America is hurting.
We are currently battling our way through the darkest period in American history in my lifetime. Much like millions of other Americans, my heart hurts for the injustices and the pain that this country feels right now.
I am typically not a political person. My brain is hard-wired to the sports world and I typically give the political world little thought. But this is bigger than a political issue. What we are dealing with right now is a humanity issue.
Regardless of your political beliefs, there is little to defend with the George Floyd situation. While we do not know all of the details regarding his arrest, whatever happened prior to him ending up on the asphalt are irrelevant. The cop had him handcuffed and in a position to where he could do little to no harm to them. He is subdued.
Anything the police officer did to him after subduing Floyd is criminal. There is no debating this. He murdered him. Everything he did following the subduing was unnecessary and it was evil. There is nothing to argue.
I am not writing this article to discuss the actions of the officer or even the Floyd situation, but it must be addressed because it is on my mind and on my heart. Floyd's murder is not what is being protested. His murder is just the latest spark that lit the bonfire.
I also want to address the damage being done to our nations' communities throughout these "riots." I understand y'all are angry. You have every right to be. But to take that anger out onto your community is wrong. Many of the businesses being damaged are owned by or provide incomes to the very people you are fighting so hard to defend.
And I understand there are some individuals using these protests as an opportunity to create more division within our country, but we as a whole must see past that. We must be better. Do not let the actions of a few take away from the message and the change this country needs to undergo.
I am a white man. I will not sit here and pretend I understand what Americans of African American descent or any other minority heritage have to go through in this country. What I do know is that in my life, I have interacted with people of these heritages. Some of the most genuine and hardest working people that I know are of these heritages. The thought that there are people in this country that hold hatred for those same people purely off the color of their skin is an awful and depressing thought.
We are taught as young children to treat others the way we would want to be treated. Those of us that are raised in a Christian household are taught to love our neighbors as we would ourselves. There is no asterisk in that lesson that says *unless they are different from you.
I don't know the solution to this huge issue we face as a society, but I think the solution could be found in a very simple statement.
Treat others the way you want to be treated.
I was raised to treat people like I would want to be treated, regardless of how they look or what they believe. I will teach my kids that same message one day. I hope and pray that I can one day raise my children in a world that is without the hatred and division we are currently dealing with.
It is time we stopped pointing fingers. It is time we ended the violence and came together as a nation. This is not a white country. It is not a black country. It is not a red country or a blue country. It is an American country. One nation, under God.
This will be the last time I share my thoughts on this situation publicly. Here at Old Main Entertainment, our goal is to entertain and create. If you ever feel you need an escape from the reality we currently face, I hope you can find it here on our little website. While the world may have hit a giant pause button, we will continue to create content and do our best to bring you smiles and laughter in this time of darkness.
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