I'm going to drop this here...

[OneGrassRoot]

119. On acting up...

While I understand where you're coming from regarding the tactics, I also understand where the young activists are coming from with their angry and, yes, rude disruptions.

Now, we're each going to view what "rude" means very differently. Again, different personality types, different perspectives and tolerances for different types of protest tactics. I really believe that's what all this is coming down to: different personality types.

As I've said repeatedly, I'm a white woman and I do not speak for the activists who are part of the #BlackLivesMatter movement -- which is a cause, with a message, not an organization...not yet at least. But I will share my thoughts about this business of "tactics."

I do believe the vast majority of the AA community feels that they have been dismissed far too often, with their specific community needs being placated but not acted upon aggressively or swiftly -- and that includes by the Democratic Party who assumes they have their vote and thus relegate the very specific issue of racial injustice to more of a secondary topic, never the forefront. Until now.

This isn't new, of course, which you already know. The LGBT community and other marginalized groups -- and even some of the OWS protests -- have "acted up" in ways that were frowned upon by those who felt they were hurting their cause and making enemies out of their allies and pretty much what you have expressed here.

But being moderate in protest approaches, especially in today's world with all the white noise, is useless. It surely doesn't get attention quickly. I don't believe they're attacking anyone, including the candidates, but they are going to do whatever it takes to BE SEEN and BE HEARD and KEEP IT THAT WAY, especially because their loved ones are being killed every day. They live in fear every single day. I wouldn't be polite or moderate in my speech or manner or approach either -- as a community, they're in pure survival mode.

Issues of racial injustice are at the forefront precisely because some of these activists have been loud and rude and very, very disruptive. I don't think they really care who likes HOW they are gaining attention; they're more focused on getting a spotlight on racial injustice and keeping it there because the various discussions they've triggered are vitally important.

This means the loud disruptions are likely to continue throughout this campaign season because they want to keep the candidates and supporters and the rest of America focused on why there is a need to have a movement called BlackLivesMatter.

That's another reason why we really shouldn't be taking everything personally. It has really only just begun.

I feel we should be listening and considering each day what more we have to learn from what's happening. Even though I thought I "got" it before, probably as Bernie did, I know I learn something new each day -- and I bet he would say the same thing about all of this and I hope he does address this rift head on, soon.

For the people who cannot tolerate rudeness as it concerns life-or-death situations, I don't know what to say. In general, I also prefer respectful dialogue and civility, but protests are different. There is a different intention, and the primarily intention is to get attention.

I understand that rudeness turns some people away from listening. That makes me sad but perhaps engaging as we are doing here can help us broaden our perspectives beyond the how and who, and get back to giving attention to the "why."