We Need To Heal This Nation Together

Each day that goes by is more difficult than the next. The violence, the killing, the rioting under the guise of protests, the looting, and the burning and destroying of small businesses in our own communities is tough to stomach. We burn small businesses and justify it by saying their insurance will make them whole. We have stopped seeing people as value and more as expendable means to getting what we want and need.

We have major issues in this country that are not going to be solved by asking Washington to step up and lead the way. Today we pretend to address issues of race, violence, and injustice for quick headlines and press releases. We show our anger because it is the politically correct thing to do today. The actions by our Nation's leaders are not healing, they are continuing to drive the wedge between us deeper. If we expect Washington to lead us through these times, we can expect more violence, hate, rioting, looting, death, and division. If we want change, it must come for each of us. Not in various factions or with catchy slogans. It must be a movement that includes all of us. Until we reach a point where we can start to come together and start talking to each other and not at or down to each other, nothing will change, and the division will continue. Until we stop looking to shame people nothing will change. Until we stop violence against people because they do not look like us nothing will change. Until we stop making excuses for what is going on nothing will change.

Since the death of George Floyd, it has been cool to look like you were supporting change. People hung banners showing their support for change. People took to social media to post pieces supporting change. People joined in protests to show support for change. None of those things make a difference. These are small gestures that makes us feel good today but does nothing to create long-term change. These are one-time feel-good moments so you can say you are down with the cause without actually having to put in the time in or get your hands dirty to do the hard work needed.

If we want real change, we need a voice to step to the forefront and claim the mantle of change that is inclusive. I must ask why hasn't anyone stepped up and taken the torch and become the real face of change? These people do exist in every neighborhood all across the country. Instead, we rally around groups like Black Lives Matter, which I know a lot of people support. I cannot because of actions taken on their behalf, statements made by leaders of this organization, and actions taken by leaders of this organization. I cannot consider them real honest change agents. There are others like White Supremacists, Antifa, and other white nationalist groups who use these incidents as a license to cause more violence and hate. They have become the faces of these issues.

These are the faces of our time because our Nation's leaders let them. We let them. I believe both sides want this division. Republicans get to use the violence in communities, violence against white people, claims the black community not doing enough to stop black on black crime, and attacks on police officers, as a way to drum up votes for Trump in 2020. Democrats are silent because they support the rioting, the looting, and burning of businesses. They get to blame Trump and so-called white entitlement. We have athletes putting names of people on their helmets without knowing the facts. What does that say to the woman who was sexually assaulted? We have the President Tweeting out support for the so-called patriot killed in Oregon. You have the President Tweeting support for Kyle Rittenhouse. This kid has become a celebrity because he went to or was in a town he does not live in and with an armed weapon was looking for trouble and found it. We celebrate this kid. We celebrate Jacob Blake for the very same reasons.

To be frank, dividing the country is good politics today. It is a sad statement but look around and prove me wrong. Why hasn't there been one leader on either side (elected or non-elected) taking the torch of change in a way that brings us all together versus the path that divides us? They are out there. They are from every walk of life and they are black, white, and brown.

Today's racial divisions fit into the abortion, immigration, wealth, tax fights we have seen play out in this country. All issues meant to divide us. All good political issues for each side to base their elections on. If we solve these issues, then what do candidates run on? Division drives dollars. If we want change, then we are going to be the ones that create the change. Our leaders across the country have been silent. Why have they not joined hands to create calm and dialogue that addresses the issues taking our country down a dangerous path? It is because they know their political careers depend on the chaos.

Until we find young, old, black, white, brown people willing to stand together in a positive way, nothing changes. If we sit back and wait, nothing happens. We cannot wait for change. Each of us needs to be the change.