Nobody asked
, but my own two cents:
*though my family was on welfare when I was young, I do have some level of privilege because I am white. I just do. I am not sure how anybody could deny that some sort of white privilege exists, but everybody gets to have an opinion. From friends and family members that are people of color, I know of enough stories to know I am treated differently than they are in so many ways that have nothing to do with merit.
*my great grandmother came over from Ireland in 1900, after slavery was abolished. While I don't feel personal guilt (and I don't know how anybody could have personal guilt for something that happened 150 years ago), I do think it is possible to feel sympathy that African Americans were predominantly slaves for a couple hundred plus years here. I don't agree that I should feel guilt (I personally had nothing to do with it), but I do feel crappy that this was part of the history of my country, and that leads to feelings of sympathy for people of color who have had much to overcome. It sucks for POC that they started behind the 8-ball and it has been hard to climb out.
*the overwhelming majority of cops are good people and not racist. Statistics show that cop/POC deaths and I would argue treatment (compare 1960s cops in the south, for example) have improved in the last 50-60 years. However, many people (perhaps aided by the media?) believe it is worse than it has ever been. But the bottom line: there is still room to grow, and even ONE racist cop means that work needs to be done and progress needs to be made. Until we have a police force where 100% of cops treat all colors the same, light needs to be shined on that.
*being a cop is a HARD, pressure-filled job. You go into situations where if you aren't completely alert, you could be killed. You may have a split second to defend yourself. Not everybody respects the challenging job cops have. Most genuinely want to serve and protect. Having said that, George Floyd's death was disgusting and sad. The officer(s) should be given the full force of the law. It's tragic that this happened and that the other officers didn't fix the situation.
*Rioting and looting is wrong and unlawful. I don't understand people exusing this behavior. I don't get it. I also don't get cities giving looters a free pass to do it again the next night by letting them out of prison as quickly as they are in some cities. (NY especially)
*Many issues of inequality have to do with white privilege, as already stated. However, there are things in the black community that also contribute to this. It frustrates me that anybody who mentions these things is criticised and even called racist. IT IS POSSIBLE TO BELIEVE WHITE PRIVILEGE EXISTS AND ALSO THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT COULD BE CHANGED WITHIN THE BLACK COMMUNITY TO HELP BRIDGE THE GAP OF INQUALITY. I don't understand why both realities can't exist and why the racist word is immediately tossed out.
*these protests are important to raise awareness of some of the inequalities that exist. I fully support them. I don't support the violence towards officers, whites, or businesses as justified. It's not just antifa folks doing to damage. It's not just white supremacists. It's not just angry POC. It's all three, and none are right.
*I don't understand why both sides (R and DI) can't condemn the violence. Trump did a poor job of condemning white nationalists in Charlottesville a couple years ago. And very few black leaders have condemned the rioting and looting.
*I think the "woke mob" is dangerous and cancel culture is stupid. The New York Times apologizing for Cotton's Op-Ed is disturbing, and reinforces the notion that only one viewpoint is right and all others should be eliminated. We are getting farther and farther away from free speech, and it's scary.
*Lastly, thanks to Rob for opening up this discussion. I appreciate his passion for this.