"I can't breath"
These words were uttered by George Floyd while he was being asphyxiated by Derek Chauvin. His death has led to a massive movement in the states where tens of thousands are protesting the violence of police brutality. This post by @jasonliberty covers the current situation rather well.
When I watched the video of his arrest and murder, I realized that his words held other connotations. Our country has been losing its ability to breathe over these past few years and those of us who believed in the values that represented America were being suppressed by a fascist like regime. The lack of proper leadership and the absolute disregard of justice and moral integrity have taken away any shred of respect anyone held for our country. Floyd spoke for all of us when he said those words.
Yet with each passing day, I see a brighter future. I now have hope that our country is capable of overcoming our current situation. In response to @lighteye's post Yes, I believe that the morning is coming. It may take months or years but we will recover.
The actions of our president do not represent our country nor does he represent the immense variety of cultures, ideologies, and ethnicities that reside in our country. He is merely a representative that was chosen to serve the country but has failed to do so. America cannot be identified by a single individual and the actions of any singular person will never define us. Trump has tried to divide our country these past three years and he may still succeed in doing so but we will not back down. His attempts at attacking and belittling our constitution and moral beliefs will never shake us from our American values. But to simply place the blame on him would be to overlook our own failure of being complicit to his wrongdoings.
Everyone falters. America has stumbled these past few years and despite how dire it may look, the protests in all 50 states in America this past week is a reminder to the rest of the world that America is much more than just a country. It is a beacon of hope and inspiration for causes all around the world. Even in the face of a global pandemic, we have united under a common cause to protest against the blatant mockery of justice from our police departments. We will not succumb to violence and we will continue protesting until all are equal before the law. We must unite with organized determination, letting go of our anger and bitterness, in order to overcome the rift that has come between those in uniforms and civilian society. For the past century we have been an example for those that suffer in countries without equality and liberty but now we must instigate that hope amongst ourselves for our own future.
My parents, my friends, and our forefathers came to this land in search of a better future. A life free of persecution and judgement. We have not forgotten the lives that were sacrificed and the blood that was shed in order to make our lives a possibility. The future of our country rests in our hands and we will not see it crumble. The voices of the American people will only continue to grow in the face of bigotry for we inherited a land where all are considered equal.
We have attacked each other for our political beliefs and continue to do so while others profit off of our misfortune. It is time to stop choosing sides and to unite under a singular cause led by the values that we believe in. We must learn to empathize with those around us and strive to uphold the morals that we all abide by. We must acknowledge that all are entitled to their own opinion but yet accept that beliefs that aren't aligned with our Constitution cannot be allowed to take root in our country. Especially when men and women have died defending our values and beliefs around the world.
Every single voice is unique and it is this myriad of ideologies that makes America great. I have hope that our perseverance in these upcoming months will prove to be a turning point for our country.