Things Are Not Good Right Now

I don't know what to do anymore.

You think it may not get worse, that something positive may happen, that things may turn a corner, but we, the United States that is, just continue to take steps backwards. We are drowning in so many different ways as a country. COVID has become not only one of the deadliest viruses in the world, but somehow political. People fight over simple tasks, simple asks and suggestions by scientists and doctors, such as social distancing, staying home if sick, not gathering in big crowds and wearing a mask. These are easy and effective, and seemingly, at least at the moment, the only way to slow down the spread of this virus. But what may be even worse, scratch that, is worse, is the systemic, never ending racism and murder by police that seems to happen daily now in America.

I knew that Breonna Taylor wouldn't get just due. She lost her life over nothing more than the color of her skin. She should still be with us today. So should Philado Castille, Tamir Rice, George Floyd and so many, many more. But the police, and the current majority of the "government" are allowing these people to be murdered with no consequence. I was crushed yesterday when I saw that only one of the three police officers, all white middle aged men, was indicted for their actions. What made this news even worse, he was only charged, essentially, with property damage. No charges for entering without a warrant, for attacking a defenseless person and for murder of a defenseless person. I was crushed, but not surprised, and that is the problem. I had a sliver of hope that some kind of justice would be served, but of course, since 2016, nothing happened to an over eager, egotistical, power and gun hungry police officer who got away with murdering another black person.

This is happening way, way, way too much, and the fact that nothing is being done is horrifying. It is wrong. It is racist. It is systemic. There needs to be change. Something big needs to happen. And I know that some will say, "you cannot blame a few bad apples". Well, it seems like the mass majority of police officers are the "bad apples" that people are referring to. There are far less "good apples". I am a 37 year old white man that lives in the suburbs of Saint Louis, but I get the jitters now more than ever when I am on a night time jog with my dog. When we walk by the police, when my kids and I go for my daily walk, I make them walk briskly. It has become a point where I am more afraid of what a police officer may do to me or my kids. I don't feel protected by them anymore, especially when I have on a BLM shirt or a RTJ shirt or a shirt with a basketball player on it. They have the opposite effect now. I don't trust the police. And as I said, I am a 37 year old white suburban dad. I cannot even imagine how any person of color deals with the police, or talking about the police to their kids. It has to be awful.

These conversations shouldn't be needed, but they are now more than ever. The police have become the villain, except this is real life. It is no wonder that athletes and people of power that are African American, or just not white, are speaking out. People will listen to them. Kids will listen to LeBron James when he speaks about police brutality in post game interviews. And I love that James, and so many other athletes are doing this now, when it is more important than ever. But we still need to change so many things. The US is a total dumpster fire. I am not proud to be an American. I am embarrassed and disgusted to be an American. This is all so messed up, and I want to leave you today with this, please, please, please vote. Vote like your life, and the future of our country depends on it, because it does. We can get people into power who will enforce change. We need to get the monsters in office out now, because if we don't, our future is dire, at least for four more years. I can't deal with that, and I would like to think that most normal, smart people feel the same way. There are far, far too many problems plaguing our country, but we can change that. Vote, defund the police and let's find some kind of justice for, not only Breonna Taylor, but every other person of color that has been shot and killed, or shot and hurt, or beaten and brutally hurt by racist police.

The time is now. Let's make changes. Vote. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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