Five Cops shot dead in Dallas.
Fifty Gays killed in Orlando.
Blacks killed in very suspect circumstances by Cops throughout the USA most recently in Louisiana and Minnesota.
What in Hell is going on?
I was thinking about doing a Blog on the recent Toronto Gay Pride Parade and its involvement this year with a branch of Black Lives Matters.
It would not have been a supportive Blog - nor would it have been highly critical - other than to say, as I have in the past, that Gay Pride Parades are spectacles that are best left to the fringes of their Community.
But the recent events in Orlando, Louisiana, Minnesota and yesterday's killings of five white officers in Dallas got me to thinking.
Now is not the time to criticize either the Gay Priders or the Black Lives Matters folks - both groups have valid complaints.
Initially, I was sad to see our Prime Minister decide to attend the Toronto Parade but that was prior to the Orlando Gay Massacre. Indeed, under those circumstances, I too would have joined in their march to show solidarity - unlike our P.M. though I would have refrained from his sticking out his tongue antics.
As for Black Lives Matters - prior to Louisiana and Minnesota I was firmly in the camp of All Lives Matters - as they do. But the recent events in these two states now convince me that there are a number of rogue Cops out there who shot first especially at Blacks and then make-up their stories afterward. Thank heavens for cameras.
I heard one radio announcer say today that all of this must be considered in context. The context being that the killers of most Black People are Blacks themselves. Which though true - misses the point entirely.
If Blacks cannot trust the police - even if it is only a significant minority - who can they trust. Police are there to Serve and to Protect - all of us - Blacks - White - Brown - Red - Yellow accordingly. That is what a free and open society is all about.
If they are not safe - nor are the rest of us. And as of 2016 - they are not safe and we are in for a very turbulent - violent time.
I may have misgivings about Gay Pride Parades and Black Lives Matters movements - but compared to what they are facing - my misgivings are small potatoes.
I'll bite my tongue and give both groups some slack to see if they can effect change where it is needed now more than ever.
As I see it...
'K.D. Galagher'
