Current events are often what inspire these morning compositions. I usually write them first thing before my day begins. My thoughts are a bit clearer not having been tainted by the day. This morning I hesitated a bit before attempting to share my thoughts on the whole George Floyd incident. I have made a few comments here and there on Facebook, always a risky business but nonetheless I find it difficult to bridle myself. This morning as I checked my Facebook page I was greeted by a quote from Truman left in the comment section of one of my postings. " When even one American, who has done nothing wrong, is forced by fear to shut his mind and close his mouth, then all Americans are in peril. " ( Harry S Truman ) It gave me pause to think. A little further down the page another friend, from days long past, questioned why prejudice still exists, why we haven't learned from history, why the black man is a target for abuse. My response was a question, " is it a cultural thing" Perceptions are often stronger than reality. Is it the way blacks, and other minorities are perceived by whites? I think that may be a good deal of it but does the black man bear any responsibility in that? Is that the cultural thing?
We all know there are no absolutes in this world. Not every black man is alike nor every white man. Stereotyping , profiling, or whatever name you wish to call isn't reality. Still it is a perception that individuals form and that is stronger than reality. Call it belief if you want, call it whatever suits you, it is still a perception. Prejudice is rooted in perception! That's the reason children, little children have none. As they grow prejudice will take root according to the actions of others, the perception becoming that all people will react in that fashion based on the color of their skin, their income status, their political affiliation, physical attributes or lack of them, whatever the case nay be, prejudice ( pre-judging ) is based in our own perception of the world. The question is, to me, are there cultural differences that have never changed over time? That is to say, is what we label prejudice really just a clash of culture?
I was thinking of the promise made by General Sherman following the civil war. He issued field order #15 which would grant, no more than forty acres, to the freed slaves. This land would stretch from Charleston to the St. Johns river in Florida and extend thirty miles inland. That came about when Sherman and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton met with 20 black leaders. It was asked of them, what do wish for your people? The answer was , land. Land were they could live, grow crops, build their own businesses. This was first proposed by then radical Republicans as a means to redistribute the land held by plantation owners, a sort of reparation for slavery. It would have happened to, except for John Wilkes Booth and his band of southern sympathizers. By killing Lincoln that made Andrew Johnson the president. Being a southern sympathizer ( yes he was a Democrat, not a political statement, just a statement of fact ) he rescinded that order and returned the land back to the original landowners, the very people that had rebelled against the government in the first place! But that is all history. These black leaders were also asked where they would prefer to live, scattered among the white people throughout the nation or in a designated area. The answer was clear and concise, " I would prefer to live by ourselves, for there is prejudice against us in the south, that will take years to get over. " Yes, I'd say there is! You can't but wonder what if, what if they had been given this land, their stated intent was to live there, farm there, gain wealth enough to purchase the land for their own! Isn't that the dream that is America after all. The opportunity to own our own land, to live free, working your own land? Yes it was, and to some extent that is still the ultimate goal. The promise was that the blacks would govern themselves, no white man would be allowed to settle in that area, only white troops or others necessary for the protection of the people until they could fully protect themselves. Was the idea, separate but equal? One could see it that way. You can't help but think perhaps that was a necessity at that time. We can't know the outcome had things gone the way William Sherman and President Lincoln envisioned. Would we still be having this conversation about prejudice?
Personally I have my doubts as it is my belief you can't legislate feelings. Had that land been redistributed, the plantation owners land seized, would that have eradicated the "old south. " No, it wouldn't have because the people themselves are that old south. Resentment, bitterness and hatred would still exist. Prejudice is born of perception. Was George Floyd a victim of a racist white police officer? Or was Mr, Floyd just a victim, for there is no doubt that police officer had no regard whatsoever for the health, safety or well being of the man. Would the reaction had been different if Mr. Floyd was white? We can't know the answer to those questions. When we are able to ask that question, then discussion may begin. And that is what Truman was talking about.
