One of those times is on us now.
The cruel and unnecessary death by police of George Floyd has created a tsunami of protest and riots across the United States. Protests have also taken place in Canada and Europe, because - yes - we have our problems with racism, too. People are tired of being systemically discriminated against, and other people are tired of seeing those people being systemically discriminated against.
Much of the time, racism is simply endured by all. Nothing gets us going enough to change anything.
That's where the current chaos is different.
Everybody with a conscience is upset and angry and ready for change - real change.
Protests are good.
But they are not enough.
Please read this article by former President Barack Obama, published two days ago. Whether you are of the same political party as he is or not, read it anyway, because it applies to us all.
He understands how to effect real change. He explains it well.
It's not necessarily easy. It's harder than protesting because it requires us to educate ourselves about the platforms of local and state/provincial politicians and lobby for change at a local level, not just at the national level. That can be hard work, and boring, and long-term. Protesting is pretty much "one and done". Sustained change in our behavior is different.
Put another way: protesting draws attention to egregious wrongs. Knowledge and voting, particularly at the local level, is the only way to fix them.
To quote one line from Obama's article:
"... eventually, aspirations have to be translated into specific laws and institutional practices — and in a democracy, that only happens when we elect government officials who are responsive to our demands."
We've had the protests. It's time to do more.
I really miss Obama. He's right. You are right. Great post.
ReplyDeleteA lot of folks miss him. I thought his article was excellent. If only people will follow through.
DeleteA good post Jenny and I do agree. Thanks for the link. It's a good one and speaks well to us all. I miss that man.
ReplyDeleteNo matter what country we're in, I think his message is valid. Local government is so important, more than a lot of people think it is.
DeleteIn this case it's not laws that need a change, it's practise and behaviour, and those are far harder to change. I s hope something good will come from this.
ReplyDeleteThat's true about practise and behavior. I think there is room to work on the laws as well, though. I'm with you - let's hope we see positive change from all of this.
DeleteThat is an excellent article. Thank you (and him). And indeed all the people who work towards positive change.
ReplyDeleteI believe that laws AND behaviour need to change and hope that a start has been made. And that that start gains momentum around the world.
I hope so, too, EC. And I think you're right - both laws and behavior need a makeover.
DeleteObama is correct, it takes both protest and organization to effect change. By the way, he's about to speak, and you can stream it at Obama.org.
ReplyDeleteWhat can one person do?
Well, I'm online every day trying to advocate for sanity in our government, and after I got my apocalypse money, I gave a little of it to Indivisible's Payback Project, who seem to me to be one of the most effective organizations going in the quest to wrest control of the US senate from the Republicans who are doing so much to make things the way they are just now. And a few bucks to my favorite liberal podcast, The Professional Left.
Anyway, I think he's speaking now so I gotta go.
-Doug in Sugar Pine
I'll have to see if there's a video from that - I just got home from work so I missed the live version. I think Obama's point about local government is a good one for citizens of any country, not just the US, although some of the positions that are elected in your country are hired out here so we don't have the same say. You're doing good things by supporting those organizations! (apocalypse money - haha)
DeleteThank you for posting this. He's right and so are you.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to share the link in case people hadn't seen it. It seems too important to miss.
DeleteIt starts with me not tolerating bad behavior in myself or others, and voting, and i intend to keep doing both.
ReplyDeleteYes, the behavior aspect is also extremely important, isn't it?
DeleteI read that statement by Obama, and he's right of course and sensible too. But there isn't much I can do to help from my side of the world. All I can do is treat everyone the same, the same way I would like to be treated
ReplyDeleteAnd that is vital, River. I think his point about the importance of local and regional (in addition to national) is also a good one. We are much more apt to affect matters at a local level.
DeleteThere's a long history of business as usual...racism and then once in a while the roof blows off and then we settle down to the old routine. Yes, we need action but I'm not hopeful.
ReplyDeleteI have to be hopeful or I get more upset, Red! But you're right that, to date, it's been an endless cycle of nothing much getting done.
DeleteThanks, Jenny. But you have not persuaded me against organizing a protest. Then I'll keep working to get kids registered and voting.
ReplyDeleteI don't see anything wrong with protests! And you're already one of the most politically active bloggers I know. Good for you, I say!
DeleteWell said, Jenny.
