I've seen these "We Believe" signs around and have taken
time to read a number of them. Although there are differing
variations, they all have the central theme of Black Lives Matter.
For some resaon, the declarations on the signs didn't sit well with me.
As I am want to do, I though about what was bothering me and decided
to write a response.
November, 2020
Black Lives Matter
No Human Is Illegal
Love Is Love
Women's Rights Are Human Rights
Science Is Real
Water Is Life
Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere
Conclusion
- Black Lives Matter
- BLM is a political and social movement
that believes they "are working for a world where Black lives are no longer
systematically targeted for demise." I do not believe blacks are being targeted
for demise -- certainly not in the United States.
- The BLM narrative has caused some to believe the police are literally at war
with the black community. As a result, some are taking action to defend themselves
against police officers who have done nothing to harm them.
This graphic video
(you've been warned) shows two police officers, simply sitting in their parked cruiser,
being shot at point blank range. Fortunately, both officers survived and
a suspect has been arrested.
Attacks on police
are now rampant. I am opposed to these unprovoked attacks.
- The vast majority of events when people are killed by police involve
those who refuse lawful orders, resist arrest, and attack police. Those activities
don't usually end well regardless of one's skin color. Those arrested should just
go with it. Most likely, they will be processed and released or jailed depending
on the crime. Either way, by complying, they will get their day in court which
is preferable to their day at the morgue.
- There is now violence, burning, looting (justified as "reparations") and
attempted murder of police officers associated with their movement. Burning down
government buildings and
local businesses
in cities like Portland do nothing to make anything better for anyone and certainly
do not advance a political or social cause. "When you talk about destruction,
don't you know that you can count me out."
Revolution, John Lennon.
You can count me out also.
- I believe all lives matter. The problem is, if someone makes that declartion
s/he is labeled a racist.
I do not support this position.
- When you support Black Lives Matter, did you know you were supporting
their movement to Defund The Police?
"We call for a national defunding of police. We demand investment in our communities
and the resources to ensure Black people not only survive, but thrive."
- It is my opinion that national defunding of police would be disastrous,
especially in black communities and I will not support an organization or movement
that advocates such a radical position.
- We have been investing in black communities -- but it's seldom recognized --
and it's never enough.
- Here's what
Leo Terrell thinks
(8 seconds) of their demand for investment in their communities.
- Here's what Tyrus thinks
(20 seconds) of defunding the police.
- If black lives matter so much, why are 89.3% of blacks that are killed in the U.S. killed
by other blacks? So says the FBI Universal Crime Report from 2015.
I point out that Obama was still president and Trump was nowhere near the White House.
- It is
widely reported
that the KKK lynched 3,446 blacks (along with 1,297 whites) in the 86 years
they were actively oppressing and terrorizing anyone who opposed them, black or white.
On average, that's about 40 blacks (and 22 whites) per year. At least
they were somewhat equal opportunity terrorists.
The UCR referenced above states that 2,380 blacks are killed annually by other blacks.
This means:
- on an annual basis, black terrorism against the black community is almost 60 times worse
than the Klan ever was.
- in less than eighteen months, blacks kill more blacks than the Klan ever did. Let that sink in.
- White supremacy was beaten back in the U.S. decades ago, and good riddance.
When will the black community take seriously the terrorism occurring in their own
neighborhoods? By far, blacks are their own worst enemies killing themselves
by a ratio of 9:1. Whitey and cops are the least of their worries when it comes
to getting killed.
- Black Lives Matter? Really? Then the black community needs to prove it
by stop killing each other by the dozens each and every week. Violence in Chicago
became so concerning to residents, they created CWBChicago
to document the carnage. I can just see Adolf Hitler and founders of the KKK
grinning ear to ear.
- Before I get lectured from the BLM crowd about "systemic racism",
the black community needs to clean up their house first by ending the systemic
violence that kills the overwhelming number of their own. One could argue that
Black Lives Don't Matter -- to other blacks.
- Another item on
BLM's website
reads: "Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation released the statement
calling out Trump’s refusal to condemn white supremacists." That statement
is false and I can prove it. Thank God for YouTube. Check out this
one-minute video
for yourself.
- Trump's "very fine people on both sides" comment was in reference
to those with opposing opinions on whether confederate statues should be removed.
It had nothing to do with those who are racists and he made that very clear
in his comments.
- For a more in depth review, there's a
five-minute video
on YouTube showing Trump condemning racism and white supremacy 38 times. For crying out loud.
How many times does a man have to make these statements before the media and the
BLM crowd stop insisting Trump "[refuses] to condemn white supremacists?"
The media is well aware of Trump's multiple statements on the subject and yet
they keep asking him to condemn racism as if he's never done that. Why? It's
obvious they are attempting to perpetuate the false narrative that he's some sort
of racist. In fact, Trump (and by extension his supporters) is regularly accused
of being a racist. For a rebuttal, check out
this article.
- I point out that Trump's renouncement of white supremacy and racism
has been a matter public of record for years and yet the media, politicians
(particularly Joe Biden) and organizations like BLM continue to say "Trump won't
condemn white supremacists." Well, now you've heard the truth for yourself.
Is the BLM crowd deliberately lying or are they just ignorant? You decide.
You want to fix 90% of the problems
in the black community? Here you go.
TOP
- No Human Is Illegal
- This statement refers to the idea that no matter how anyone came to the U.S.,
they should be considered to be here legally. I disagree.
