“You are nothing but a thug and a criminal”. “You are just a racist cop or you don’t care for me because I’m black”.

Over the last couple years, we have heard these familiar quotes uttered from both sides of this struggle.

It’s caused a huge divide amongst people in this country. The conversation never seems to come to the conclusion, of what is the solution to this predicament.

Time and time again there are far too many excuses as to why a solution can’t be achieved.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard, “It’s fixed so that I can’t overcome”, to which I ask, “What have you done to make it better”.

I get the blank stare, I ask, “Have you gone to speak to your councilman, have you written your representatives, to have members from the communities that feel disenfranchised sit with law enforcement leadership and talk things out”.

It’s about that time that the stare becomes one of bewilderment. This is where the mind starts to ponder the question asked and come up with an answer.

Don’t think I haven’t asked the other side, because in my career, I’ve come in contact with law enforcement sometimes on a daily basis, and asked the exact same question.

What is the solution to solving this issue, how do we get to the point where all parties have mutual respect for each other.

A lot of people forget that we have a lot of law enforcement officers of color as well. Some are even family members of people that may be out rioting. What do we do then if/when that family member is hurt; do you still look at the situation the same way?

Same on the other end of the spectrum some of these same officers have family members who are affected by the circumstances.

How do they feel when their family member is killed or injured because of a law enforcement officer responding to an incident? When do we stop placing blame and attacking one another.

I haven’t asked the other side, because in my career, I’ve come in contact with law enforcement sometimes on a daily basis, and asked the exact same question. What is the solution to solving this issue, how do we get to the point where all parties have mutual respect for each other.

A lot of people forget that we have a lot of law enforcement officers of color as well. Some are even family members of people that may be out rioting. What do we do then if/when that family member is hurt; do you still look at the situation the same way?

Same on the other end of the spectrum some of these same officers have family members who are affected by the circumstances.

How do they feel when their family member is killed or injured because of a law enforcement officer responding to an incident? When do we stop placing blame and attacking one another.

Dr. King spent a large portion of his adult life, in trying to find a non-violent way to bridge this gap between peoples. His mission was that all ethnicities would come together and find in their hearts love for all.

In the end it cost him his life and we still have yet to realize his “Dream”, when will we? Gandhi, also preached a non-violent approach to life and peace among all, yet we say it’s a weak persons approach.

It takes more courage to not react violently than it does to react aggressively, why you ask, because inner peace is harder to control than rage. We should look at these two men as examples of what we can do.

When I hear mention of the Civil Rights Movement and what it meant and how it actually changed the way lives were shaped and how people were perceived.

I don’t see the youth of today actually understanding the power of this statement, a lot don’t realize that it was not only black men and women in arms making the march from Selma to Montgomery, but that there whites along with them as well. Sometimes, the facts get clouded by emotion and the vitriol that is deeply embedded within.

When President Obama was elected, people across the globe rejoiced and said America is making strides towards a better tomorrow. They have separated from their past transgressions, to see a future of harmony among their people.

Then something happened people felt that they were supposed to be put in a better position because of the color of the skin of the person that held the highest office in the land.

What they forgot was that he wasn’t elected by people of color alone, because 10% of a population can’t win an election, especially when not all 10% vote. It was an effort of harmony that wanted to see change and usher in a new era.

Yet there was the other side that wanted change, then for some reason old resentments started to creep in, people in positions of power became divisive and unwilling to work together for the betterment of this country.

Leading to seeds of dissention amongst the populace, one side saying we’re not being treated fairly still. With the other side saying you have nothing to complain about, you’re getting this you’re getting that.

I don’t want to leave the media out of this either, because they promote a lot of this also, as the continuously run these stories on a loop, without any clear picture.

You know why, because having a positive solution does nothing for their ratings.

How long does something negative run, especially when it comes to ethnicities fighting/arguing with each other?

The seed is planted and watered daily until the plant is oversaturated and has to find a way to expel the excess.

Which is what we are now seeing on a daily basis? Don’t be fooled, what you see is not reality. There is more good being done by productive members of society than not, but the media will not dare run it more than a small excerpt on the bottom line of the telecast.

Which begs the question to be asked again, what is the solution?

I don’t want to hear the why things are going on. I don’t want to hear the reason things seem to be the way they are. I don’t want excuses either, we need literal solutions that we can implement and effect change.

This is the point where you sit down go into your place of thinking and look deep inside for the answer.

If we take the time and use patience we can come up with a plan that can benefit us all. I would much rather live in a world where we are all on one accord and have learned to coexist in peace, than continue to read/see news of disharmony.

So again “The Solution Is……???”

By

Christian Parker