|
|
Post by annie on Jun 23, 2017 18:17:50 GMT
The need to blame the victim and place no responsibility at the feet of the police was again the consensus. No legislative changes. No convictions. No changes in policing. Nothing has changed. No one is even trying to spin this different. It's like everyone is shrugging their shoulders watching us be killed. Do we really deserve this type of treatment when America hasn't even begun to say sorry for the atrocities it carried out in years pass? I feel your frustration and it is justified. But there are people who are trying to make changes. People like Shaun King, for example, are trying hard to bring attention to what is going on. More body cameras on cops is at least being discussed more. The wheels are turning too slowly, I agree. But literally everyone I know is disgusted and horrified by what happened to Castile. You have to keep trying and not give up. |
|
Just T
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,883 
|
Post by Just T on Jun 23, 2017 18:23:41 GMT
I'm curious. Why the last three years?
|
|
Olan
Pearl Clutcher
Enter your message here...
Posts: 4,053
|
Post by Olan on Jun 23, 2017 18:54:42 GMT
I'm curious. Why the last three years? Election season and coming to terms with how invested white people are in keeping things the same. Learning more about my ancestors, making the connections between their experience and my own. A variety of things but thats the short answer I feel comfortable providing. |
|
|
|
Post by glory77 on Jun 23, 2017 19:00:11 GMT
But I don't feel safer knowing that a person can be deemed "not a good person" and deserving of death if they use the f word or smoke a little dope. I don't want to live ina country where only perfect people of the right color deserve safety.[/quote] Totally twisting my words. Smoke dope and say all the f words you want. But DON'T do it with a little girl in the back seat who is also inhaling the smoke and I'm sure as kids always do, watching and listening to everything you do. You also mentioned that your heart was breaking while watching that little girl try to comfort her mother. My heart was breaking too. But I stand by what I said. She is not a good person in my opinion. But not because she uses the f word and smokes a little dope. She's not a good person because she does those things in front of her little girl and doesn't seem to care about how she's influencing her. And Philando, while not her father, did all those things too. And then drove under the influence, putting that little girl in harm. I'm truly sorry he was killed. Good person or not, he did not deserve that. But I also don't think the choices he made that day (yes, I realize the other video was a different day) helped his situation at all when he was pulled over. And I don't understand why the officer needed to fire 7 shots. Totally uncalled for. If he truly feared for his life, why not one shot and then pause to assess the situation. I know I'm going to hear from LEO wives that if he feared for his life then it's shoot to kill. And if he paused, he might be dead. I really think this is what needs to change. Shoot to stop, but not necessarily kill. Unless of course if the person is returning gunfire. I have many LEO officers in my family and am very pro LEO, but 7 shots?  Also, I hate that the video where Diamond is smoking pot that I was referencing earlier has been diminished to "oh so what, she smokes a little pot and says the f word". That video shows the kind of mother and person she is and shows her total disregard for her daughter. |
|
|
|
Post by chlerbie on Jun 23, 2017 19:37:54 GMT
Do you hold the same disregard for parents who drink in front of their children? Because I'm pretty sure there's lots of them out there. And not everyone feels like "swearing" holds quite the power that you think it does.
|
|
|
|
Post by glory77 on Jun 23, 2017 23:07:49 GMT
A glass of wine or a few beers in front of children? Yes, I think that is ok as long as you are not getting drunk and acting irresponsibly.
Drinking in the car with or without your child and then driving???
Completely unacceptable!
And for the record, I haven't had a drink since I was a teen and neither has my husband. (And I'm old so that's a long time ago)
It's not for religious reasons, I'd just prefer iced tea.
And we keep beer in our fridge for company as we have some close friends that like the occasional beer so we're not against having alcohol in the house either.
I've answered your question, so please answer mine. How do you feel about the video in question?
Do you feel it was ok for Diamond and Philando to smoke pot in the car with her daughter and then drive? And how do you feel about parents drinking alcohol in front of their children?
Edited to add. In case you haven't read the whole thread, I'm not referencing the shooting video. I'm referencing the video that looks like it was taken on July 4th, that Diamond posted to her FB page. It's a long, rambling video where she's obviously high, she keeps mentioning how cute she looks that day, while playing with her hair and taking crotch videos. Her daughter is in the back seat and a joint is passed back and forth with Philando. And music with the f word is playing on the radio, along with her f words. And then after the pot smoking he drives. THAT is the video where I'm questioning her parenting skills and being judgmental.
