Improve the requirements for what it takes to be come a police officer. Have psychological tests, de-emphasize physical force as a response from the police, don't allow those who served in the military to serve as police (barring them passing psychological tests) as we need to distance the fantasy of military might = strong police force. Change it so the police aren't the catch all for our problems. Suicide, drug abuse/addition, mental health issues are not necessarily something they should be in charge of. Offer "sensitivity" training for those who work in his field. And fire those who are unwilling to take it, or have violated someone elses rights. Teach de-escalation tactics as the #1 training tool for police interaction. In communities of color, have the police who work there actually be FROM there. Call racism for what it is. Realize that the south lost the war and it wasn't about "states rights". Get rid of the confederate flag (they lost the war, get over it). Include POC in community organization groups that interact with the police and INVOLVE them in trainings for the police/forces, and have them be in on the decisions made. Make every single cop wear a body camera and have it be active 100% of the time, and if the cop turns it off, they are fired (notice i said if the cop turns it off). Do not use force when it comes to protesters, and have a mediating force that they actually use. And that's just off the top of my head. And no it won't solve the issue, and it's not the only things that should be done. but it will help a lot if you actually treat people as equals and meant it.
The point is, protesting is one thing...getting involved, quite another. When we see these protests, are we doing anything about it? I mean, really? If so, then what? My larger point was, I think these many players have a much greater opportunity to get their collective message across than simply taking a knee. An that's not a disrespect to them. It's an invitation to an opportunity to make larger strides. An, no, this is not privileged white boy talking here. I do remember, even though I had left that Black church after being abused, my dad had me go back with him and help with the teen center they had established. That was in a way a cathartic experience for me as I began making friends - true friends - with a number of the kids there. That has always stuck with me. It's kind of funny, I can have these same types of discussions with my Black friends that lead to productive conclusions. Not so much with you guys. But, hey, that's cool. We all have our own perspectives. Probably, nothing will much change that here.
When they try to get into the schools, when they try to "do something other than kneel" They're told to shut up and dribble. They're told to keep politics out of sports. They're reminded that we(white people) want them as an escape from reality. That they're there to just provide entertainment for US. They're reminded all the damn time the improper way to do things,when and where they CAN'T protest, but then when they change the way they do it, that's also not ok, the goalposts keep on moving, until they have to say fuck it, burn the god damn goalposts down and let's start over. You keep moving the posts, and that's where we're at.
Are you doing anything about it? Are you taking an active anti-racist stance and helping to make change? Or is it too comfortable with your white privilege, where you just push ALL of the work on the black community? Because shit's never going to change when you get enough comfortable white people willing to squash the voice of those below them.
Very cool. I plan to get involved with rocketown in Nashville. When it reopens, I'll have the opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the less fortunate kids in our community. Kids of all colors. Modeling and mentoring are very good things. https://www.rocketown.com/
I felt like Barry Bond at the steroid convention softball game. If someone is going to pitch one in there like that, I'm swinging!
I think it's great to do community outreach but to really give the kids mentoring...give them an honest president to cheer for in November...that'll help them and give them somebody to look up to instead of the insulting embarrassment we're saddled with today
You do know that you can call for more action without passively-aggressively casting shade on people who protest, right? That's why you're looking like the poster child for white entitlement and concern trolling--someone who was actually hoping to see positive change in a good faith manner wouldn't be putting it as "Sure, protest and all is great BUT..." It's pretty clear that you're either looking for an angle to attack protestors or else you're just acting like a "privileged white boy" who lacks awareness. Also, what are YOU doing to make that change? I mean, it's one thing to tell everyone else what they really oughta be doing, but what concrete actions are you taking to address racial injustice, since clearly action on this issue is so very important to you.
You mentioned that you'll be working with kids, which is great. I think everyone who can, should. You haven't mentioned what you're going to do to address racial injustice and police misconduct. You know, the things people are protesting and what you said they should really be addressing with concrete actions.
I work with kids way too much. Even at work. What I'd love is a few days a week I get to work with adults.
As a programmer, you should kn0w--when you create things, you own the maintenance forever. Make sure to comment your kids appropriately so your wife knows what changes you made and the logic.
What I said was, I think sometimes taking action in other ways outweighs protesting. The message I'm sending those kids of color in the inner-city will stay with them. It shows I care because, well, I do. The players can kneel. That's fine.
It's admirable that you are doing that, and it's a great message to send kids. But I think children of color (thank god we don't call them COC) would much rather things on a macro level change, since it's the macro level that is the bigger issue (thus why it's macro and not micro).
Suuuuurrrrre........if a white guy hits all those home runs he’s a “natural”....but if a black guy does it, he’s on ‘roids (never proven). I started out joking but it hit me that white Mark McGwire takes ‘roids (and admits it....after testing positive) he gets all kinds of MLB coaching jobs. A black guy get accused (nothing more) and he’s blackballed. That’s how “woke” MLB is......
