August 2020 Newsletter
While we all have been enduring these unprecedented times of COVID – 19, society has been dealing with even more pandemics. The unrest on the streets of America is not the results of some new pandemic that’s hit society. Systemic racism has pleaged America for over 400 yrs. People of African decent have been raising their voices all of our lives while the rest of society kept theirs closed for many different reasons (so they say). But with most of society armed with cell phones; the new age of social media and live streaming, real time displays of current information; compounded with people being quarantined due to COVID – 19, every member of society can see for themselves a taste of what the complaints are all about.
Many like minded individuals have seen for themselves what’s happening and has been happening all these years and have hit the streets in protest of the brutality, cover – ups, and failed systems. Calls for change however, is not limited to America. In many other countries across the world, like minded members of society see the injustices and have exercised their rights to let their voices be heard in solidarity of the injustices happening in America. Is this the time for change? I say Yes. But will this be the time change happens? I don’t know. Black people have been fighting for equality for as long as we have been in America.
We still struggle with voter suppression, even though society say we already have that right. Many even say we should be happy since we have seen our first black President. And Dr. Martin Luther King spoke to the issue of police brutality in his “I Have A Dream” speech. Yet we still suffer brutality today at the hands of the police.
We can all agree that “SOME” although limited change has happened since the establishment of the Civil Rights Amendment. But more is necessary. And that which did change, didn’t happen until like minded citizens from many nationalities joined together to force change. Elected officials had to be forced to change policies then and they need to be forced to change policies today also.
But as we can see, we don’t have like minded officials in public office today. Most of us in society share more things in common than things we differ on. Society should be able to believe what they see and hear for themselves, but or officials ask you not to; or they say it’s a hoax.
You saw a little concern by like minded politicians but no movement to change legislation after kids were killed in Columbine. Although like minded citizens protested and citizens took to the streets as a result of the Sandyhook shootings, there was no legislative change. We hoped for some major changes after our youth took to the streets demanding change after the Parkland shooting. Again, like minded citizens agree; however our politicians can’t. Gun violence in America is just another pandemic that like minded citizens need to deal with at the ballot box.
Like minded citizens of all genders and nationalities took to the streets in support of the largest Women’s Movement of our life time. As a result; this past midterm election proved what can happen when like minded citizens exercise their rights to vote. The largest influx of women were voted into the Congress. So as law biding citizens, we can all let our voices be heard at the ballot box.
But let me leave you with this. Don’t just wait for the Presidential Election to vote. You need to participate in the process at you School Board, Home Owners Association, Police Chief, Sheriff, Circuit Court Judge, City Council, Mayor etc… You see these are the same people that rise to the higher levels of government. They set a tone in these lower levels that will show you how they will function with higher levels of power.
So each of us like minded individuals must get involved and stay engaged in the process in order to make a difference. Don’t wait on the next pandemic to come along. If all of us stay engaged by consistently showing up and participating, we will make a difference.
If you are not registered to VOTE, simply go to www.vote.org or contact your board of elections. And so that we can ALL stay safe, avoid the long lines on election day; by requesting a mail – in ballot now.
Click here to download a PDF version of the August Newsletter