I don't know how to link but you can watch it on YouTube.
|
|
inkedup
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,837
Jun 26, 2014 5:00:26 GMT
|
Post by inkedup on Jun 23, 2017 23:14:11 GMT
A glass of wine or a few beers in front of children? Yes, I think that is ok as long as you are not getting drunk and acting irresponsibly. Drinking in the car with or without your child and then driving??? Completely unacceptable! And for the record, I haven't had a drink since I was a teen and neither has my husband. (And I'm old so that's a long time ago) It's not for religious reasons, I'd just prefer iced tea. And we keep beer in our fridge for company as we have some close friends that like the occasional beer so we're not against having alcohol in the house either. I've answered your question, so please answer mine. How do you feel about the video in question? Do you feel it was ok for Diamond and Philando to smoke pot in the car with her daughter and then drive? And how do you feel about parents drinking alcohol in front of their children? I don't think it's appropriate to smoke weed in front of a child. The video in question had NOTHING to do with the traffic stop that resulted in Castile's death. |
|
|
|
Post by myshelly on Jun 23, 2017 23:24:57 GMT
A glass of wine or a few beers in front of children? Yes, I think that is ok as long as you are not getting drunk and acting irresponsibly. Drinking in the car with or without your child and then driving??? Completely unacceptable! And for the record, I haven't had a drink since I was a teen and neither has my husband. (And I'm old so that's a long time ago) It's not for religious reasons, I'd just prefer iced tea. And we keep beer in our fridge for company as we have some close friends that like the occasional beer so we're not against having alcohol in the house either. I've answered your question, so please answer mine. How do you feel about the video in question? Do you feel it was ok for Diamond and Philando to smoke pot in the car with her daughter and then drive? And how do you feel about parents drinking alcohol in front of their children? I don't think it's appropriate to smoke weed in front of a child. The video in question had NOTHING to do with the traffic stop that resulted in Castile's death. Can you explain why you think it's not relevant? If it really was taken right before the stop it shows that the officer was definitely telling the truth about smelling weed and provides a really good reason for the driver to be pulled over. |
|
|
|
Post by glory77 on Jun 23, 2017 23:28:10 GMT
The video in question had NOTHING to do with the traffic stop that resulted in Castile's death. [/quote]
Yes, and I agree with you . I believe they were taken on different days. But it does show their poor judgment, especially when high. And the officer stated he smelled pot as soon as he pulled them over and Philando did have pot in his system according to the autopsy, although we don't how long it had been since he had smoked it.
|
|
inkedup
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,837
Jun 26, 2014 5:00:26 GMT
|
Post by inkedup on Jun 23, 2017 23:28:39 GMT
I don't think it's appropriate to smoke weed in front of a child. The video in question had NOTHING to do with the traffic stop that resulted in Castile's death. Can you explain why you think it's not relevant? If it really was taken right before the stop it shows that the officer was definitely telling the truth about smelling weed and provides a really good reason for the driver to be pulled over. The video was not taken on the same day that Castile was murdered. It's about as relevant to the traffic stop as what he had for dinner the night before. |
|
|
|
Post by glory77 on Jun 23, 2017 23:29:28 GMT
Myshelly, I don't believe the videos are from the same day.
|
|
inkedup
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,837
Jun 26, 2014 5:00:26 GMT
|
Post by inkedup on Jun 23, 2017 23:30:23 GMT
The video in question had NOTHING to do with the traffic stop that resulted in Castile's death. Yes, and I agree with you . I believe they were taken on different days. But it does show their poor judgment, especially when high. And the officer stated he smelled pot as soon as he pulled them over and Philando did have pot in his system according to the autopsy, although we don't how long it had been since he had smoked it.[/quote] You've watched too much Reefer Madness. Marijuana, unlike alcohol and other drugs, does not create aggression in most people. |
|
|
|
Post by glory77 on Jun 23, 2017 23:32:36 GMT
[/quote]
The video was not taken on the same day that Castile was murdered. It's about as relevant to the traffic stop as what he had for dinner the night before.[/quote]
And with this I completely disagree. I do think it is relevant because it shows their poor judgment, especially when high.
|
|
|
|
Post by glory77 on Jun 23, 2017 23:34:02 GMT
Who said anything about aggression? I'm talking about poor judgment.
