We Shall Overcome

I couldn't sleep last night.. my mind kept churning no matter how much I wanted to be at peace.  We were glued to the TV last evening... peaceful protests turned into violence and anger.  Graffiti was being sprayed on beautiful downtown buildings, historic statues and fountains.  It makes me so unhappy and upset.  The Apple store and many others were broken into and looters took what they wanted.  Stores big and small.. owned by individuals barely hanging on due to the pandemic closures.. lost everything.  

I am haunted by the video of George Floyd being asphyxiated by 3 police officers.  A 4th officer stands by and says or does nothing to the 3 officers all kneeling and murdering Mr. Floyd.  

This man used a $20 bill to buy something at a deli, the store clerk thought it might be counterfeit and called the cops on the man.  By video records he did not resist arrest.  Those cops murdered him over a $20 bill that he might not even have known was counterfeit.  

HE WAS KILLED OVER A $20 BILL.  A father, brother, son, grandson.  

I've been suffering great sadness as I watched the death from the Coronavirus - 106,507 as of today in the USA and 376,030 worldwide.  The horrific way those people die has been documented by doctors and nurses who treat them.  The health professionals tell us how to protect ourselves and I watch in horror as people refuse to wear a mask and put themselves and their children, spouses, parents, grandparents, friends and strangers in harms way.  

Now we have millions of people around the world in massive crowds in protests and riots - and how many new cases of Covid-19 will result in this?

Which brings us to a country stressed by a killer pandemic, the loss of almost a third of deaths around the world, then when deaths are starting to lower and things beginning to open up - these 4 evil men kill a guy because he's black.  Make no mistake.. that is why.  

And all of these people who have been in lockdown for 3 months.. many having lost their jobs, many who are facing eviction and starvation... is it any wonder there are riots?

What can we do?

🔻 Don't be a racist - don't raise your kids to be racist.

🔻 Vote for candidates who CARE about us.. ALL of us.. not just one color of us or one political party of us.  I am sick and tired of having the person who sits in the highest office in our land tweet things like "The only good Democrat is a dead Democrat.

🔻 Don't be cavalier about protecting yourself from getting Covid-19.  It isn't just about you.  It's about your family, friends and even strangers.  You may not care about getting Covid but those around you do.  Do you want to be part of the problem.. or the solution?

🔻 Help make our society a kinder, gentler nation that cares about and takes care of those in need.

🔻 I want YOUR input now.  What do YOU think we can do to help our world heal and thrive?

Sorry to be a downer - but I have to tell my truth.  Thanks for reading.