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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAll lives matter
There is picture going around on Facebook showing a female officer holding up her hand. Written on her hand is, "My life matters".
Her life does matter, but she also voulantarily took a job that could put her in harms way. She chose a job where she may have tI decide to save a fellow officer's life who she is around every day, or a complete stranger she may have never met.
The job of the police is to protect and serve the public, not protect and serve fellow police. If she wanted a job that was safe, then maybe being a cop was not her best choice.
Link to photo: ?efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9&oh=dec5001ec43ea2df4c2cf7a38fa180af&oe=55DEB3EF&__gda__=1435976286_194db036d4707f33823ae51b2197c152" target="_blank">Link to photo
cheapdate
(3,811 posts)"Imagine a guy dying of thirst in the desert, crying "I need water." Would you stand over him with a drink in your hand saying, "but *all* humans need water"? I mean, that response is technically true--all humans do need water to live. But clearly, pointing out this banal truth in this context misses the point entirely. You'd be factually right but morally wrong."
marym625
(17,997 posts)Chemisse
(30,793 posts)On the other hand, too many people for too many decades have acted as though black lives have no value.
It's time to say that black lives matter.
marym625
(17,997 posts)They tried to take #BlackLivesMatter for their own a while ago.
However, I don't know what you mean with your title. If you are trying to push that, I must disagree. Not that all lives matter, of course they do. But the fact is it is young black men that are being killed by cops every 28 hours
#BlackLivesMatter
Exilednight
(9,359 posts)What I mean. I'm a humanist and Buddhist. I feel that every life matters, but when you become a police officer, firefighter or soldier - then you are agreeing to put your life second and put the lives of those you have sworn to protect first.
marym625
(17,997 posts)The part I am confused about is your title. There is great reason for, and reason not to corrupt the mantra #BlackLivesMatter. Saying All lives matter instead diminishes what the movement is about and why it exists at all.
romanic
(2,841 posts)Why make a competition out of it?
marym625
(17,997 posts)It isn't a competition. And to even phrase it that way, I have to believe you truly do not understand what is going on. A competition? Jesus Christ.
When there is any other group of people being murdered by cops, security guards, every 28 hours then we can include them. Until then, #BlackLivesMatter is it. And only it.
To try and co-opt for any other agenda or reason is just racist. It shows complete lack of compassion for what is happening in this country. What the law system is doing to black lives, taking them for sport
romanic
(2,841 posts)is an issue that effects everyone, black people more so, but it still affects all Americans. Again I didn't say replace the hashtags or adopt a different agenda, just allow them to co-exist to include everyone.
marym625
(17,997 posts)If you can't see how horrible what you are saying is, we have absolutely nothing to discuss
romanic
(2,841 posts)You just interpreted it that way.
marym625
(17,997 posts)Good night
Gormy Cuss
(30,884 posts)It shifts the focus away from a specific issue to a more generic one.
romanic
(2,841 posts)Anything about shifting the focus of anything nor did i say anything about switching or co-opting the hashtags. I merely said there was nothing wrong with having both sayings standing together to include everyone.
But i guess being inclusive only works on certain terms so whatever, no need to get overly emotional about it. Geez.
Gormy Cuss
(30,884 posts)JTFrog
(14,274 posts)It is true that all lives matter, but it is equally true that not all lives are understood to matter which is precisely why it is most important to name the lives that have not mattered, and are struggling to matter in the way they deserve.
I find the efforts to distract from or co-op the "Black Lives Matter" message distasteful.
Exilednight
(9,359 posts)The real problem is that we refuse to have honest discussions about race, and we never will as long as someone keeps putting up ultimatums.
If that is "it and only it" then we will never move forward.
marym625
(17,997 posts)#BlackLivedMatter diminishes the state sanctioned murders happening every 28 hours, and see how racist that is, then we can't move forward
daredtowork
(3,732 posts)You chose the wrong forum to post it.
The importance of #BlackLivesMatter bringing the focus to black lives is well established here, and #AllLivesMatter is associated with a lot of conservative smoke-blowing. I strongly recommend you change the title of this post before your Buddhist "peace" message starts large unwinnable arguments here.
Exilednight
(9,359 posts)daredtowork
(3,732 posts)You don't seem to understand that this is a historic movement for getting attention to problems specific to the black community. You want to HIJACK that? I don't want to be in the room when you start that riot.
That's why #AllLivesMatter is a rightwing spoiler meme (that sometimes tricks befuddled Democrats of good will who want to put their grand "logic" over the historical context of the #blacklivesmatter hashtag and what it symbolizes. Here is a history of the hashtag for your edification: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Lives_Matter But if you don't want to read through how the hashtag evolved in response to black lives seeming to matter less than everyone else's in the scheme of things - please do read those convenient summaries I provided for you in my previous post.
And I personally ask you: cut it out.
