Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 10-29-19

Editorial/Column
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Time For Robo-Cop
It isn't easy being Black in America. With the level of risk that comes with us en- gaging in what should be normal day-to-day activities, it's a mira- cle that a significant number of us are still around.
With driving while Black, walking down the street while Black, cycling while Black, at- tending school while Black and even going to church while Black all being hazardous to our col- lective health and well being, you would think that our houses and apartments would provide safe spaces where we could exist with a peace of mind. But, as it turns out, being out of the way, and minding-your-own-busi- ness while Black is just as dan- gerous for us as anything else.
The recent murders of Botham Jean and Atatiana Jefferson by police officers, while they were inside of their homes eating ice cream and playing video games respec- tively, is proof that, regardless of where we are or how we live our lives, they will find a way to kill us. The walls, doors and locks that we think provide us protec- tion have become mere obsta- cles for badge wearing hunters who seem to have grown weary of waiting for us to cross their paths.
Of course, to some, the idea that there are police officers out there who look forward to the day when they can take a Black life sounds ludicrous. To the "un-woken" these sad events are nothing more than unfortunate incidents that could have hap- pened to anyone of any race. But, if that is indeed the case, I wonder why you never hear about these types of unusual oc- currences happening to white people just as often?
I can't recall the last time I heard about a white man or woman being gunned down by a cop while reaching for his or her identification or ran across a news story about a young, white, professional, male having his head blown off by a member of law enforcement because an of- ficer thought he was an intruder inside of his own place of resi- dence. The reason why you never hear about such scenarios is due to the fact that, for some reason, white cops are capable of showing great restraint or are willing to refrain from using lethal force when facing situa- tions where the individual con- fronted is a mirror image of themselves.
To say that the unprovoked shootings of Blacks by white cops isn't an issue of race is to
deny the obvious. And as long as municipalities across the coun- try refuse to recognize the prob- lem for what it is, by not confronting the flaws within their hiring practices, it is a problem that is never going away.
The sad part is that, in this current environment, I don't be- lieve it's a stretch to suggest that if it were members of the LGBT community being murdered just as frequently by the boys in blue, we wouldn't be able to hear our- selves think over the din of out- rage. But, since the group being victimized the most by this epi- demic of police incompetence has a long history of being abused and mistreated by all branches of the judicial system, there's a tendency for a majority of society to view what's taking place as simply business as usual.
The situation has gotten so bad that, even though I hate the idea of A.I. (artificial intelli- gence) stretching its ever in- creasing reach, I'm beginning to open up to the wild idea of re- placing human law enforcement officers with robots. Machines that would, hopefully, be pro- grammed to follow the rules as they were written.
Though it may not be the best solution available, for Black peo- ple at least, it would offer a fight- ing chance for survival and, for once, an opportunity to navigate this world without fear.
Reality On Ice is © by the Florida Sentinel Bul- letin Publishing Company. You can contact Mr. Barr at: cbarronice@gmail.com.
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Donald Trump And The ‘L’ Word
he moment it came out of his mouth, even his
own Republican confederates tried to shove it back down his throat. We refer to Donald Trump’s re- cent use of the word “lynch,” to characterize and cas- tigate current efforts to have him impeached.
Indeed, we are surprised at such swift response against a man who the first day of his presidential can- didacy, boasted about how he could kill a man then walk away, Scott Free. But comparing his political woes to the torture and death of more than 4,000 fel- low African Americans seemed little more than even the staunchest Conservatives’ could stomach.
Behind closed doors, no doubt, Trump let on he was joking. But ghost of Mississippi lynch victim Em- mett Till, even though U. S. Supreme Court Judge Clarence Thomas – a Black man-yelped he was lynched by interrogators grilling his right to become Supreme Court justice, critics contend it still did give a complaining Trump the comparative right to use for his expense such a stinging metaphor.
For, the truth is a horse of a far different color. Be- cause of his cartoonish comparisons, wherein he slowly proceeds to make himself a Christ figure, Trump, termite-like, continues to tear down and ter- rorize the real victims. For, there is indeed, someone or something being lynched.
But it isn’t Donald Trump. It is our democracy. And our silence is the “L-word” rope.
Stop Robbing Yourself
“The price of greatness is responsibility.”
Winston Churchill
mpowered Greetings. Stop robbing yourself the way Arthur Berry robbed Arthur Berry.
Who is Arthur Berry, you ask? He was a famous jewel thief who stole from the rich. He dressed like the rich, acted like the rich, and spoke like the rich, but his moral compass was poor.
He eventually served 25 years in prison. After being released, a newspaper reporter interviewed him. He told the reporter of his various exhilarating adventures.
But the one thing that stuck with me was that he also told the reporter that, “When you write
the story of my life, when you tell people about all the burglaries, don't leave out the biggest one of all... Don't just tell them I robbed Jesse Livermore, the Wall Street baron, or the cousin of the King of England. You tell them Arthur Berry robbed Arthur Berry."
Arthur realized that while he was robbing the rich, he was also robbing himself. So, again I say, stop robbing yourself.
Stop robbing yourself of your greatness by not capitalizing on the gifts and talents God has bestowed upon you.
Stop robbing yourself of precious time by not making full use of the 86,400 seconds that God grants you with everyday.
Stop robbing yourself of your financial freedom by spending large amounts of money on material things, but you haven’t invested any money in your financial future.
Stop robbing yourself of a healthy and productive life by having unprotected sex, smoking, drinking, slipping and dipping, scheming and thieving.
In life, whatever you do in the flesh you will also reap in the flesh. Whatever you sow into your life is what you will get out of your life.
I challenge you today to start sowing a righteous seed. Stop robbing yourself and start robbing the grave of your greatness. Make up in your mind today, that you cannot and will not die, without being and achieving all that God has designed for you to be and do.
Until next time be empowered for greatness.
For more inspiration, tips tools and strategies for success in life and business sign up for Selphenia’s FREE Success Made Simple E-zine at http://bit.ly/successmadesimpl enews.
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PAGE 4 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2019