We're really swimming in it now.

[bigtree]

19. I'll say this

As in most public cases like this one, we tend to think back to our own families and our own vulnerabilities as we defend our individual opinions. That's not a trivial or contrived reaction, from most, I believe. There are unresolved and active issues involving race and its relationship with the efforts and actions of our law enforcement and justice systems. Many of these go to the heart of what many would regard as their citizenship rights. It may well be a projection, but it's natural, I think, for folks to relate these events to their own life experiences and the resolution and disposition of which can be both symbolically and substantively significant to them.

I mentioned Rodney King. I remember wearing a black ribbon to work the day of the nationwide protest. I had to work and couldn't attend the protest event so it was said that we could demonstrate our solidarity by wearing the ribbon. When my store manager (an open Reagan supporter) saw it he knew immediately what it was and demanded I remove it. We have a pretty good company and I called the race relations manager at corporate and was first told no. I explained that I had heard that the inner city stores were handing them out to employees and I was put on hold. She came back and told me that she had confirmed this and that I'd be able to wear it in my suburban store.

I still have that ribbon. To me, the incident and the system's response said to me, a black, young American male, that I had no full citizenship rights in this country; not as long as Mr. King was denied his. That's where this relates and that's where emotions run deep. Think about it.