Tuesday, June 02, 2020

Blackout Tuesday

Hello, and welcome back! A couple of you may have noticed that the blog was offline Tuesday (I actually got more notes than I expected, so thanks for that!). I wanted to let you know that it wasn't a mistake or an error, it was just my small way of standing up in support of the Blackout Tuesday protest against the killing of George Floyd. I'm not a very political person, and this is certainly not a political blog, but there are times when you just feel like taking a stand. And after talking to my girlfriend in NYC yesterday as she walked home from work across broken glass and past boarded up buildings, I felt like I needed to do something. I don't condone the killing of a human being, and at the same time I don't condone the violence and looting.  I don't think all cops are bad people, and I don't think the protestors are wrong. I think something needs to be done in this country to make all people feel welcome and included, and I think it's going to take a lot of work to get there.  Pretending there is not a problem is not the answer. If the protests bring attention to the problem in an orderly fashion, great. I don't think rioting, violence, looting and burning are the answer, whether perpetrated by angry protestors or opportunistic troublemakers (and I think both are out there). I don't have the answer.  I wish I did. I wish we could all listen to Christmas music and get along all the time.  But there's always going to be friction here and there, all we can do is work to lessen it when we can.  There's probably more I wanted to say, but words escape me, and you don't want to read what I think about this mess anyway.  All I can tell you is to follow your feelings, and vote your conscience. And that's all I have to say about that.

9 comments:

  1. And if you're nice enough to leave me a comment, here's a nice version of A Christmas Carol, narrated by Charles Laughton, sourced from the Internet Archive Great 78 Project. They've got a bunch of great stuff over there, and I just can't get enough of it.

    https://mega.nz/file/cRsiVIgQ#AdFr706KIh_DV8la3tgZqPT_V2KsPsYlnVcy40576AA

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  2. Very thoughtful words, Ernie, and much appreciated.

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  3. I agree with all your words Ernie. Peace & love!Best wishes from Hungary!

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  4. Thank you, Ernie. It's appreciated for sure.

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  5. Well said and done Ernie!
    Steve in PA

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  6. Dear Ernie, Such compassionate and meaningful words. If only people would follow your words and thoughts, what a better world we would have. It is sad to see that the land of my birth, America, is going through these hard times. I never realized it was this way. But I stay out of politics etc. so I had no idea. Here, in Europe, we have problems, but not to the extent that America has.
    Anyway, sorry I have never commented before, well once, but I have grabbed a few Christmas selections in the past. They are always a treat. Thanks for the Internet Archive info.
    Do you have anything that you could share, Christmas or not, that would be uplifting during these trying times. Bless you.
    Oh, I hope you and your loved ones are keeping it together in health, mind, and spirit.
    Bryan

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  7. Good words. We all do the best we can

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