An Open Letter to #FergusonDecision Tweeters:
Today will go down in history, for better or worse. It's strange that as a history major, I'm well-versed in race riots throughout the centuries--but this is the first time, in my memory, that I have been a conscious observer of the behaviors I mistakenly thought were just that: history.
My heart goes out to those who are so deeply hurt they feel the need to riot, and also to those who are caught in the crossfire of these riots. I could say something about how the rioting is uncalled for by the people of Ferguson. Or I could comment on how the racially charged actions of the Ferguson police department were--and perhaps still are--uncalled for. But I won't. Because we are all aware of these simple truths--and our awareness certainly doesn't change the events unfolding at this very moment.
The fact is, this is a sad situation. Regardless of right or wrong, everyone involved in this situation is experiencing it in his or her own way. I can't say I agree with either side fully. But, I can say it is not my place to disagree with either side. I cannot pass judgment on the actions of people I never knew personally--people I will only ever know through the eyes of the media.
I have my personal opinions on this case, and I would be happy to share them in a civilized, rational conversation. But I will not resort to bullying one side or the other through tweets that make light of the situation (i.e. the Little Caesars fire that is currently trending on Facebook--complete with the little "pizza, pizza" man dressed in high fire-fighting garb). Nor will I post quotes from famous civil rights leaders, such as MLK and Frederick Douglass--for I will not pretend to understand the depth and brevity of this situation. Therefore, I will not trivialize such a complex issue as the Fergusson Decision by attempting to oversimplify it with a line from a book or passage from a speech--especially not in the form of Tweets in which I reshape the words of great men to suit the 140 character point I am trying to make.
Rather than scrambling to rationalize the events that are occurring at the moment, we should accept that this is a sad, sad day. It is human nature to want to find comfort and explanation in dark times such as these. But it is in these dark times that we are compelled to action. If we simply Tweet an MLK quote, or add to the thousands of "my heart is with the people of Ferguson" sentiments, nothing will change. We must let our discomfort propel us into seeking change in the future.
I'm not saying you shouldn't Tweet your support--and you're entitled to your opinion on whomever that may be--but know that simply Tweeting is not a show of solidarity. It's a step in the right direction--but the action means little without follow-up.
And to those who go about rationalizing this tragedy to themselves by demonstrating hatred toward others through cruel remarks online, or an oversimplification of where the blame lies--on society, that is--perhaps it is time to think about the real reason you feel the need to inform the world of your stance via a Tweet that dismisses the entire issue. The insensitivity of our words at times likes these demonstrates the true character of a person.
Ferguson has been shrouded in tragedy for some time now: the events leading up to it in the form of systematic targeting of the black community by Ferguson police offers in the form of traffic violations; the events during the initial Ferguson protests following the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by Ferguson police Officer Darren; and events currently unfolding in the wake of the Grand Jury Decision handed down this evening.
I hope this is not all in vain. In fact, I know it will not all be in vain. But I do worry about the "lessons" that will be learned from the events in Ferguson.
Because at the end of the day, it is our human nature to find the "lessons" in the tragedies that occur. We need to find the bright spots at times when human nature seems so terribly dark.
But I think the only lessons to be learned in the heat of the moment, are that of empathy and compassion. Because to find the lesson in something means to have passed judgment on something--to have robbed an event of its nuances, and to have generalized it to fit your cause. Lessons are meant to be reach after careful consideration, lengthy discussion, reflection, contemplation, and so on.
I suppose this was all just a longwinded way of saying: Can't we all just put off the judgments for a little while, and acknowledge the deep anguish of an entire community--an an entire nation by extension.
