A Letter From The Editor: Black Lives DO Matter

Black Lives DO Matter – Part 1

Like many throughout the country, I have recently found myself feeling angry, confused, discouraged, anxious, resentful, and even paralyzed at times as we have witnessed what on the surface appears to be completely unbridled, disorganized, and a leaderless grab-bag of protests and protestors who are inconsiderately crowding our streets and walkways; not to mention the ensuing riots they have fostered and made possible as they have plagued our once Great Nation. I have always believed All Lives Matter, so in my mind, it goes without saying I obviously believe Black Lives Matter but for some reason, somewhere in that narrative, a message was getting lost. Black Lives DO Matter.

I also believe many of us have found it quite unsettling and alarming at just how long everyone’s frustration and anger has lasted. However, this is the point in my narrative where I tell you something very profound before I go any further.

Here it is.

I no longer feel the same way about these issues today, as I felt about them just one or two weeks ago. In fact, that shift came to me only yesterday, like a freight train, as I was witnessing those protests smack us right here at home in little ol’ St. George, Utah. This is the last place I ever expected to see protestors! What is there to protest here?!

Again, I must admit, at first I was angry, disgusted, irritated, and yes, even insulted by those who would dare to bring discord to an area I have come to love and appreciate. After all, it’s one of the most peaceful places on earth! I mean, how dare they sully southern Utah with so much unnecessary disharmony and irreverent behavior!? We haven’t treated anyone poorly here! Or, have we?

So, this is where I have started looking at things from a much different perspective and as I have, things have become much clearer to me. I have been so egregious at how I have been looking at this, on so many levels, it honestly isn’t funny. I have not been looking at or trying to see things from the perspective of those who have felt compelled to march, and neither have so many others.

And here’s the ultimate irony, for me that is… I have always been and considered myself to be, a very open, loving, supportive, and accepting human being. I love people, regardless of their race, religion, political ideals, or intimate preferences. And, for the most part, I’d like to continue believing my actions have always spoken just as loud as my words. Most of my closest friends do not believe, share, or see things the same way I do. I have actually always preferred it that way and I’ll speak more on that in Part 2 tomorrow.

So then, why have I been copping such an awful attitude towards those who are marching??? Why have I been letting it upset me soo much?!

Well, I believe I figured that out yesterday and I’m hoping my thoughts will be just as big of a surprise to you as they were to me; I’m pretty confident I’m not the only one who’s going to feel differently about things once you hear what I have to say. At least I hope so…

It’s simple really, I mean like, really simple. In fact, it’s so simple, I’m afraid if you don’t make an effort to listen closely and really ponder long and hard, what I’m about to share with you, my message will be lost and you won’t realize any benefit from my words.

Are you ready?

For starters. Black Lives Matter isn’t saying Black Lives Matter More, and they’re not saying White Lives or Other Lives Don’t Matter at all. That’s it. Plain and simple. That should be all that’s necessary to say but this is just the starting point so let me expound on that a little more.

Now, in order for this to start changing hearts, you have to set the notion of bad actors aside and remove them from the equation. Bad actors are everywhere. There are religious bad actors, political bad actors (on both sides of the aisle), there are racially motivated bad actors of all nationalities, and there are intimate attraction bad actors. The only difference between a good actor and a bad actor is that one is more willing to sit down, shut up, and listen.

Now here’s what got me really thinking, I even thought about driving down to the protests with a bull-horn and speaking out (something that’s still on the table and just might still happen). Besides, I probably couldn’t do any better of a job than Mayor Pike did.

The real catalyst that had me wanting to understand exactly what was happening, was when a friend posted online that they were putting a group together to demonstrate ‘open-carry’ or protest, I mean advocate?, in support of the 2nd amendment (as well as to deter rioting).

