Do You Know George?

Greetings George:

Somewhere, your family is still grieving.  To you and them, someone is recognizing.  With all that is going on today, it is evident, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." (Mr. Santayana is not the George I greeted).

George, and to those that emailed regarding my blog, please know I am still here.  I am reading and learning.  I am still working with young people and trying to do my part not to hinder our society.

I few days ago, I ran across the Lena Baker story.  I was in tears.  I truly wish we can get the far right and the far left to just be human.  Like most, I have an opinion, and like most, my opinion can hurt, sting, turn people off, etc.  I appreciate those that are gone, and those that are currently in my life to help me filter that.  That is the human thing.  As I watch the news, I hear far too often, people that just do not care.  Things seem to only be important when they are affecting us.  Oh, how I wish, George, that I could somehow make you important - not just to your family, or your un-born children, but to society today.

People matter.  Not just the people that I know, or the people that you know.  But the people that you don't know.  My list of great leaders include George Washington, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Many can agree or disagree, but my list includes them and others for reasons that speak to me.  When I hear someone else's list, my immediate thought is not to dismiss their list, but to listen and understand why they have chosen the people on their list.  This helps create the person.  I worry because far too often I hear lists with little substantive value.  If I were a doing a list of the greatest baskebtall players, not just me, but many, would include the likes of Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, etc.  But what if I had a list that included a guy that never played.  That would be silly.  So when I hear lists of leaders from others, I am trying to figure out who have they led, how did they lead, who did they influence, etc.  Back to my list, George Washington always strikes me because he was actually in the field with his troops.  When his troops were sick, so was he.  Regarding Lyndon B. Johnson (besides doing a 4th grade project on him - thanks Ms. Clark), he carried out another man's vision despite knowing that man may have possibly just been assassinated  for that belief.  Whoa!  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. because he sacraficed his family for the greater good of others.

To many reading my blog, I know you are probably doing your part, or are at least not hindering others.  But I do wish I could reach that person that may be getting ready to takes someone's life.  Why?  I wish I could reach that drug dealer that may be getting ready to sell that young person, his/her first drug.  Why?

Times in our history, when the U.S. came together, were some astounishing times.  The Beginning.  The U.S. conquered the strongest nation at the time because they wanted the freedom to worship who they wanted to worship.  Whoa!  The End of Slavery.  Regardless of the reason as to why, people had to come together with the reality that "All" were equal, and no one should be forced to serve another or be treated as livestock.  9/11.  It seemed the whole country cared about the innocent people who lost their lives.  I still remember all the collective outrage, anger, hurt, and sadness.  These are human things.  These transcend color, race, religion, etc.

Division on the other hand within our country has produced some astounishing times as well.  The Civil War.  The Presidency of George W. Bush.  The Presidency of Barack Obama.

Our opinions matter - they truly do.  But at what cost?  Do they cost as much to lie on someone to make a topic suit you?  Do they cost enough to agree with wrong?

Blogging for me is easy and hard at the same time.  There is so much of me that I feel I can't express because this still is a public forum, but these lead to great conversations with friends.  My friends know we don't agree just to agree.  Many consider my friends and I arguing a lot of the time because agreeing just to agree just is not us.  We oftern disagree just becuase it is more fun in conversation.  Just to shed light, we discuss the best football team, the best player, etc.  This is far too often what I hear when watching News stations.  Sports is entertainment, but current events are real life.  A life is real.

George Junius Stinney Jr. was a life.  Please let me acknowledge as were Betty June Binnicker and Mary Emma Thames.  These were lives that we all should care about.  We should care now because we are aware of them.  I get it.  I was unaware of a few days ago, but I am aware now, and I will take these lives with me to new decisions.  I encourage you to become more and more aware.  If you are Black, get a better understanding of a White perspective.  If you are White, get a better understanding of a Black perspective.  And know these perspectives could change.  (Please know I only use White and Black because of how far apart they are in definition)  I ask, if we went back to Colonial Times, would you want to be apart of the U.S. or of England?  Do you care about the freedom of religion?  If we went back to the time of slavery, would you agree with enslaving people?  Now, what if you were White?  Or what if you were Black?  A simple switch in religion or color can truly change a perspective.  Now what if we were able to do that without truly changing who we are?

George, I owe you to live my life with others in mind.  I too will sit upon my Bible as It truly can support what is going on.  I will cry freely because my mask is removed.  I will also attempt to stand alone.  I must be honest - at 14, I do not know many that would want to do that.

I now know, and so do you.  What will you do?