In memory of George Floyd · 7:19am Jun 4th, 2020
Hey guys,
So, you've probably heard about everything happening in America right now, all the violence, protest and everything. Well if you haven't, you can just search, watch the news.
But anyway.
With all of this happening and stuff. I have written a poem because of all this racism and police brutality. It's called What is peace?
Hope you like it.
What is peace?
What is peace if I have to cover up my skin in the place which I call my home?
What is peace if I have to give up my place in line for the man that stands behind because the colour of my skin in his eyes is not worthy of his time?
What is peace if I have a knife to my throat and a gun to my head if I don't speak their lies instead of the truth of my so-called crimes?
What is peace if the life of an innocent man is wasted in jail for a crime he did not commit?
What is peace if the ones who are supposed to protect me have something against me for a reason I do not recall?
So what is peace if we cannot live equally int the country we made our own and on the planet we call home?
What is peace?
By Ava Last name not said
That's just a little poem I wrote because I wanted to do something honorable for this man who lost his life.
It just makes me so....mad to see this type of things happening. Especially from people who are meant to serve and protect. George Floyd was a human being. A human with feelings, emotions, a life and humanity. From watching the video, he was arrested for no reason and killed for no reason!
And the worst part is. That's this isn't the first time. There are millions of black Americans who have lost their lives to police brutality.
It's just so, heartbreaking.
Have you guys heard of the story of the Central Park Five? If not, they were 5 black young men who were wrongly charged of the rape and attempted murder of a white woman by the name of Trisha Meili. These men were Korey Wise, Antron McCray, Yusef Salaam, Kevin Richardson and Raymond Santana.
This is another example of police brutality and racism.
I know it just seems like I'm rambling here, but I'm not. These five men served up to 5-15 years in prison for a crime they didn't commit. 5-15 years of their lives, wasted.
I recommend you watch the series When They See Us it's the most heartbreaking thing I have ever seen. Of course, it's eighteen plus and includes some disturbing scenes and- Oh lord I'm rambling.
Anyway that's it for today.
May George Floyd rest in peace.
~Frosty_Rainbow~
That's a really nice poem
And I have watch When They See Us. It's so sad and heartbreaking but the end is very heart warming.
I also find it very unfair that Trump the Dump (that's what me and my mom call him) hasn't said anything about him and what happened. The American justice system is very unfair and racist.
While George Floyd was a tragedy, I still do not like seeing talk of "all this racism" making it about race is what makes things harder. Make it about something we can all get around, Don't say this is an issue of a Black person being killed by a police officer, say it is an issue of an overzealous officer taking the life of a man who posed no danger, of law enforcement breaking their sacred oath to serve and protect the citizenry, of authority killing the people of America. I guarantee you, you make that your message, the moment people hear it and see what happened, they will get under the banner and demand things like this don't happen again. The more you talk about Race, the longer it stays relevant, and that is the problem with groups like BLM. People who use racism do it purely to divide and distract, because they know if people are unified, they are unstoppable.
The officer who did this deed and those who watched were arrested and has charges placed on them. The justice system is doing its work and giving them their rights within the law and due process. What is left to do these protests about?? They said they would work on reform unless I am mistaken? Democrat, Conservative, Pro-Police, Anti-Police, all agreed this was horrendous, this SHOULD have been a unifying thing as all parties felt they were guilty as soon as they saw the video. No suspension, they lost their jobs instantly, that never happens until due process is completed, the gavel may as well have already been hit and the sentence delivered. The fact protests happened at all is ridiculous in my eyes, and now they are hijacked by Antifa and other agitators.
5279411
I'm not making it about race, I'm making people see that Black and all lives matter! This is not a political cause it's a global issue. If you can't deal with me caring about what's happening, please leave and don't read what I have to say.
And this is just people showing how they care and why it's important to talk about it. Has much as some may find it uncomfortable, it's a thing happening in the real world and people need to start taking action!
5279879
That seems like you are talking about the race there, to the point where some of those things stopped happening quite a bit ago.