|
|
|
|
Post by myshelly on Jun 23, 2017 23:34:09 GMT
Can you explain why you think it's not relevant? If it really was taken right before the stop it shows that the officer was definitely telling the truth about smelling weed and provides a really good reason for the driver to be pulled over. The video was not taken on the same day that Castile was murdered. It's about as relevant to the traffic stop as what he had for dinner the night before. Then I agree with you. I was going on the info posted by someone above that it was right before the stop. If that's incorrect, then I agree with you that it's not relevant. |
|
|
|
Post by mnmloveli on Jun 23, 2017 23:47:35 GMT
The video in question had NOTHING to do with the traffic stop that resulted in Castile's death. Yes, and I agree with you . I believe they were taken on different days. But it does show their poor judgment, especially when high. And the officer stated he smelled pot as soon as he pulled them over and Philando did have pot in his system according to the autopsy, although we don't how long it had been since he had smoked it. You've watched too much Reefer Madness. Marijuana, unlike alcohol and other drugs, does not create aggression in most people. [/quote] Does marijuana create a slowness or lack of understanding or confusion? Maybe that's why he didn't listen when the officer told him three times to stop reaching. |
|
inkedup
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,837
Jun 26, 2014 5:00:26 GMT
|
Post by inkedup on Jun 24, 2017 1:21:56 GMT
Yes, and I agree with you . I believe they were taken on different days. But it does show their poor judgment, especially when high. And the officer stated he smelled pot as soon as he pulled them over and Philando did have pot in his system according to the autopsy, although we don't how long it had been since he had smoked it. You've watched too much Reefer Madness. Marijuana, unlike alcohol and other drugs, does not create aggression in most people. Does marijuana create a slowness or lack of understanding or confusion? Maybe that's why he didn't listen when the officer told him three times to stop reaching. [/quote] Did you watch the video? The hysterical man with a gun pumped 7 shots into Castile within seconds. Castile was never given the chance to comply. |
|
|
|
Post by mnmloveli on Jun 24, 2017 1:30:46 GMT
You've watched too much Reefer Madness. Marijuana, unlike alcohol and other drugs, does not create aggression in most people. Does marijuana create a slowness or lack of understanding or confusion? Maybe that's why he didn't listen when the officer told him three times to stop reaching. Did you watch the video? The hysterical man with a gun pumped 7 shots into Castile within seconds. Castile was never given the chance to comply.[/quote] There was enough time for the officer to tell him three times |
|
inkedup
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,837
Jun 26, 2014 5:00:26 GMT
|
Post by inkedup on Jun 24, 2017 1:55:40 GMT
Does marijuana create a slowness or lack of understanding or confusion? Maybe that's why he didn't listen when the officer told him three times to stop reaching. Did you watch the video? The hysterical man with a gun pumped 7 shots into Castile within seconds. Castile was never given the chance to comply. There was enough time for the officer to tell him three times [/quote] And by "tell him three times," I think you mean "scream hysterically while he is pumping bullets into Castile's body." He "told" Castile to stop reaching and shot him within a span of a few seconds. |
|
|
|
Post by mnmloveli on Jun 24, 2017 2:02:22 GMT
Did you watch the video? The hysterical man with a gun pumped 7 shots into Castile within seconds. Castile was never given the chance to comply. There was enough time for the officer to tell him three times And by "tell him three times," I think you mean "scream hysterically while he is pumping bullets into Castile's body." He "told" Castile to stop reaching and shot him within a span of a few seconds. [/quote] He was told three times before the first bullet was fired. It's a terrible shame that he was possibly too stoned to react to the officer' s instructions. |
|
inkedup
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,837
Jun 26, 2014 5:00:26 GMT
|
Post by inkedup on Jun 24, 2017 2:12:15 GMT
There was enough time for the officer to tell him three times And by "tell him three times," I think you mean "scream hysterically while he is pumping bullets into Castile's body." He "told" Castile to stop reaching and shot him within a span of a few seconds. He was told three times before the first bullet was fired. It's a terrible shame that he was possibly too stoned to react to the officer' s instructions. [/quote] REEFER MADNESS. Done with this conversation because I am rapidly going into that space where I cannot respond to idiocy with civility. |
|
|
|
Post by mnmloveli on Jun 24, 2017 2:18:56 GMT
And by "tell him three times," I think you mean "scream hysterically while he is pumping bullets into Castile's body." He "told" Castile to stop reaching and shot him within a span of a few seconds. He was told three times before the first bullet was fired. It's a terrible shame that he was possibly too stoned to react to the officer' s instructions. REEFER MADNESS. Done with this conversation because I am rapidly going into that space where I cannot respond to idiocy with civility.[/quote] Sorry about your reefer problem. Hope you get some help for that. |
|
inkedup
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,837
Jun 26, 2014 5:00:26 GMT
|
Post by inkedup on Jun 24, 2017 4:12:32 GMT
He was told three times before the first bullet was fired. It's a terrible shame that he was possibly too stoned to react to the officer' s instructions. REEFER MADNESS. Done with this conversation because I am rapidly going into that space where I cannot respond to idiocy with civility. Sorry about your reefer problem. Hope you get some help for that. [/quote] You're ridiculous. Truly ridiculous. What an asinine response. |
|
|
|
Post by mnmloveli on Jun 24, 2017 4:17:12 GMT
REEFER MADNESS. Done with this conversation because I am rapidly going into that space where I cannot respond to idiocy with civility. Sorry about your reefer problem. Hope you get some help for that. You're ridiculous. Truly ridiculous. What an asinine response. [/quote] You sad "reefer madness". Thought it was a personal problem. Hope not. |
|
Olan
Pearl Clutcher
Enter your message here...
