At Christmas time, people are preoccupied with, shopping,
wrapping gifts and planning holiday parties. Regardless of race, there are many
families with one or two less gifts to buy or places to set on the table.
In the
last year, we’ve seen families in anguish over the senseless loss of their
sons, fathers and brothers. Treyvon Martin, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice and Eric
Garner’s names have been heard all over the country. Yet no one stops to think
about what their families will have to endure long after the cameras and media
focus dies down and they are left with their grief.
This
isn’t a political issue. It’s a human issue. The number of unarmed boys and men
lose their lives on the streets on America is appalling, we shouldn’t forget
the parents, families and communities that lost children in Newtown. Death is
inevitable, but no parent should be subjected to the pain of losing a child at
the hands of another. As a mother, it breaks my heart. All hopes and dreams
dashed in a matter of minutes.
When
loved ones die violently, people are forced to figure out how to soldier on.
This includes military families whose sons, fathers, brothers, sisters,
husbands and mothers gave their lives in Fallujah, Iraq, and Afghanistan for
our freedom here in the US. Whether it was the beach at Normandy or Desert Storm, the military protected us as Americans, regardless of race or ethnicity.
When it comes to family love, we should remember families are made up of people who over the years, blended traits through marriage and children, which makes each unique. I'm sure the Browns, Garners, Martins, Dillon and Rice families made plans to share a warm
holiday with loved ones, only to have their plans slip through their fingers like sand. Leaving them to pick out a headstone instead of a Christmas tree and
shop for presents.
There’s
been much talk about the police officers involved in these deaths, we can’t
allow the actions of a few lead overshadow countless good police officers. Using broad strokes to define a race or law enforcement is how we wound up down Alice's rabbit hole. Our focus should be laser like to implement teaching programs for officers to better safeguard the
community and themselves without the use of military grade equipment or super
guns on the mean streets of New Hampshire and other states.
More importantly,
it’s time for a real discussion about race relations and respect. This conversation requires the actions of both sides of the issue. There should be a seat at the table for everyone and an opportunity to voice opinions and concerns without fear of retribution.
Dr.
Phil often says you can’t change what you don’t acknowledge. I believe that to be a
correct statement. To put a finer point on the issue, it's absolutely essential if we hope to live happy, peaceful lives with extra stockings,
gifts and place settings for all our loved ones whom we hold dear during the holidays and many days,weeks, months and years after.
I am hopeful America is ready to live up to
the preamble of the Declaration of Independence,
which states: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable
Rights, that among these are Life,
Liberty and the pursuit of
Happiness.
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