Bombs and Clocks and Victims.

The news. I like watching the news in the morning because it's not really the news. There are interviews, segments on food that seem cruel when I'm staring at my bowl of cereal, and sometimes mini concerts. I like this kind of news. But don't get my wrong. I like to be informed so I watch it at night sometimes...mostly when nothing else is on, but still. Chris rarely enjoys watching the news with me because it typically gets me fired up (I know you're surprised). I logically understand that the TV cannot hear me nor does it care what I have to say, but somehow it makes me feel better to share my opinion, in the calmest of ways. It's like getting something off your chest, and it isn't able to disagree with you. It's really the sweetest relationship.

The other night a local news station featured a story of a high schooler who was arrested (and quickly released) after bringing a clock that was suspected to be a bomb. Now everyone is up in arm's at the "victimization" of this kid, and he's been invited to the White House. Let's not talk about the heat the school and the police department would have felt if that was indeed a bomb, and they didn't arrest him because they didn't want to offend him (but I digress). I saw that, a few days later, the story is trending, and a hashtag has been created in support of this kid. Which is great; support who you will, it's the beauty of America, but this high schooler is not a victim.

This story follows about a million others featuring a person who might have not made the wisest choice and then is seen as a victim in response to that choice. Gosh, I'm tired of living in a society that relishes in being a victim. Maybe we think there's attention to be had or something to be gained (like an invite to the White House) by playing up our situations, but last time I checked that wasn't what America was founded on. There are true victim's in the world, like refugees traveling in dangerous situations all around Europe, girls enslaved and caught in human trafficking, children living in family environments that are appalling in more ways than one...these people need attention, help, and resources. Not a silly high schooler craving attention.

As Chris and I were watching the news the other night, I know we're crazy party animals, he asked if I had heard anything about Richard Sherman. Oh, a football player? Definitely not. There's a long version and a back story but in short his picture was used without his permission to promote the encouragement of killing "KKKrackas" on a black man's personal website. Obviously he was upset by this and made a post in response on the website. Chris read me his post, and it gave me chills.

"I did not believe this when I heard about it. I watched your videos. I started a life in the gehto. I banged like a fool till I woke up. I was not suppressed by any man or woman, white or black.
I worked myself up from Compton High School to a scholarship at Standford University and I did it myself. I take pride in what I have accomplished both as a black man, and an athlete. I could have stayed in LA and banged and used drugs and thought that it was all the white mans fault. But that would be a lie. We are who we want to be, that is what is great about america. We are all born with the same chances in life..white or black…YOU choose to be a woman-abusing racist loudmouth. I would love to debate you on national tv. And if you condone senseless black shootings of whites and police officers, you better make that a debate on Springer, so I can b****slap your ignorant a**!
You are what is keeping and making the black race look bad. Wake up fool. Do not glorify this half a man, he has worked for nothing. He chose to keep himself where he is, not the white people. It is time to take responsibility for your own actions, and not act like a stinking fool. Kids and young black men and women look at this site, and believe that they are abused. That is a bold-faced lie. It is out of the mouths of cheap thugs like you that are hurting our young and taking away the chances they have to make themselves a productive part of society. Brothers and sisters: the only slavery in america now is the one you put yourself into Rise up like Doctor King as taught us, and be a real human being. We are all in this together white and black. Peace to all and I hope this stupid fake hate stops real soon. We are all brothers and sisters. Do not be fooled by the tyranny of evil men like this lift yourself up educate yourselves and work hard for a good life. No one owes you anything stand proud as a person of color, and do something meaningful with your life. I did and I am the best at what I do! Peace out, R Sherman. (http://dailycaller.com/2015/09/15/richard-sherman-shreds-black-supremacist-that-used-his-image-to-promote-killing-kkkrakas/)

The whole story is worth looking up, but wow. "We are who we want to be. It is time to take responsibility for your own actions. ...Do something meaningful with your life." I'm not trying to stir the pot on white vs. black issues, but I thought Richard Sherman's post was so relevant in general beyond what he was directly addressing. If we are victims, it's because we choose to be. We may be handed some bad cards, and some people truly are victimized in their lives in horrible, inhumane, and devastating ways. But we don't have to keep the hand we were dealt, and we certain can move beyond victimization (in any sense) to doing something meaningful with our lives. If we would stop taking advantage of our situations and stop licking our wounds and work hard to move forward, ask for help when we need it and refuse to be held down by the obstacles in our lives maybe our society wouldn't be in such bad shape. And maybe we'd know how to more effectively help others who really, truly, and deeply need it. 

Maybe this is an inappropriate rant and maybe it's too political for someone's taste, and if that's the case then take a minute to verbalize your opinion to your screen. Because I'm not trying to argue, and I'm not trying to prove myself right. I humbly know I'm right. I don't care that I'm white or a woman or have a dad that's a cop or tend to lean in a more conservative direction. We're wasting our time trying to be right, and we're wasting our time standing on platforms that really don't matter. We need to stop, just stop, and figure out if what we're doing on a daily basis is meaningful. If it is, awesome. Keep doing what you're doing. But if it's not, maybe let's get off Facebook and figure out how we can reach out, empower, and bring about positive change. And maybe we should stop yelling at screens our simple opinions and start putting our focus on real life people- in our homes and families, neighborhoods, and communities. I need a good dose of my own medicine these days. I don't want to be a victim to "I'm tired," or "I'm an introvert," or "I'm too busy." That just wastes my life, and that's not who I want to be.