2 Sided

     Take any two people regardless of race, age, religion, etc. and if they accidentally touch a hot iron or stove. What do you think they’d do? There are severe illnesses that affect the feeling in your extremities. But if both were considered normal, relatively healthy, human beings would one feel the pain from the heat, more or less due to their ethnicity. No. I am sure they both would undoubtedly agree that it was a rather unpleasant experience. Think about people from northern states like Minnesota and Michigan. Temperatures in the single digits aren't uncommon to them. But if they have a 50 degree day in February,  they'd put on shorts and sandals due to unseasonbly warm temperatures. Whereas people in South Florida exposed to those same temperatures would probably freak out because they are usually warmer. Why such a drastic difference in feelings? They come from two totally different environments. One is more tropical the other is more frigid. Proving our sense of normalcy isn't always the same. Based on what we've been exposed to majority of the time our interpretations of a particular variable, in this case temperature, can be viewed markedly different. I know its cliché,  but the phrase perception is reality is confirmed by this premise. We are all a products of our environment.  But like a chameleon we can change to blend in. So why is it so difficult for us as humans, especially Americans to coexist?
     We all have witnessed some of our loved ones go on to glory. No matter how it occurs it's always painful. It could be health related like cancer or heart disease, a car accident, or something malicious such as murder. Either way it's painful for those left behind to lose someone they whom they knew and loved.
     Some Americans are too rigid in their thoughts and opinions. Sure there are some issues that we may be unequivocally passionate about. I despise women and child abusers. But some people continue to lack objectivity, empathy, and overall self awareness in regards to how others in a different demographic or socioeconomic group might perceive the same thing. Issues like welfare assistance,  and  legalization of marijuana come to mind.
    I'm not dismissing the fact that groups like #blacklivesmatter aren't needed. They are.  I concur wholeheartedly that the way cops interact with us needs to change. Under no circumstances should a cop who kills an unarmed citizen who wasn't a legitimate threat to them, to still be able to get a job in law enforcement again, but it happens. Our lives are valuable too. But the results of Philando Castill's (black man killed by a Hispanic cop)death by an officer and Justine Damond's(white woman killed by a black Muslim cop) death by an officer in the same area only years apart, netted a far different result for each victim and the scary, incompetent, cops that killed them. The outcry for police protection was far less prevalent for one over the other as well as the pay outs for the families. Why? Was the prosecutor that much better? Blacklivesmatter is needed.
     #Blacklivesmatter also needs to address the issue of black lives, caring about black lives too. Control what we can control. This starts at home. If you see someone that looks like you and you call them a brother treat them like one. Jealousy and envy are the works of the devil. The fact is we just can't highlight incompetent cops and turn a blind eye to the black on black crime going on in America too. Everybody can't rhyme like Jay Z.  Shooting another man for stepping on your Jordans is foolish, but that's the world we live in. People competing to see who's the top thug, who has the most women, money,  clothes, and who has the fliest ride. I believe rectifying these issues will help us with some of these other societal problems. They need to put more of an emphasis on showing love to your neighbor. Having such an unstable footing in black communities makes it that more difficult to combat injustices that go against us. The animalistic approach we sometimes have towards one another leads to innocent people being judged unfairly.
    Lastly, why I don't have a flattering opinion about abortion. I recognize that God is the ultimate judge. So who am I to judge. Yet some are so vocal about this issue and use Christianity as a way to condemn those who have abortions calling it murder.  What if it was a situation where a mom could endanger her life by having the child, or if she was raped? Yet some of these very same people find ways to justify killings of unarmed people by cops and want to be cops over things as small as parking in a handicap spot. Why the difference? It's possible to feel mournful for an unborn child. I get it, but for people who were already established and were apart of, or even had their own families it is a much more meaningful loss for their loved ones. An unborn fetus hasn't created memories and hasn't had a chance to impact others with the exception of the mom they were carried by. No person, including me is above reproach. Modern day society allows us to be more expressive than ever,  but if somebody dares to push against the old guard, they are hit with ridicule. I can't give you the most poignant explanation, but is this God's best for us to always be at odds? I don't think so. Differences of opinion are natural,  but it shouldn't cause  such a toxic environment. I believe we all desire a blessed and prosperous livelihood. One were our families are safe and we can live our lives in a harmonious fashion. Let's put differences aside and work towards that common goal.