In closing I do want to make it perfectly clear. That ex-cop, and in my opinion the other police that were on the scene, must face justice. Whatever his motivation was, he is responsible for the death of Mr. Floyd. He is guilty and as far as I'm concerned the only thing left to decide is punishment. Those that were with him are complicit as well and should face justice! Those officers need to answer for their lack of inaction! Why didn't they intervene? That being said I will add, there is no excuse that will satisfy me in that regard. No excuse at all! If you want to eradicate prejudice, you would have to eradicate perception. Sadly, you can't really do that. Wish I had an answer though, I really do.
We all know there are no absolutes in this world. Not every black man is alike nor every white man. Stereotyping , profiling, or whatever name you wish to call isn't reality. Still it is a perception that individuals form and that is stronger than reality. Call it belief if you want, call it whatever suits you, it is still a perception. Prejudice is rooted in perception! That's the reason children, little children have none. As they grow prejudice will take root according to the actions of others, the perception becoming that all people will react in that fashion based on the color of their skin, their income status, their political affiliation, physical attributes or lack of them, whatever the case nay be, prejudice ( pre-judging ) is based in our own perception of the world. The question is, to me, are there cultural differences that have never changed over time? That is to say, is what we label prejudice really just a clash of culture?
I was thinking of the promise made by General Sherman following the civil war. He issued field order #15 which would grant, no more than forty acres, to the freed slaves. This land would stretch from Charleston to the St. Johns river in Florida and extend thirty miles inland. That came about when Sherman and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton met with 20 black leaders. It was asked of them, what do wish for your people? The answer was , land. Land were they could live, grow crops, build their own businesses. This was first proposed by then radical Republicans as a means to redistribute the land held by plantation owners, a sort of reparation for slavery. It would have happened to, except for John Wilkes Booth and his band of southern sympathizers. By killing Lincoln that made Andrew Johnson the president. Being a southern sympathizer ( yes he was a Democrat, not a political statement, just a statement of fact ) he rescinded that order and returned the land back to the original landowners, the very people that had rebelled against the government in the first place! But that is all history. These black leaders were also asked where they would prefer to live, scattered among the white people throughout the nation or in a designated area. The answer was clear and concise, " I would prefer to live by ourselves, for there is prejudice against us in the south, that will take years to get over. " Yes, I'd say there is! You can't but wonder what if, what if they had been given this land, their stated intent was to live there, farm there, gain wealth enough to purchase the land for their own! Isn't that the dream that is America after all. The opportunity to own our own land, to live free, working your own land? Yes it was, and to some extent that is still the ultimate goal. The promise was that the blacks would govern themselves, no white man would be allowed to settle in that area, only white troops or others necessary for the protection of the people until they could fully protect themselves. Was the idea, separate but equal? One could see it that way. You can't help but think perhaps that was a necessity at that time. We can't know the outcome had things gone the way William Sherman and President Lincoln envisioned. Would we still be having this conversation about prejudice?
Personally I have my doubts as it is my belief you can't legislate feelings. Had that land been redistributed, the plantation owners land seized, would that have eradicated the "old south. " No, it wouldn't have because the people themselves are that old south. Resentment, bitterness and hatred would still exist. Prejudice is born of perception. Was George Floyd a victim of a racist white police officer? Or was Mr, Floyd just a victim, for there is no doubt that police officer had no regard whatsoever for the health, safety or well being of the man. Would the reaction had been different if Mr. Floyd was white? We can't know the answer to those questions. When we are able to ask that question, then discussion may begin. And that is what Truman was talking about.
In closing I do want to make it perfectly clear. That ex-cop, and in my opinion the other police that were on the scene, must face justice. Whatever his motivation was, he is responsible for the death of Mr. Floyd. He is guilty and as far as I'm concerned the only thing left to decide is punishment. Those that were with him are complicit as well and should face justice! Those officers need to answer for their lack of inaction! Why didn't they intervene? That being said I will add, there is no excuse that will satisfy me in that regard. No excuse at all! If you want to eradicate prejudice, you would have to eradicate perception. Sadly, you can't really do that. Wish I had an answer though, I really do.
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