Posts: 4,053
|
Post by Olan on Mar 19, 2021 14:36:52 GMT
I'm curious. Why the last three years? Election season and coming to terms with how invested white people are in keeping things the same. Learning more about my ancestors, making the connections between their experience and my own. A variety of things but thats the short answer I feel comfortable providing. Your concern really stood out in this thread. Thank you 😏 Darcy Collins telling everyone the very graphic to me video wouldn’t be a traumatic watch for them at all...and Cindy letting everyone know that Diamond and Philando weren’t a “real family”. zella Reddit or 2peas I’d be busy AF pointing out the implicit bias and/or racist thought in this thread. |
|
Olan
Pearl Clutcher
Enter your message here...
Posts: 4,053
|
Post by Olan on Mar 19, 2021 14:51:06 GMT
I actually havn't wasted any energy! I could say the same to you about all your posts on this subject. I'm just trying to keep the info shared, as facts. Not speculation. This happened 1 mile from where my dd goes to college, in my home state. Trust me, we have heard ALL the facts. Funny I asked if anyone had first-hand knowledge that only being apart of the community would make you privied to and she never replied. You sharing the fact that the child wasn't his...seems odd. And cold. Of ALL the facts you know that's what you decided to share? Why? I also posted regarding the teenager in Texas who was shot as he was leaving a rowdy party. abcnews.go.com/amp/US/police-involved-shooting-teen-killed-rifle-left-house/story?id=47143551Teenage boys, cafeteria workers, mothers with babies in their laps you name it. All deserve death instead of being booked like a white person. And then women (who are supposed to be bleeding hearts with nurturing spirits) like you come up with every excuse why it's justifiable. Someone shared that the dash cam wasn't graphic and didn't show the shooting, that means she was able to hear the child tell her handcuffed mother to be quiet and warned her if she didn't she would be killed, and none of that touched a motherly tender spot in her at all. The need to blame the victim and place no responsibility at the feet of the police was again the consensus. No legislative changes. No convictions. No changes in policing. Nothing has changed. No one is even trying to spin this different. It's like everyone is shrugging their shoulders watching us be killed. Do we really deserve this type of treatment when America hasn't even begun to say sorry for the atrocities it carried out in years pass? When I was in elementary school an African kid moved to our city. I was very excited about hearing what his life was like and was fairly certain he was royalty. Well when he arrived all of our mostly white classmates picked on this kid. First it was African booty scratcher then it was nigger go back to Africa. I say all this to say....I have no hope things will change. None. Many of you think nothing needs to change. Then an even bigger number of you know things need to change and do Fuck all about it. I don't think I will ever have the same freedoms that you as white women enjoy. No matter what the circumstances white people will find a way to make black people sub-human. This is a global thing. In a conversation among family we talked about the possibility that white people have a pre-disposition for this behavior. Just like Black people have behaviors that stem from slavery. Then you read the comment section of a news story, recognize the only reason 45 is president, come to a messageboard you've frequented since you were a teenager etc and you know then that something drastic has to happen. I think black people should make a mass exit from a system that doesn't recognize us as people. Become self sufficient, build all black communities, homeschool our children police each other, grow watermelon, raise chickens, enjoy being freeborn. These last three years have been heartbreaking for me as a black woman. I can't even begin to describe how betrayed and disgusted I feel as an American. An American woman whose ancestors built this country. Literally. Of course this would work best if every black person decided they were fed up too. I am sure the "real" racist people will delight or bomb the communities we start. I imagine the undercover racists will only feel the difference come March or during NFL season. You commended me for sharing my mental health struggles and spoke as if this was the first time I was sharing the “human”’side of myself. @merge said “Thank you so much for sharing this tidbit. I think that being open about our personal struggles like this is empowering for everyone and goes a long way towards all of us seeing each other as human beings and not just a collection of internet posts (and this goes for all of us here - not just you). No condemnation here on any of what you said. I can only imagine how Black people have felt over the past few years and especially last year - if weed helped you through, particularly with mental illness, that’s awesome.” 