- Do you want just anyone and everyone coming into the U.S.? Terrorists,
drug dealers, pedophiles, those fleeing prosecution in their home countries
for crimes of violence, those with infectious diseases, people pouring in
by the millions, etc.? Just, y'all come? Really? Not me.
- Open borders swing both ways. You OK with anyone being allowed to leave
or enter this country bound for any destination for any reason? OK if a few adults take
dozens of children or teenaged girls into or out of the country with no passports
and no questions asked, for God only knows what purpose -- you know, like sex trafficking?
Without border control, that's exactly what would happen because there would be
no one to stop them. Border policy looks very differently when we think things through.
As the old saying goes, be careful what you wish for. Just because we declare
that everyone and anyone that enters/leaves our country is "legal" does not mean
they or we are safe.
- Every nation on the planet has immigration laws and they enforce them.
Change to U.S. immigration policy is the job of Congress. Law enforcement agencies
should not be demonized for enforcing federal law -- law written/passed by democrat
and republican congress and signed into law by democrat and republican presidents. Our
border patrol,
I.C.E.,
etc. are not the S.S. as some have suggested. They exist to enforce "more than
400 federal statutes." These agencies were created as a first line of defense
against those who would harm us in various ways. Suddenly, when we enforce our
immigration laws, that's racist. Yeah, right.
- Several of those who killed almost 3000 on Sep. 11, 2001 had overstayed
their visas and were here illegally.
- We graciously let them in, let them work, be educated (including how
to fly a commercial airliner -- now, there's a good idea), and live among us
without oversight and restrictions. Killing several thousand was how they
repaid us. Gee, thanks.
- They not only killed Americans, but at least
467 foreign visitors from 61 nations
were also killed.
- If only they had been apprehended and deported before they flew
those planes into the World Trade Center -- but no.
- There are those who hate the U.S., hate our freedom, believe we
are "The Great Satan" and that we must be destroyed. In self-defense, we must be
selective about who walks onto and stays on our soil. We owe that level of protection to ourselves
and our international guests.
- When we say we support the notion that "no human is illegal", that includes
those who murdered thousands on 9/11. That's not a position I can support.
- When thinking about issues like those here illegally, I like to personalize them and see how that shoe fits:
- If someone enters your home through the back door without knocking
and getting your permission first, should they expect and be allowed to
- take up permanent residence?
- eat out of your refrigerator?
- be added to your health care?
- all at your expense?
Well, guess what? That's exactly what has been going on.
- Do you lock your doors at night and are you selective about who enters your home?
You do and you are? For shame!
- Is your motive to protect yourself and your loved ones inside?
Or is it that you have some insidious, ulterior motive because in reality
you hate certain groups of people who might come to your door and ultimately want
them exterminated? If that question and its implication sound as ridiculous,
exaggerated and offensive to you as it does to me, you are starting to get my point.
- As a nation, we have the same right to be careful and selective about who
crosses our borders as we do individually who crosses our thresholds.*
As a nation, we have the same right to expel those who have crossed our borders
illegally as we do individually to expel those who enter our homes without knocking
and getting permission first.*
* Why? Because congress (Democrats and Republicans) have passed,
and presidents (Democrats and Republicans) have signed,
legislation over the years that say so.
- We should be careful lest we find ourselves caught in hypocrisy: OK for
me to protect my border. NOT OK for Texas and Arizona.
TOP
- Love Is Love
Yes, it is -- but false accusations of hate and racism are also hate.
TOP
- Women's Rights Are Human Rights
Yes, they are. No reasonable person is against women being treated equally
and fairly under the law. However, "women's rights" is often code for the right
to abortion. I reject this position in general, unless a baby poses a threat
to the life of the mother. A tubal pregnancy comes to mind. Moral and legal
issues arise once a woman is pregnant because there is no longer one body
to consider but at least two.
TOP
- Science Is Real
Yes, it is -- but let's not put scientists on too high a pedestal. Being
human, they are susceptible to the same shortcomings as everyone else. As such, they:
- often disagree.
- don't have all the answers. They can predict how gravity will behave --
but what keeps the earth revolving around our sun with no strings attached? No one knows.
- sometimes get it wrong. That's the nature of discovery, is it not? No one bats a thousand.
- are sometimes flawed. What better way to advance a political agenda
than to label it "science"?
- are sometimes downright evil. Scientists in Nazi Germany designed
the death camps. A bullet for each person to be exterminated was thought to be
too expensive and taking too long. A more efficient means was desired. Hence,
the gas chambers and ovens.
TOP
- Water Is Life
Water
is not life but is a simple yet all-important compound that sustains life.
There would be no life on earth without it. It only makes sense that we diligently
ensure the quality of water in our rivers, lakes, oceans, etc. We certainly want
the water that flows through our kitchen spigots to be potable.
The
definition of life
is actually worth reading. Individually, life begins and ends -- and yet life goes on ...
TOP
- Injustice Anywhere Is a Threat to Justice Everywhere
- There is truth in that statement -- but too often, justice is defined as a decision,
policy or law with which the mob agrees -- but if they disagree -- look out. Suddenly,
justice and peace go out the window.
- The graphic to the right
- does not look like justice to me.
- is actually a threat: give us our definition of justice -- or else.
- states "There is NO MORE place for RACISM in the World."
I agree -- but apparently, there's room for burning -- and that includes businesses,
which are the lifeblood of local communities, owned by those who have harmed no one
and depend on their businesses for their livelihoods.
TOP
