making waves?

Many of the marchers today were supporters of black lives matters. This is not a surprise given that today was MLK day and I have a feeling that he would support the BLM movement. Some of their chants were anti-police, which is again, not a shock. I want to say that I understand their anger, but I don't. I haven't had to experience the consequences of over aggressive police officers. I'm never afraid of them. Probably because I'm white. The only real experience I've had with the police was when they showed up at my door at 1 in the morning after I was worried about a man in my backyard. They treated me with decency and respect. Given my experience, no I don't understand their anger, but I can understand why they are angry, because I think I would be too. There just seem to be so many black people killed with little or no explanation.  But - off topic.

As I stated many of the chants were anti-police. Not mean. No body called them names or pigs. But things like "go home police" and such. I have to wonder exactly if that was the right thing to do given that the police had been protecting this march by closing down streets and keeping the cars away from them. From what I saw, the officers treated this group with dignity and respect, and then the group shouted chants against them. Is this right? They do have a right to speak their minds and there are issues with the police, but then again, not these police at this time. How do we separate the bad from the good, for not all cops all bad?

Really, I think most if not all, really do believe that all they are doing is protecting the public. Even the worst of the worst, I truly believe, think they are only doing good.  I don't think they are walking out of the front door think, hmm, who am I going to hurt today. I think they see the violence as the only means of protecting others.  They have to be taught and shown that isn't true, and I'm not sure screaming at them and calling them racists really will change anything.

Then again, maybe different tactics work for different people. Maybe some need to be yelled at to realize what they are doing, others may need long community meetings, and maybe there is no help for some. I don't know.

And then, I know this seems minor, but the marchers were chanting about respect for each other, love, compassion, etc. but there were a few that lit up cigarettes and others that were just tossing there junk on the ground. Seriously. You want me to respect you, but you won't respect my lungs or the earth. There is a garbage can 10 feet away! Dude.

I don't know.  I do know that it's time for me to show up. Maybe I don't scream or shout, but maybe I can at least stand for something I won't fall for everything.