Thoughts

    If all people had decided a long time ago that black people do matter, then we wouldn't have the problems we have now. 

    We're listening to Felicity's Surprise. In this American Girl story set in 1770s, Felicity was invited to a dance lesson at the Governor's house. She was so excited but then felt very disappointed when Ben (her father's apprentice) told her that she shouldn't go because the Governor was the King's representative. Her father (a store owner) had decided to not purchase any British tea because of the unfair taxation of the colonists. Felicity is very sad by this; but then her father says "if the children of Patriots and Loyalists can dance together, then maybe adults can settle their differences without arguing and fighting one another." 

    As the story continues, Felicity's mom gets sick so her father cannot escort her to the dance lesson. She thinks she won't be able to go, but then Ben helps. He is strongly opposed to the King's taxation and doesn't really want to be near the King's men, but he sees his friend's sadness and does what he can to help. So sweet. How can we show love to all even if we don't agree with everything someone says or does?  

    We've lived at Fort Bragg for a lot of years now. Until recently I didn't know how Fort Bragg got it's name. I just knew that it's always been called Fort Bragg. But now that I know that Bragg wasn't actually named after a great American hero, but a traitor to our country who wasn't even a great general. There are so many great heroes in our country. Let's change and recognize true heroes! 

    "symbols show what we value". If it's been long enough since slavery/ oppression that black people should not feel offended by memorializing men who fought against our country, why are people offended that we would change the name. why do people want to continue to honor men who fought to keep many enslaved? 

    I've heard a lot of people saying people are "erasing history" referring to people who want to take down statues but that's not what is happening. Rewriting/ omitting changing information about our past was erasing history. I've been amazed and saddened as I've learned just how much was erased from our history. For example, I didn't know about these:Jim Crow history. Red Summer

I did read one fellow West Point grad's post that did make me stop and think. He expressed understanding for the desire to have some statues come down, but disappointment that they are being forcefully knocked down or vandalized. Our country deciding together to stop memorializing/ honoring men who were traitors would show that we are doing better.  History continues. Let's us this opportunity to make things better. 

I know some people have had hard lives and are thinking that you don't have "privilege." I believe you and I'm sorry that is was hard. That doesn't mean that the idea of "white privilege" is not true. I've been shocked at things that I've learned lately. When you learn some of the .history that we were purposely never taught in school, I think you will too. How does a government continue to repress people. I know people want to say this was so long ago because slavery ended a long time ago, but how about separate but equal, the court case declaring that violated the constitution was while in my parents' lifetime. Let that sink in a minute. I can't imagine my sweet kids growing up in a time period where the general population thought it was okay to now allow my daughter to use a bathroom because of the color of her skin. For that matter, it would have been illegal for James and I to be married if we'd been born when my parents were. 

People seem to be shocked to see some people doing wrong while people are protesting. If just 50 years ago, the police mercilessly beat peaceful protestors, are we really shocked to see some people doing wrong in their protest? Does it make it right? No. But when we choose to point out the wrong doers instead of seeing how we can improve the situations, it only adds to the fire.