2peasrefugees.boards.net/thread/77186/passing-buckA thread where I post informative links about mental health and the Black community. An infographic about mental health and racial trauma www.psychology.uga.edu/coping-racial-trauma |
|
|
|
Post by jeremysgirl on Mar 19, 2021 15:47:47 GMT
I appreciate the link Olan on the psychological issues tied to racism. I have been reading a bunch of articles lately because we have had quite a few new people at our local NAMI meetings. Most of the people who have showed up in the past 6 months are pandemic related. They are experiencing trauma related to the pandemic and don't know how to deal with that. Those people have caused me to take a step back from the meetings for a while. I realized I had a prejudice against them because so many of them either don't want to or don't know how to seek mental health help. They don't have mental illness and they don't seem to know what to do with themselves outside of showing up at our meetings. I admit, I was frustrated with this direction my group has taken and I backed away for a while. But I admit I logged into our meeting a few weeks ago and a new person to our meeting was talking about (her) mental health related to racial discrimination events in the past year. To hear her talk was astounding to me. (We don't have very many minorities in our group). It is clear to me that she has PTSD, the same way I do from being beaten as a child, but she is mentally (not physically, but the threat remains) beaten by society. And to hear her talk blew me right out of the water. And I admit, I am very sensitive to the idea of mental illness and psychological disturbances, but until I heard her talk, I did not *get* it. I think that's why I spoke up in the thread about Kanye and Kim's divorce. I had just read a firsthand account from a black man with bipolar disorder. And I totally believed there was bias in that thread toward Kanye. (I don't follow celebs so I couldn't comment on him persay). This is an aspect of things that really touches my heart because I am such an advocate for mental illness and removing societal stigma. Black people with mental illness (especially black men) are stigmatized much worse than I am, as a white woman. And I see here, that you opening up about seeking therapy isn't at all the first time you've shared your heart with us. You share it every single time you post. I got defensive with you once. I talked to a good friend about it, it stuck in my craw so badly. And I presented her with a kind of can you believe this story and she came back at me with a yes, I can.  And I apologized to you after talking to her. She set me straight in a way only a girlfriend can. But what I wanted to say to you is, after she said that to me, I have never looked at you with defensiveness again. I don't say much, but I read and listen. And after hearing the woman speak at my NAMI meeting I heard it in a way that was so personal, just like that day with my girlfriend, and I get now that sometimes things aren't conveyed in the same way with a stranger in type. It's easier to feel defensive. It's harder to love and have compassion. So I'm grateful for the personal connections I've had with people of color. The biggest thing I've learned is that this is damaging people of color. All these killings. All the systemic racism. It's a wonder my NAMI meeting isn't filled with people of color because there is suffering due to racism. (And the fact that my NAMI isn't filled with people of color when I live in a very diverse area in itself speaks volumes about racisim) I hope that we can comfort our new friend. And I hope that since you are seeing a therapist now, that she is offering you comfort and that we can offer you comfort. While I may not say a lot, I can challenge myself to comment in a way that shows compassion because I feel that your message is worth hearing. |
|
Olan
Pearl Clutcher
Enter your message here...
