Here we are at a time when everyone has a voice. Conventional wisdom would tell us it’s a great time in history because so many voices (millions) have been silenced since the beginning of mankind. We are finding out more is not always better. We can contribute the social media, technology and our leaderless “leaders” to causing this greatest human experience, the USA, to be most divided since the Civil war. Yes I am one of the people who has a voice. I am not looking around for the person or “leader” who is going to unite us, who is going to make other people’s lives better or how to better our republic. It is me and everyone of us doing more for our family, our community, setting better examples for our youth. What it’s going to take is serious, very serious and very honest look in the mirror. I am not the one to emotionally overreact to the events of last week. I prefer to give it time and go through thoughtful analysis of what happened.
The straw that broke the camel’s back sort of speak was the interview with Supreme Court justice Ruth Bather Ginsburg in New York Times. She said if Donald Trump is elected president she will very likely either step down (I do not believe it) and/or move to New Zealand. Well this is the most provocative statement Supreme Court justice could make. They are supposed to be the ultimate guardians of constitution not political activists. And this is the problem in our society today. What is her responsibility? To uphold the constitution. I understand her interpretation will be different than one of the more conservative justices. No problem there. That’s how it works but to openly advocate her political views is just WRONG! She is a role model for thousands of would be lawyers, judges and others who work in legal world. She completely disregards her responsibility(please check my other blog called RESPONSIBILITY). If Supreme Court justice does it than everybody will. There is many other examples of lack of responsibility or people actually making difference. Dr. Brian H. Williams, the trauma surgeon on duty in Dallas hospital where the wounded and dying police officers were brought is great example of doing his job with honor and upholding his responsibility as a parent too. He mentioned he’s going through difficult time personally, as a black man. He knows the stereotyping some men in his community face from very few officers who represent the rotten apples. His solution is not to inflame the situation any more but to teach his daughter to respect and cooperate with law enforcement. According to his statements he openly pays for officers’ meals or buys them ice cream when an opportunity presents itself. He says it’s not always his first choice but he does that so his daughter know better. That is the only way to break this viscous cycle of violence between members of black community and police. It is not to resist, fight or to continue to disrespect them. That is the role of the “community leaders” who consistently incite violent thoughts and continue to make the situation much worse. It is the responsibility of people who know better to lead the way. Is it fair, probably not that blacks people have to do it this way. Probably not but the world was not always to the Jews, Slavs, Irish, Gypsies etc. you get the picture. True great leaders do things before anyone else has the courage and smarts to do the same. Dr Brian H. Williams is a leader we should all look up to. Finally I want to talk about the people with access to social media with their self righteous crusades. Yes I said crusades, word many would like to eliminate from our vocabulary because what it stood for about thousand years ago. I believe social media is great tool for people who produce to get their product to the market faster and cheaper. The companies who utilize social media better than others are usually more successful. The folks who thinks hiding behind their computer or touchpad screen is brave or honorable are very misguided. When it comes to important issues as civil rights, equality or justice Twitter or Snapchat does not replace human effort. There is a reason why we’re not going to see another Martin Luther King anytime soon. It takes tremendous sacrifice, sometimes the ultimate, effort and will to make a difference. Sitting in a coffee shop, at home or some trendy microbrewery is not the same. Most of us can not change the world, most of us can not even change our community but what we can do is to make a difference in one person’s life at a time. All it’s going to take is long, honest look in the mirror and asking yourselves couple questions. AM I DOING ENOUGH TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE? AM I UPHOLDING THE RESPONSIBILITIES TO MY FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY? If you have to ask these questions, you already know the answer.