Where, did I say anything along the lines of that? Better question, what made you think that that was what I was trying to convey? I think this is a problem, but please reread what I had said, it is harder to solve the problem if one looks upon it from a racial view, a view of Police and Black People. As I had just said and will say again, make it about an officer taking the life of an innocent, not a word on the skin color, not about a Black Person, but a Citizen of America.
Race has and always will be a dividing force, the more we recognize and look at it especially in terms of making a change, the harder it makes the process. African American is a narrow subgroup, American is all encompassing, and when you get AMERICANS to feel it effects them, they will walk under your banner and change will be made.
I will say it one last time from a response I made to another here
Let's say, in this instance, there is a problem with law enforcement, and black people, focusing on that makes it harder to get something done, make it as I had said, just about the police taking an innocent life, and more people would be unified, they would work to get reform done, and reforming to stop these horrible instances for All People, will in turn help the issue with Black People.
Maybe the issue with Police and Black people is but a symptom of the greater problem or a separate problem of its own, the fact still remains tackling the greater problem will in turn help remedy the problem the Black Community faces.
Just to put the nail in the coffin, I don't disagree, yeah, action should be taken, but action is easier to take and more effective to take when not making it a race thing.
5279905
I get what you mean now. I re-read your comment and I understand what you meant. I am sorry for jumping to conclusions and accusing you of not caring about what's happening.
Now, about what you said now. I see what you mean about people making it about race, and yes, that's sort of what protesters and some people on here are doing. But people are angry that not only the life of an innocent American was taken but a black man as well. The reason people are making this about race, is because many other black people have died in the hands of police brutality. And let's say George Floyd wasn't black but white, do you think the police man would have killed him?
I think that's what people are mad about know it's sounds like I'm making it about race again, but I'm trying not to.
If it was the life of an innocent America, no matter the skin colour, yes people would still be mad, but since this has been happening for years, almost decades now, people are demanding that this be change and that justice for not only George Floyd, but the others who have been abused, used and killed by police officers.
Race is only a dividing force if you let it be, that's why millions around the world are taking a stand that we are all equal and we all have value.
Please, I don't want to start conflict. You are my friend and I respect you opinions and point of view.
Thank you.
5279948
It's okay my friend, I understand.
Also as you said in your last part, neither do I, and if you don't want to discuss it any more after this I will very much not make you. I always want things to stay civil, especially with a friend. I had written this response as I read what you said, and only got to this part last. I'm placing it here but you do not need to read it. ^_^
Now, about what you said now. I see what you mean about people making it about race, and yes, that's sort of what protesters and some people on here are doing. But people are angry that not only the life of an innocent American was taken but a black man as well. The reason people are making this about race, is because many other black people have died in the hands of police brutality. And let's say George Floyd wasn't black but white, do you think the police man would have killed him?
I think that's what people are mad about know it's sounds like I'm making it about race again, but I'm trying not to.
I understand the anger, when I saw that I was angry as well, that was murder plain as day.
Do I think he would have killed him? Honestly, yes. I think this man was just evil. (plus, I believe one officer actually KNEW George Floyd personally, maybe that had something to do with it, I don't know) I have little doubt there are racist police officers, but murder does not instantly mean it was race related.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/585152/people-shot-to-death-by-us-police-by-race/
According to this, at least within the last 4 (okay 3.5) years more white people were shot and killed by police officers. I feel it a case of silent majority and vocal minority, (thought that may not be a proper analogy as Black People were the second most killed followed by Hispanics and whatever "Other" consists of)
Lastly, while it is good so many have come in support of justice for Floyd, I can't help but feel it was have been many more fold.
I always felt the best way to defeat Racism was to just not care about race. "This is a person, and another person" which one is black and which one is white? Who cares? Lady justice is blind so let us not look at another person's skin color.
That's just how I've viewed it anyway.
5281303
I completely agree with what you said at the last part.Sorry for continuing the conversation, but I need to say this.
As Martin Luther King once said
"Judge someone by the content of their character, not the colour of their skin"