Posts: 4,053
|
Post by Olan on Mar 19, 2021 17:57:26 GMT
I appreciate the link Olan on the psychological issues tied to racism. I have been reading a bunch of articles lately because we have had quite a few new people at our local NAMI meetings. Most of the people who have showed up in the past 6 months are pandemic related. They are experiencing trauma related to the pandemic and don't know how to deal with that. Those people have caused me to take a step back from the meetings for a while. I realized I had a prejudice against them because so many of them either don't want to or don't know how to seek mental health help. They don't have mental illness and they don't seem to know what to do with themselves outside of showing up at our meetings. I admit, I was frustrated with this direction my group has taken and I backed away for a while. But I admit I logged into our meeting a few weeks ago and a new person to our meeting was talking about (her) mental health related to racial discrimination events in the past year. To hear her talk was astounding to me. (We don't have very many minorities in our group). It is clear to me that she has PTSD, the same way I do from being beaten as a child, but she is mentally (not physically, but the threat remains) beaten by society. And to hear her talk blew me right out of the water. And I admit, I am very sensitive to the idea of mental illness and psychological disturbances, but until I heard her talk, I did not *get* it. I think that's why I spoke up in the thread about Kanye and Kim's divorce. I had just read a firsthand account from a black man with bipolar disorder. And I totally believed there was bias in that thread toward Kanye. (I don't follow celebs so I couldn't comment on him persay). This is an aspect of things that really touches my heart because I am such an advocate for mental illness and removing societal stigma. Black people with mental illness (especially black men) are stigmatized much worse than I am, as a white woman. And I see here, that you opening up about seeking therapy isn't at all the first time you've shared your heart with us. You share it every single time you post. I got defensive with you once. I talked to a good friend about it, it stuck in my craw so badly. And I presented her with a kind of can you believe this story and she came back at me with a yes, I can. And I apologized to you after talking to her. She set me straight in a way only a girlfriend can. But what I wanted to say to you is, after she said that to me, I have never looked at you with defensiveness again. I don't say much, but I read and listen. And after hearing the woman speak at my NAMI meeting I heard it in a way that was so personal, just like that day with my girlfriend, and I get now that sometimes things aren't conveyed in the same way with a stranger in type. It's easier to feel defensive. It's harder to love and have compassion. So I'm grateful for the personal connections I've had with people of color. The biggest thing I've learned is that this is damaging people of color. All these killings. All the systemic racism. It's a wonder my NAMI meeting isn't filled with people of color because there is suffering due to racism. (And the fact that my NAMI isn't filled with people of color when I live in a very diverse area in itself speaks volumes about racisim) I hope that we can comfort our new friend. And I hope that since you are seeing a therapist now, that she is offering you comfort and that we can offer you comfort. While I may not say a lot, I can challenge myself to comment in a way that shows compassion because I feel that your message is worth hearing. Thank you for expressing that! Your participation here at 2peas is very admirable. If I were a better woman I could have modeled my own 2peas activism after it. Therapy was a long time coming for me. It was pretty clear within a couple sessions too🥴 I just needed to channel my anger (while righteous af) into more meaningful endeavors. I joke I could have went to a dojo and saved my co-pays! Honestly the biggest way racism harmed me was having me call to question things I already know to be true in my heart of hearts. And I’m so glad I was able to get help BEFORE July 2020 because as I watched another series of killing unfold booking a one way ticket out the country didn’t seem like a crazy idea. I had dealt with the crazy ideas already so I knew what clear thinking and more importantly trusting my decision making felt like again. Thank you again for modeling kindness and repping your cause. |
|
|
|
Post by jeremysgirl on Mar 19, 2021 18:52:12 GMT
I had dealt with the crazy ideas already so I knew what clear thinking and more importantly trusting my decision making felt like again. This is one of the very best things we can ever expect to get out of therapy. It makes us so much stronger when we can sort out all the bullshit and trust ourselves to do what we need to care for ourselves. Thank you again for modeling kindness and repping your cause.  |
|
And I apologized to you after talking to her. She set me straight in a way only a girlfriend can. But what I wanted to say to you is, after she said that to me, I have never looked at you with defensiveness again. I don't say much, but I read and listen. And after hearing the woman speak at my NAMI meeting I heard it in a way that was so personal, just like that day with my girlfriend, and I get now that sometimes things aren't conveyed in the same way with a stranger in type. It's easier to feel defensive. It's harder to love and have compassion. So I'm grateful for the personal connections I've had with people of color. The biggest thing I've learned is that this is damaging people of color. All these killings. All the systemic racism. It's a wonder my NAMI meeting isn't filled with people of color because there is suffering due to racism. (And the fact that my NAMI isn't filled with people of color when I live in a very diverse area in itself speaks volumes about racisim) I hope that we can comfort our new friend. And I hope that since you are seeing a therapist now, that she is offering you comfort and that we can offer you comfort. While I may not say a lot, I can challenge myself to comment in a way that shows compassion because I feel that your message is worth hearing. 