Now, I have to admit, my first thought was ‘why the hell would you want to do that?’ in the back of my mind, and with all due respect to my friend, I actually do understand and know why, but the timing just seemed so inappropriate to me, especially since a separate ‘open carry incident’ just one day earlier, could have ended in tragedy, and it very well could have sparked rioting similar to what we’re seeing all over the country. But I knew it was important to them and I really wanted to understand and then I got it… and I even started to understand how the riots were most likely starting and why. Not because of my friend, but because of how others were perceiving messages like there’s, somewhere in that narrative, like others, those messages were also in jeopardy of becoming confused.

Nevertheless, because of this, I did start to understand things a little better.

So now we need to take one last step back to just a couple of days before this when ‘All Lives Matter’ held their counter-protest on St. George Boulevard’. Now, I’m not sure who’s to blame for calling it a ‘counter-protest’. Exactly who coined it a ‘counter-protest’ and why, is unclear. The media? Black Lives Matter organizers? All Lives Matter organizers? And what exactly about ‘All Lives Matter’ is counter to ‘Black Lives Matter’? Well, I’ll tell you, here it is, so listen up, and maybe, just maybe we can start to see change.

No one, and I mean, no one likes or appreciates it when someone talks over them. You know what I’m talking about right? Picture yourself in a room of friends at a party and you’re either telling a story or trying to make an important point and someone you’ve never met walks up and just starts talking over you. You try to be polite and ignore him or her but they just keep blabbering on. How would that make you feel?

Then, one of your friends tries to tell this person they’re being inconsiderate or rude and they ask them to let you finish what you’re saying but they laugh or completely ignore your friend and they even start talking louder! I know we have all seen this happen, or we have experienced this first hand.

I don’t know about you, but in an instant, I would have no desire to know this person, I would have no desire to listen to this person and in all honesty, even if they said they were sorry, I would ignore and probably avoid that person wherever and whenever possible.

Are you starting to see a picture yet?

I think my wife said it best when we were talking about this yesterday.

If you really want to be heard, and you really want to make a difference. Put your sign down, walk across the street, and join someone with a ‘Black Lives Matter’ sign. You can hold one end, and they can hold the other end. You will accomplish more, you will feel better about yourself and about your neighbors because that’s what they are, they are your neighbors and some of them may even be your friends.

So, whether you want to hear this or not, their message is just a little more important right now than yours. Because like I said in the beginning. Black Lives Matter isn’t saying White Lives or Other Lives matter less and your unwillingness to sit down, shut up, and listen has now become a bigger problem.

I get it, you’re right… “All Lives Matter” so if that’s what you believe if you really believe that, and your friends or neighbors of color don’t feel like they are being heard. You’re that guy in the party that no one wants or cares to hear from.

All Lives Matter is not counter to Black Lives Matter so why are you counter-protesting?! I consider St. George and southern Utah the beating heart of America and it’s time to send America a message. If you’re willing to support someone who feels like their not being heard, then maybe, just maybe, they might be willing to listen to you.

Now, to be a little more specific as to what my wife said, here’s what she said, almost word for word…

Imagine what the world would look like if an open-carrying Trump supporter wearing a Trump shirt was standing on the sidewalk proudly holding a ‘Black Lives Matter’ sign as high and firmly as they possibly could, and they meant it?!

I’d like to take that thought one step further. I wonder, what this world would look like if all of the Trump supporters and All Lives Matter and all the open-carry advocates all put their signs down, walked across the street in unison, and held a Black Lives Matter sign, even if for just five minutes. I’m not a betting man but if I were, I’d bet you a million to one, if you took the time to do that, you wouldn’t feel like or want, to ever put that sign down and then, just then, a message would be sent to our country, and who knows, maybe even the world. That Black Lives DO Matter.

Now, as I close this, I would like to express my appreciation to everyone who has taken the time to protest and advocate for change. Your voices are being heard. If I heard you, thousands more have too.

I’m also thankful, that we have an amazing Mayor in St. George, Mayor Jon Pike, who obviously understood this long before I did as he was out in support of those who were demonstrating and he wasn’t alone. It was a proud moment for many here to see him and members of our City Council as well as police officers and the like, all out in support of the demonstrations that were taking place.

We have a lot to be proud of here and I pray we continue on this path and changes start to take hold.

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