I was getting ready for an evening walk yesterday when everyone's phones rang an alert which said that the City of Los Angeles must remain indoors from 8 PM to 5:30 AM tonight. It's a curfew because apparently the protests in response to the killing of yet another black man in the United States by a psychotic police officer got here.
The officer had exhibited the signs of hatred towards human beings even before this vile act of violence (which, unfortunately, cannot be fixed by any kind of protest), but still he was allowed to carry weapons, wear the uniform, and work under the "serve and protect" motto.
It’s been several days now, and I didn't want to write a post about this because no matter what I say, it will feel like NOTHING. Nothing can be done to fix murder. But at the same time I know that when something like this happens, people have to talk. It has to be public, everything has to be investigated, and actions have to be taken.
I am afraid that this killing was provoked, planned. I'm inclined to think that the police officer with racial hatred issues could be put there on purpose to provoke something horrible and uncorrectable to happen.
Look at what's happening - the whole country is now fired up, Minneapolis is being destroyed, people are scared for their businesses, their houses, and, first and foremost, their own lives. Both "black" and "white" and "asian" and etc. businesses and buildings are damaged, homes and money is lost, and when riots start, everyone can get hurt and NO ONE wins and no one even knows who is fighting who anymore.
Extremists from both "the white power" and "the black power" are provoked, things get out of hand, and people and places are in total chaos.
NOW ASK YOURSELVES - WHO BENEFITS FROM ALL THIS?
Things on such a large scale (like protests and destruction that happen all over the country) don't ever "just happen". There are no accidents. If this was provoked and planned, if someone planned this death and the following destruction, spikes of hatred, new waves of open racial tensions, the question is WHY.
Attention of millions of people in the U.S. and in other countries is on this now. It means that something else is going on elsewhere. It also means that someone needs us, regular people, to be against each other (which doesn't happen to everyone, but I know perfectly well that those who are on the extreme sides will use this incident to justify their own inhumane actions).
I don't believe in accidents... or rather it seems that even accidents tend to happen when they are needed by some people, entities, organizations in this world.
Lots of people say there is no more racism in America, but I don't believe this.
I know that if I was black, I would be MORE scared of the police. It's a fact.
There is "white priviledge" in the U.S. when it comes to contacts with the police.
As a light-skinned person (even though an imigrant from a different country) I feel much safer when I see cops than any dark-skinned person does, ESPECIALLY MALES. There is no way around it, it's just... there.
Also I know that there truly ARE some dangerous "black" neighborhoods where peope get killed on the streets, there are drugs, gangs, etc., but helloooo, when I lived in the lovely state of Montana, there where WHITE dangerous neighborhoods as well, you wouldn’t want to find yourself alone there, ever.
As for these “bad neighborhoods” in Los Angeles, HERE IS THE QUESTION: why are those neighborhoods and people like that? They didn't get to that point by themselves, did they? Our whole society created those neighborhoods and gangs by segregating and abusing previous generations. "Bad" neighborhoods and dangerous gangs take roots in previous abuse, lack of money, lack of possibilities, etc. No, it’s not an excuse either, but it’s ridiculous to ignore the fact that historical evens and social actions had led to this situation.
I am very sad that THEY have provoked us and we are mere puppets in the big game of inhumane psychopaths once again.
It happens again and again and again. Different “actors”, different victims, different situations, but the same scenario that always WORKS.
As for the issue with specifically police brutality, I am amazed at the fact that people who want to become police officers are NOT required to have higher education! How is this a factor? Maybe it’s not, but I believe that a person who studied something beyond high school will not be as primitive in his/her judgements, and will have better discipline and self-control.
Social studies especially, social and physical anthropology, sociology, history, etc could really do some good to some people with bias issues (unless they are already beyond help in their convictions). Even better - invite victims of abuse, rape, torture, war crimes, etc., let them talk to the class of the future “serve and protect” enthusiasts. Show them that in the real world “black” and “white” and “arab” and “mexican” bias and stereotypes are NOT what’s in their heads. Make them see more than what they hear on TV or from their brainwashed peers.