TWO TOXIC STREAMS
By now, most are aware of the horrendous actions taken by a police officer in McKinney, Texas (if you are not aware you can click here and see the video). The video went viral and showed the sickening actions taken by this police officer. As a father I kept thinking, “What would I do, how would I feel, if that was my daughter?” Of course, commentary has freely flowed from all sides. In this, two toxic streams of thought surfaced once again.
The first stream surfaced after Ferguson. It hung in the air when Eric Garner was murdered and during the riots in Baltimore. The first stream of thought states outright those being shot and brutalized are not good people.
All it takes is one story, an Instagram picture or a tweet to show whoever was shot or brutalized was no angel. This sentiment appears to be growing. One shining example is found here at Breitbart -an attempt to make the officer's action at the pool party okay. It’s no surprise, as humans we are skilled at demonizing others.
By doing this we distance ourselves from others. They do bad things – we do not. They got in trouble with the police – we have never had an altercation with the police. They have low moral standards – we have high moral standards. The more we whisper these toxic words in our own ears the more convinced we are that we are nothing like them.
The second stream argues racism is overblown. Many people (most often people of privilege – think White, Christian, Upper Class) – claim the liberal media is just trying to make a story. Not long ago, a person emailed me and said, “Oh please, I know a lot of people of color who think racism is not as big of a problem as the liberal media wants us to believe!”
This stream says only one story can be normative, and stories of those who have been victimized by racism are invalid. More than that, anyone who believes racism is alive and well, and feels that police violence is a real problem is a gullible sucker.
These two toxic streams do the exact same thing – silence the voice of men and women victimized by racism by discrediting them and their stories. It is nothing more than a sophisticated form of oppression in 21st Century America. We must move from trying to discredit to wanting to listen and understand. We need to stop demonizing to divide and build bridges to connect.
Beneath the surface of the first stream lies the attitude that says, "they deserved it." Really? If someone makes a poor choice they deserve to get shot and brutalized? If someone does not measure up to our standards then they should be humiliated and punished? Some have said just do what the police tell you - it's that simple. So if one does not do what the police say is it okay for the police to use excessive force?
The attitude supporting the second stream holds only one story to be true. For those in places of privilege we want our story of a just, equitable society to be true. After all, if it is not true we are the ones with the most to lose. It goes beyond us wanting the story to be true; many need this story to be true. So we swim in these toxic streams and allow the rushing waters to drown out the cry for justice.
We fail to see that until we are willing to view all men, women and children of all races, religions and orientation as our full equal – none of the violence, demonizing, discrediting and injustice will stop. Until we cease judging their behavior – none of the violence and injustice will stop. Until we stop denouncing their stories and experiences – none of the violence and injustice will stop.
This morning I am sickened and saddened by what I saw in that video in McKinney - and not just for that 14 year-old girl who was assaulted by that police officer. I am saddened because that video is one example of what millions have experienced multiple times because of the color of their skin when no cameras have caught it.
My prayer is all of us will choose to raise our voices together – not to demonize or discredit – but to cry out for peace, compassion and mercy. That together, as equals, we would stand, longing for justice and righteousness to be poured out on us. Some may argue my thoughts are too simplistic - that's fine. But I am willing to bet if we are willing to take just a few steps forward we may well see the healing we so desperately need.