Pardon this interruption from your normally scheduled program. I realize this is normally not the subject matter on which I put pen to paper, but I’ve been struggling so long for the words. Our hearts are so heavy and burdened with the state of our country. I read something this morning that a dear friend of mine wrote. She’s a pen pal of sorts (for lack of a better term) seeing as we were only actually in each other’s presence for less than two weeks. Anne and I played volleyball together on a USAA volleyball team trip years ago and never lost touch. She is the world’s best GoT spoiler, giving me the 411 when I need it – she never holds out on me. She knows the right thing to be say at the right time and I’m so thankful to have her in my life. Damn, Annie. Back at it again with the good words. Yes to all of it. And more LOVE. 

So read if you like or move on if your tired of it – it doesn’t make any of it less true.  

If you think in Baton Rouge, St. Paul, and now Dallas that those shot “got what they deserved”…you perpetuate the problem. 

If you think that a rap sheet warrants death…you perpetuate the problem. 

If you think that being a white cop warrants death…you perpetuate the problem.

If you think that all cops are bad…you perpetuate the problem.

If you think that all black men are thugs…you perpetuate the problem.

If you think that being pro-black means being anti-police, or that being pro-police means being anti-black (I borrowed from you, Trevor Noah)…you perpetuate the problem.

If you swallow, without question, the information provided to you about these events by your favorite media outlets…you perpetuate the problem.

If you see and hear statistics about police shootings and don’t even, for just a tiny second, stop and think, “Well, maybe there IS an issue…”…you perpetuate the problem.

If your initial response to said statistics is, “Yeah, but…”…you perpetuate the problem.

If you fail to TRY to understand how the mothers of the victims must be feeling right now…you perpetuate the problem.

If you fail to TRY to understand how the wives and husbands of the police officers must be feeling right now…you perpetuate the problem.

If you continue to make blanket statements about police officers…you perpetuate the problem.

If you continue to make blanket statements about black people…you perpetuate the problem.

If you teach your children to react violently when they feel threatened…you perpetuate the problem.

If your automatic response to the hashtag #blacklivesmatter is outrage that people aren’t saying #alllivesmatter…you perpetuate the problem.

If you can’t take a moment to TRY to understand why there is outrage in all of this…you perpetuate the problem.

If, after the events of the last few days, you’re not at least a little bit terrified…you perpetuate the problem.

If THIS POST riles you up, but the shootings themselves did not…you perpetuate the problem.

If you act violently during a peaceful protest…you perpetuate the problem.

If you keep your children from hearing or learning about these events…you perpetuate the problem.

If you remain silent…you perpetuate the problem.

If you do nothing…you perpetuate the problem.
We have a problem. And most of us can sympathize with the sentiment of “not knowing how to help.” But I beg of you, at the very least, STOP perpetuating the problem.

Anne Gunden – July 2016