My only response? Sadness. I don't know all the facts, I am not sure of all the players but what I do know is that on the night before Thanksgiving our Nation still has no idea had to empathize and forgive. My social justice friends are posting articles in support of the rioting and violence, my other friends and family are posting articles and commentary on the exact opposite. All I ask is where is the love and compassion and empathy?
I can't begin to imagine the pain and mourning of a community that is so distraught it resorts to looting and vandalism. Regardless of the court case, this is a community that needs to find a voice. I can't imagine the pain.
Where is our empathy? Where is our desire to find the good in all people and to say, "what can we do to ease your pain?" Obviously, whether or not you feel that the verdict was justice, there is still a group of people in pain and to empathize with that group does not have to mean that you agree.
Pain is not black and white, nor right or wrong.
Why are we so set up to have to pick a side? I don't trust the media, I don't trust the internet.... I just feel sadness.
- Sadness that a community is living in fear, regardless of their ethnicity, regardless of their socio-economic class.
- Sadness at the loss of a child, someone's son.
- Sadness of the police office and his family, for enduring this trial.
- Sadness for the police forces sent in early "just in case"
- Sadness for communities of color who feel that they have no voice.
- Sadness for communities of white people who feel that they must pick a side.
