Soapbox

I'm back on my soapbox today because I'm just getting so sick and tired of the dissension and division that is being created in this country.  People speak of change and progression, yet I feel like we've been set back 100 years or more.  Allow me to elaborate.

Obviously, racial dissension is at the forefront of everyone's mind.  Why is it so incredibly strong suddenly?  Did the majority of the population's opinion regarding race suddenly change?  I don't believe that it has.  I believe that tensions have been stirred up, unjustly, and that a whole lot of drama was created that shouldn't have been.  For starters, I'm getting sick of being told that I'm racist.  Because I'm white, it's automatically assumed that I don't like people with dark skin.  Why?  I'm not racist, and I'm quite offended at the insinuation that I am.  I have black friends.  I would never treat someone differently based on the color of their skin, yet society is drilling into me that it's natural for me to be racist because I'm white.  I'm sick of it.

Even in my education classes, there is a section in every course about racial diversity.  That's fine, I understand it must be addressed.  What I have a problem with is when the course textbook says something like this:  Because you're going into education, odds are that you are a white woman.  There is a disproportionate representation of white females in the profession.  Because you are a white female, you will automatically harbor a bias against your black, male students.  OK, guys- that really irritates me.  Yes, I realize that the majority of my profession is made up of white females.  My sons both entered a profession that is dominated by white males.  Is that sexist?  Nope.  It is what it is.  To be told that I will be slighted against black males is offensive.  Just to be real with you, my least favorite students last year were the only two white females in my class.  I don't even like admitting that, because we're not supposed to play favorites.  Last year, my favorite student was D.D.  He was a black male.  The year before, it was J.T, black male.  The year prior, I.A., another black male.  So please don't tell me I'm biased against black males.  Just don't.  

It's not all racial though.  Dissension is based on status as well.  When I first returned to the education sector, I was in a different school.  During my lunch shift, the staff ate lunch in a large lounge with one long table.  Teachers sat at one end of the table and aides sat at the other.  It was very segregated and it bothered me.  I kind of sat in the middle because I wasn't sure what to do.  The gym teacher who sat next to me literally turned her back to me the entire lunch period.  It was actually kind of humiliating.  Thankfully, that type of division doesn't happen at the school where I currently work.  There is no difference between teachers and aides (for the most part).  Everyone is basically staff.  

Political division is one of the worst right now.  Too many individuals claim they are open minded, yet they follow everything their party tells them to do without considering how they really feel about it.  If someone is of the opposite political party, they are automatically an idiot and a moron.  Yeah, I'm really getting tired of that one too.  I watched an interesting social experiment.  An interview team walked around a public area to ask political questions of passers-by.  First, they asked people their political affiliation and their thoughts about the opposing party.  Then, they asked how they felt about a major issue, but they gave the credit to the opposing leader.  Nine times out of ten, the individual agreed with the issue if they thought it was supported by their party.  When they were informed that the opinion was held by the opposing party, they were shocked, embarrassed, or in denial.  People have become so anchored to their party that they've allowed it to take away their identity.  Being Democrat or Republican should not divide us the way it does.  

Another big one is police officers and African Americans.  Apparently they're not allowed to like each other any more.  Why?  Because society told them so.  I won't go into this whole debate again; I've already done it.  

I'd like to ask a favor to anyone who has made it this far in my blog post.  If you notice society trying to divide you from others for any reason- social class, race, religion, ideals, nationality- don't allow it.  Take a stand, use your brain, and speak from your own mind.  In this world, why can't a white, female, Democrat janitor be friends with a black, male, Republican teacher where they coexist, get along, and no one hates anyone else?  I know someone who had a Dream based on those ideals....

The Silent Police Wife

I'll admit- one of the main reasons I returned to my blog after such a long time away is because I need a platform to manage all these emotions and a release of my new anxieties.  I've always been a very focused, calm, relaxed person in the past, but I'm starting to experience the other side for the first time in my life.

You see, I'm the silent wife of a police officer.

I can't watch the news.  I can't get on social media.  I just can't.  My stomach turns and does flip-flops; I sob and mourn for the other women in my position whose husbands have been taken from them because of these violent and despicable times in which we are living.

I'll start right off the bat by saying that racism is wrong.  The movement that law enforcement and racism go hand in hand is ridiculous.  Both my husband and I are supportive of the human race, no matter what nationality or ethnicity a person is, or what color of skin they have.  Now that I have clarified that, please consider the rest of my thoughts.

People who are judging all police officers by the horrendous actions of one (or a few) are committing the same acts as racists.  Judging an entire group of people by a stereotype is wrong.  Derek Chauvin was a creep and does not deserve to represent the entire police force of the United States.  In that same manner, a black criminal should not be the representative for the entire African-American race.  Fair enough?

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/04/opinion/
the-argument-protest-riot-violence.html

Two months ago, everyone loved the police.  My husband was called upon several times daily to lead parades through neighborhoods to celebrate kids' birthdays during the quarantine.  Everybody loved that.  In 2001, cops were the heroes of the country.  Talk about solidarity- people bought police officers meals and would give them the shirts off their backs.  Today, people are writing racial slurs on police cruisers as they bust out all the windows.  How did all of this change in such a short time?

In my opinion, most of the people who are against the police are people who have been in trouble with the law.  I have no statistics for that; it's my opinion.  A young adult who grew up close to my family has stated his disdain for law enforcement very openly.  He is a disrespectful punk who breaks into buildings to take extreme photography and to skateboard.  He gets mouthy with security when confronted about trespassing.  I'm not surprised he doesn't support the police.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/mar/30/
devonte-hart-police-information-portland

A lot of the opposition says that police are only out to catch people doing wrong.  That couldn't be further from the truth.  I have done countless ride-alongs with my husband, and I see what a day in his shoes looks like.  He does a welfare check on an elderly woman whose out-of-state daughter hasn't been able to contact her in a week.  If he finds her dead, he has to tell that daughter.  He has to persuade a mentally challenged adult that her group home is a safe place and she needs to return with her case worker.  The promise of a 5th Avenue candy bar and a Mountain Dew (that he purchases himself at the gas station) is what convinces her to go back.  My husband comforts a terrified mother who was crouched on the floor of her home because a bullet just sailed through her teenage daughter's bedroom window.  Her ex-boyfriend is in a street gang and they were making a point.  On a bitterly cold winter day, my husband noticed "David" crouched in the dugout of the ball field.  He didn't kick out the homeless man or berate him.  He opened up his trunk, pulled out a bag and took it to the man.  It had some non-perishable food, a hat, and other basic supplies.  I asked why he didn't offer the man more help, but he informed me that David refuses public assistance.  He chooses his life on the street, but will accept occasional supplies.

All of those stories are true.  I witnessed them.  And half of them involved African Americans.  Was my husband less willing to help the black people?  Absolutely not.  They're all his people, the citizens of his town. 

My hope for this country is that all hate will be eliminated- hate against people based on their skin color (red, yellow, black, or white) and hate against people because of their profession.  What good can come from hate?  We are on the verge of a civil war, and we are going to split this great nation in half if the hate doesn't stop.  Before you act, before you speak, stop and think if it will do good or stir up more anger and strife.  We need to decrease the tension and attempt to restore faith in the human race.

Stop the violence.  Stop the hate.