Exilednight
(9,359 posts)About race in this country. For a discussion to work there has to be at LEAST TWO SIDES willing to talk to one another.
Calling someone tonedeaf and only wanting the discussion on your terms and eliminating the inclusion of ALL RACES will only maintain the status quo.
Sadly, the part that history will remember is when violence broke out over the deaths of AA heritage and riots and looting broke out, but a missed attempt at dialogue to solve the problem because some people on both sides of the issue wanted to only have it on there terms.
It's ironic that you accuse me as being part of the problem, when it's you who wants it only your way. You basically accuse me of not having empathy for the black community, which is 100% false, but it seems like you have little to empathy for any other minority who faces the same problem. It's true that African Americans are suffering the most, but they're not the only ones who are suffering the same issues, they're just doing it in larger numbers. To me, the only number that really matters is zero. When we arrive at zero deaths of innocent people, whether they are African American, Asian, Arab or Hispanic - then we have achieved something.
No politician in their right mind will hold a one sided debate on this issue.
I will leave you with this, by excluding other races, you're just as much a part of the problem as those on the right who chose to sew the seeds of division. I'm sure they will thank you for playing into their hand.
daredtowork
(3,732 posts)There is nothing to discuss - only you darting in to continue to hijack a historical moment that isn't yours. This has nothing to do with the experience or suffering of any other race.
It is pompous and patronizing to assume the "discussion" needs to be dictated on YOUR terms. Thankfully politicians have started to handle this matter more sensibly than you seem to be capable of.
No matter what your original intent, you've come across in this thread as a racist who is still mistaking the position of white privilege for a "universal point of view". You might want to meditate on whether this is how you want others to see you.
Exilednight
(9,359 posts)Everything you know about me. You call me tone deaf, but you're the one refusing to hear what others have to say on the issue and making it about YOU and no one else.
Tell me of the piticians that are dealing with this. What exactly are they doing?
daredtowork
(3,732 posts)JTFrog
(14,274 posts)It is true that all lives matter, but it is equally true that not all lives are understood to matter which is precisely why it is most important to name the lives that have not mattered, and are struggling to matter in the way they deserve.
I find the efforts to distract from or co-op the "Black Lives Matter" message distasteful.
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)JaneyVee
(19,877 posts)Exilednight
(9,359 posts)graegoyle
(532 posts)...I'm starting to lean toward the opinion that, no, they don't.
Whiskey Jim
(13 posts)That's their default. If people thought all lives matter they might start to get pissed when the find out that with an anonymous tip, any home can be be raided. Door busted in. Dogs shot on sight. Family detained. House ransacked I the name of War On Drugs.
cheapdate
(3,811 posts)That's some crazy shit. The state harasses, profiles, shoots, tases, beats, handcuffs, and incarcerates, black people at wildly disproportionate rates all across the country. The government's secret plan to make us think that black lives matter in order to distract us isn't working very well.
daredtowork
(3,732 posts)to distract us from the "real" problems is a Libertarian thing.
cheapdate
(3,811 posts)JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,283 posts)... or, their deaths matter more.
The NY cop that was slain will have a funeral procession with all the Kabuki of JFK's funeral. Streets will be blocked off for hours. Cop cars will roar around with sirens and lights, ignoring traffic laws, even though there's no emergency. Large gatherings of kilted bagpipers will play. National media will cover the "event".
No average citizen would have such a send-off.
Anyway, RIP, Officer Moore.
closeupready
(29,503 posts)And of course, for the argumentative here, I naturally agree that all lives matter, including the lives of police officers.
gollygee
(22,336 posts)police brutatlity and killings of African Americans - specifically how much more likely African Americans are to be victims of it. And how there don't usually seem to be any consequences for people who kill African Americans. "All Lives Matter" is really just racist trolling of "Black Lives Matter." If you don't want to be accused of racist trolling, don't do it.
And a cop saying "My Live Matters" is just pushing back against the "Black Lives Matter" meme. She's saying she doesn't really agree with "Black Lives Matter" and thinks that movement puts her at risk.
Exilednight
(9,359 posts)Call me racist, that's your right, but you know nothing about me - so it's an ignorant insult from you at best.
gollygee
(22,336 posts)KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)Response to Exilednight (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)Just because it is fair and correct does not mean it has to hijack "Black Lives Matter." Those words mean something. The attempt to make it "All Lives Matter" diminishes that. I do not fault this officer for her actions. It was probably done out of the good of her heart.
Exilednight
(9,359 posts)Where you may have to put your life on the line, then I believe that by default you are saying that others are more important that you. There is something noble in having those traits, but the person choosing the job has to believe in it.
Sadly, I feel many don't.
closeupready
(29,503 posts)since at least here in New York (and probably lots of places) the killing of a law enforcement officer is automatically considered a capital crime, in contrast to - for example - the killing of a civilian by a law enforcement officer or even just civilian-on-civilian killing.