#educate thyself

Via @x-heesy

Someone I know who is dating a police officer asked me if I would stop posting “anti police” things on Facebook in response to a Black Lives Matter post I made in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. As she is a kind white woman in a small circle of people who are like minded I have a feeling that she wouldn’t take the time to ask someone that is effected directly by the movement so I took this opportunity to kindly tell her why I believe in this movement. I really hope I got it right because this could change her mind. This is what I wrote to her: My darling, let me begin my reply by saying that I care deeply for you. I also have the utmost respect for your prince and his profession. There is no amount of appreciation that can accurately be conveyed with words for people who fight for our freedom both on our shores and abroad. I have many military family members and I dated an infantryman for 2 years, I completely understand where you are coming from. I just want you to know the reasons behind why I share the things I do. I’m not trying to convince you that I’m right, I’m just trying to give you a glimpse into the way I see things. I hope this will not change your opinion of me, I know the way you feel about this subject and it has no negative affects on the way I feel about you. ❤ However, with that being said I cannot bring myself to ignore the injustices that have been brought into the world by the hands of officers in the same profession. The Guardian tracked the amount of people killed by officers in California alone last year and by November it had already reached 1,000 (Guardian). That doesn’t include high tension locations like Ferguson. The Officer Down Memorial Page shows us that of the 129 officers that died in the line of duty in the entire country last year only 5 of them were in California (ODMP). I feel that ignoring the social issues of today is an absolute disgrace to the people that lie dead in their wake. There are many issues that I am passionate about and I am really glad you’ve asked me about this so that I can clarify it for you. Please do not assume that I am anti police because I post things that bring to light some of the injustices that have been perpetrated by officers. I also post quite a few things about planned parenthood and abortion because I take a pro choice stance; however, that does not mean I am pro abortion, I just think women should have the right to choose what happens with their own bodies. I post quite a bit about gun control but that doesn’t mean that I think that guns should be illegal or banned, they’re an important part of our constitutional rights. Pro choice does not mean pro abortion and gun control does not mean no guns, the same way that Black Lives Matter does not mean that I hate the police. The main difference between the Black Lives Matter movement and the All Lives Matter movement is that everyone generally accepts that all lives matter, that is why things like murder are illegal, where as black people regularly get harassed, ridiculed, and sometimes even maimed and murdered more so than any other racial group. I bring this up because I’m guessing you contacted me because of the black lives matter post I made for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. President Obama said in an interview with Mashable last year: “I think the reason that the organizers used the phrase ‘Black Lives Matter’ was not because they were suggesting nobody else’s lives matter. Rather, what they were suggesting was there is a specific problem that’s happening in the African-American community that’s not happening in other communities” (Mashable). It brings to light the difference between what is true and what is relevant. It is true that all people do matter, the problem at hand that is addressed by hashtags like #blacklivesmatter is that black people are being targeted and have been targeted ever since they were first brought to this country more than two hundred years ago by the slave trade. Relevant Magazine has a really appropriate analogy of what the difference is. At the beginning of their article The problem with saying 'All Lives Matter’ they have a mock 911 call about a robbery at someone’s house (Relevant Magazine). When the woman calling tries to give the operator her address it is rejected because All Houses Matter, why should her’s come first? It is true that all houses matter, but her house is relevant at the time because it is the one being broken into. Saying All Lives Matter takes the problem of brutality against blacks, primarily by people in positions of authority like officers, judges, etc, and it replaces a problem worth focusing on with a general truth that is already widely accepted. I don’t hate the police. I wish that there were ways to assure their safety when they sign up for their job. I completely understand the sick feeling in the pit of your being as you wait for someone to come home safely. I also feel compelled to use the privilege my skin has given me in today’s warped society to help those that are persecuted and looked over. That is why I post Black Lives Matter literature. I will not be offended in the slightest if you have to unfollow me to keep me out of your news feed. I post highly political things that I am extremely passionate about. The content that I pump into my newsfeed is not for everyone, even my husband doesn’t follow me because he keeps his personal newsfeed filled with athletes and kittens so that he has a place to relax and be happy when he comes home from work. I totally get it if you don’t want me in your newsfeed because I will continue to post things that I feel need attention. If you are ever curious about an opinion other than yours on a topic that you think I’d be interested in I would love to discuss it with you. If you are curious about this particular issue I’d be glad to discourse with you and I’ve included the links that I referenced if you’d like to know a bit more now. The Mashable article about Obama is particularly good. Thank you so much for trusting me enough to bring this up to me. It really makes me feel good to know that you feel safe enough to come to me when you have something you’d like to discuss; especially when it pertains to something that you know going into it that we most likely disagree on. The great Albus Dumbledore once awarded Nevelle Longbottom 10 points for standing up to his friends because its much harder than standing up to your enemies. I really do like you and I hope this doesn’t make you feel any differently about me. I would really hate to make you uncomfortable so if you need to unfollow me I really truly will not hold it against you. I also hope that with the information I’ve presented you possibly you can see more than one side of the issue. Much love! Wishing Wells and Waterfalls, Wendy

Jesus wasn’t some white dude with blue eyes and long flowing brown hair with a beard to match. Jesus was FROM the Middle buttfucking East. He was dark skinned and at that time most men were clean shaven and had short hair. They can’t possibly think that there were just a bunch of crackers chillin out in the desert and shit, right?!

when will people realize that white people, like many POC, can follow a spiritual path that did not originate in their ethnic group