ReplyDeleteI was watching a program where a reporter was interviewing an elderly lady at a protest. She said that she was there in 1962 and she is still fighting for the same things in 2020 and she is tired and sick of battling for her human and civil rights. Laws can be written and passed but unless the culture of discrimination is changed, we will never move forward.
I wish those with hardened hearts had or would now listen to the words of President Obama.
Sadly you are right that the culture of discrimination remains even with good laws. It's important to get people into power at all levels of government who do not subscribe to that culture. That's a challenge.
Deletedear Jenny i just watched video how those four officers killed that poor man by putting pressure on his neck it was shivering and made me cry badly
ReplyDeletewitnessing such stuff makes me wish if lord wind up this world immediately as it is livable anymore
i agree completely that we like to protest more than educating our selves and sustain this healthy approach throughout our behavior ,we are lazy to do so ,we prefer to burst out suddenly and then forget which cannot solve problems permanently
It seems like there is always something more interesting or vital to do than educate ourselves but we have to do it or we have only ourselves to blame.
DeleteThanks for the link. I would have otherwise missed the wise words by the former President. Bring him back, I say.
ReplyDeleteYes, and at an absolute minimum get rid of Trump! He has been such a divisive and destructive president.
DeleteI'll second Andrew's motion. Who's with me? Anybody?
DeleteObama and Trump are so opposite it almost appears unreal!
ReplyDeleteThey couldn't be more different.
DeleteHe's right. No matter what, in the end, it all comes down to voting.
ReplyDeleteAnd voting requires homework!
DeleteObama gave me hope. He really did. Now I'm trying to hang on to it for dear life.
ReplyDeleteThankfully Obama is sending out lifelines during this crisis. He's a comfort to many of us, isn't he? And I don't think he's done yet, he is just choosing his times and his battles and will keep speaking up.
DeleteGood for you for doing something actually useful. Thank goodness we live in a society where we can vote. Unfortunately so many barriers to getting real change. It is difficult to run for office unless you join a specific party and adhere to their policies either right or left. Then there are the back room deals which water down initially strong bills, government opposition parties grandstanding, and the cost of running a campaign which rules out many people. I suppose start at the bottom and work up but it takes a lifetime. So many good people who would make excellent policy makers shudder at the thought of entering politics. It is a real mess.
ReplyDeleteAll good points, Susan. The people who would make the best leaders often don't want to get mired in the political process.
DeleteI would add that at the municipal level one does not need to belong to any political party, and it's at that very local level that citizens can make a difference in their own communities, not necessarily by running for office themselves, but by asking those who are running the questions that need to be asked and then holding them to their word once elected.
How I miss President Obama. Whether you agreed with his politics or not, he is an intelligent, wise and decent person. I always enjoy listening to him speak.
ReplyDeleteYes, absolutely.
DeleteI was frightened a few days ago when my phone let out one of those long noises that usually means an Amber Alert is in place. But this time it was the notice of a curfew. I've never lived in a place with a curfew before. It was just the one night so I think things have settled down here, but I don't want people to forget.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I imagine that felt quite surreal, Janie. Stay safe there.
DeleteYes, indeed. Words are great but actions are necessary. Thanks for sharing this, jenny_o. I am still processing everything and downloading information so I really appreciate it,
ReplyDeleteExactly, Mr S - you condensed the message into seven words.
DeleteWow, that article should be required reading for everyone, and it should be taught to children in every grade in school, even if it needs to be simplified a bit for the younger ones. If everyone understood what needs to be done and how to do it, imagine what we could accomplish!
ReplyDeleteYes! Bring back Civics!
DeleteHi Jenny-I was floored and humbled by the support/protesting that took place in other countries. Agree-bring back civics and teach people the importance of voting. I didn't do a good job of that with my kids and it pains me to say that I don't think one of them voted in the last election. I'm hoping they get it now. A couple seem more interested this time around and one still thinks it is all a show, all corrupt, and not worth her time.
ReplyDeleteWe didn't do a good job of it with our kids either, and it took a few elections before they came to it on their own. Yours likely will, too. I hardly blame your one who thinks it's all corrupt - there's a lot of that out there.
DeleteThe world-wide protests are really something, aren't they? This feels like it could lead to a good change.
I live in another part of the world and we watched with horror these protests, which then simply grew into uncontrolled aggression and the collapse of everything in its path ... This is fearfully.
ReplyDelete