Thoughts of Sadness and Anger

Another unarmed black man shot and paralyzed. Three protestors dead. A gun wielding child who had no business playing cop is facing first degree murder charges. Anger and sadness, now. 

Sadness is often mocked by the perpetuators of violence who are nothing more than the school yard bullies of my youth and many of our youths. You know the type. The type who hit you, or do things to you to cause enough physical pain to provoke tears and then mock you for crying. 

Crying is the worst thing a boy growing up in this society can do. Shows weakness apparently instead of compassion. What a crock.

I’ve been on both ends. I’m no angel. Mocked and mocking. Punched and punching. All I know is it takes great strength to turn the other cheek and even greater wisdom than mine to know that if the true goal is to break the cycle of violence and aggression, it is the only response. 

I’m not all the way there, yet.  

How can tactic of turning the other cheek will not work if the other person is full of hate? But direct confrontation will not work against an overwhelming force, either, or for those looking for an excuse to unleash more violence because they enjoy it.

Let’s not give them the pleasure.

In trying to earn independence for India and remove the British Empire, Gandhi knew this. The British Empire had overwhelming force and state sanctioned violence at their command, but they eventually yielded.

The late James Bevel, Amelia Boynton and John Lewis knew this in the Selma to Montgomery marches. Alabama had overwhelming force and state sanctioned violence at their command, but they eventually yielded.

Can we learn from them?