What is the Truth, Right or Wrong

Say it enough, tell one person, who tells 2 people, who tell 4 people, and so on; you know how it goes.  Next thing you know it is considered the truth or the way it is.

Starting as infants we are taught right from wrong. If we are taught left is right and right is left, as you grow you will call your left hand your right. If you are taught it is wrong to go around naked, you will believe that, but is it really? If you were raised that going naked is okay, there is nothing wrong with being naked, you would believe just that.

If everyone you know and everything you read says a person or organization believes/supports nonviolence, you will believe it even if you don’t have all the facts or a partial shred of proof.

So if almost every media outlet or news story says one thing, it doesn’t matter if it’s an opinion or factual; it becomes the truth in many peoples eyes.

Believe it or not, agree or not, this is brainwashing.

High profile protests, generalizing statements using keywords are inciting riots, hatred and racism. Most of us have heard or saw news reporting protests because a black person is shot.

Taking to the streets, the protesters signs in hand and chanting, have been building ill feelings towards all law enforcement, not just the officer involved in the shooting but all officers and at times towards a race of people.

Protesters have waved signs and chanted “whites are the devil”.  Yet these same protesters are saying they suffer from racism, discrimination profiling and targeted violence. Say it enough and it becomes truth imbedding in peoples lives, including the younger generations.

Are these protesters suffering from racism, discrimination, profiling and targeted violence, in some cases, yes they are. That is not the debate or bases or topic of this article.

As a young child I was taught skin color, religion or male/female, it doesn’t matter, we are all equal. Process of change had already started and what I was being taught was evident.  I have see the change, for the better; I see less racism today than I saw as a child. I see more equality among people than I saw as a child.

Does bigotry and sexism still exist? Yes it does.  Is it better than it was before?  I believe it is, at least from what I see. No I am not black or a female. I am white and a male. My view is not as in-depth as the people experiencing the inequality, racism and sexism, but on the surface I do see the change, in-depth view of white males (at least a lot of them) in the United States.

Do we really want to regress? No, I don’t think so. Yet when protesters are standing in the street yelling and screaming, waving signs stating a certain ethic group are devils, or a certain sexual orientation is evil, that is exactly what is happening.

It is not all whites or blacks that are the devil, racist or preach equality while degrading, belittling, and teaching hate.  It is only some people no matter the race, religion, or sex.

Martin Luther King, Jr. in my opinion was the greatest civil rights movement activists.  He was a man, before my time, a man I wish I could have met, sat and spoke with, a man with a message to many people have forgotten.  Message of love, respect, equality and nonviolence.

Quotes from Martin Luther King Jr.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at time of challenge and controversy.”

“I have decided to stick with love.  Hate is to great a burden to bear.”

Martin Luther King Jr. marched in peace.  Mr. King Jr. protested in peace.  This man drew tens of thousands of people to follow, protest and march with him, keeping to nonviolence.  He lead by example.

Martin Luther King Jr. did not just protest about equal rights, he acknowledged not all people of any one color or religious belief contained hate or racism in their hearts, mind or emotions.

Martin Luther King Jr. knew, to be heard by the masses, violence and hatred could have no part in protests.  He knew he had to lead by example. He knew he had to lead with…. respect.  He treated himself with respect, he treated his protesters with respect and he treated those he protested against with respect.

Are all whites, blacks, Muslims, Christians, bad? Repressive? Racist? Ignorant? Sexist? NO! Generalizing groups of people is prejudice.

The truth or appearance of truth

Protesters have the right to voice their opinion, free speech, it is guaranteed by the Constitution.  Time and time again we have seen protesters rising up, demanding equal rights AND spewing hatred, racism, PREJUDICE. The same they are protesting against. Two wrongs don’t make a right.

Unfortunately, younger generations are learning it is okay to be violent, it is okay to hate, it is okay to prejudice.  It is not.  Recent protests are teaching only half truths, stop the prejudice and inequality.  The protests are teaching lies, it is okay to be hateful, it is okay to be violent.

Again, say it enough, see it enough and it becomes acceptable, the way of life… or truth.

Mr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I hope I have done you, your quotes and your memory justice.

With respect,

R martin

#BlackLivesMatter, #BlueLivesMatter, #PoliceMatter, #Respect, #MLK,  #protest,