Guest Commentary by Dickie Donner

I've noticed something over the past few weeks that's disappointing, but not surprising. And that is the number of posts from family and friends that say things like this:

- "There is so much negativity out there!"

- "Oh, I don't can't watch the news, they're just trying to scare us."

- "Oh, I don't pay attention to politics, too upsetting..."

- And of course the most banal of all “All Lives / Blue Lives Matter”

And wouldn’t ya know it, I know for a fact that some of these people are close friends with cops.

“Hey, if a few people of color have to die for me to get out of a speeding ticket… so be it”. The same as "Oh, it's only the eldrely and blacks that die from Covid." how many are you willing to sacrifice for your own comfort? For your wallet, or to assuage your fears of people different than you.

There is a famous engraving on a tombstone at the United States Holocaust Museum: They came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up." It is a confession made in 1946 by German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemöller. You have to wonder what warning signs the people of Germany saw and ignored. How good normal people looked away because the truth was uncomfortable or would cost them financially. We see the stirrings of abuse of power, hate, racism and bully tactics and we say "it's too negative." Sooner or later, they will come for what you love.

This is cowardice. This is trying to create the appearance of action but actually saying nothing. You are part of the problem. In some cases, anger is justified, and silence only helps the bad guys. There is a saying that's being used by the people that are protesting. Silence = violence. Think about it. This goes for those of us that count ourselves as supporters as well. You must not turn away. You must not hide from the harsh reality of the now. If you love your brother, you must let it be known. You can't fear the loss of your position, your friends or your comfort. You’re not somehow above it all for pretending to be neutral.  If you are too nervous or scared to speak up because you have family or friends that are cops?  You are part of the problem. It's a fear reaction. The classic stages of remorse are:

Hope —Tormented Hope

Anxiety —Anguished Apprehension

Depression —Angst-Ridden Sadness

Denial —Confused Rejection

Pain and Guilt ­—Agonizing Self-Blame

Anger and Bargaining —Bitter Resentment

Acceptance —Practical Relief

Depression —Second Round of Sadness

Reverie and Revival —Renaissance

I believe that you saw the first three stages manifest during the early stages of the Covid pandemic. It's clear that there were many that moved into the denial phase when they started saying things like "the virus is fake news" and protesting wearing masks. No we are absolutely solidly in the stage of Anger and bargaining. The stage of bitter resentment. We are in the stage where people cover their eyes, and cover their ears. Even the Bible, which you often hear these people espousing, predicted a time like our modern time. Timothy 2 says For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

 

We don't believe science, we don't believe our own eyes when we see injustices happen, we don't believe the news or official reports, but we're quick to share memes full of misinformation and bigotry. 

If you are trying to play the “I like good cops and dislike bad cops!” bullshit… You’re not fooling anyone. We see you. There have been dozens of examples (within the past few weeks alone) of bad cops doing bad things, and dozens of “good” cops doing nothing to stop it. There is a systemic problem within the whole system. Remember the words of your bible: But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

Or as the great Carl Sagan once wrote: It is far better to grasp the universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring

Or as the great 20th century philosopher Eric Wright was heard to remark: But you cling on my balls when I swing my ding-a-ling, Yeah you got more just like a pint of puppy water, First I'm gonna choke ya Then I smoke ya, Then I'm gonna toss ya in the back of my trunk, With the other punk

 

Silence = Support. Pick a side, do the right thing.