On this week’s “Affiliate Editor’s Message,” I opened it up with a phrase on “To Vote or To not Vote.” Right here’s what I stated:
“Some say there’s no distinction between the 2 main U.S. political events. Not true. One get together too usually takes us with no consideration. The opposite desires us useless. One is horrible at messaging. The opposite is great at mendacity to foment anger, worry and division, and blaming us for all U.S. issues. One fights, although usually ineffectively, to save lots of the little piece of democracy this nation has left. The opposite overtly strikes to destroy democracy. One is for safeguarding the atmosphere, felony justice reform, a lady’s proper to make selections about her personal physique, common healthcare, scholar mortgage forgiveness, and many others. The opposite is in opposition to all of that. One is comparatively for human rights. The opposite has over 70% of its members saying violence is justified to maintain energy. One is for “one particular person, one vote.” The opposite is led by gazillionaires who desire a “president” with dictator energy to go together with the Supreme Courtroom they already purchased off. One desires to make voting straightforward. The opposite is shutting down voting areas by the 1000’s in our neighborhoods, and is establishing extra voting roadblocks as we converse. “To vote or to not vote” is NOT the query. The query is WHEN are you gonna vote, and what number of people are you taking with you to the polls?”
Why am I repeating this phrase on this week’s Group Channel Message? As a result of in case you haven’t seen, there’s a severe, in-your-face, unashamed transfer by people who consider with their entire coronary heart that Black Lives DON’T matter, to take care of the parable of white supremacy and the fact of the facility that comes with it, by any means mandatory.
They’re saying 1) to hell with democracy . They led a violent riot to try to throw out Black votes from the cities of Atlanta, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Detroit as a result of these Black votes allowed Biden to win Georgia, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan and thus win the presidency. In different phrases, they take a look at Black of us as non-citizens… as unworthy to have our votes and voices heard. Therefore, they unashamedly take away 1000’s of polling locations from Black neighborhoods as a result of they wish to silence us.
They’re saying, 2) to hell with their Christian religion . In case you don’t consider me, look it up for your self. There’s a complete tidal wave of white evangelical “Christians” who’re really saying that Jesus’ concentrate on the poor and oppressed, loving your neighbor, being variety to the immigrant and the stranger, is outdated as a result of it’s “woke.” They’ve created their very own model of Jesus, and he’s right here for white, heterosexual, American, “Christian” males, and offers lower than a rattling about anybody else.
They’re saying, 3) to hell with legislation and order . Concerning preventing to take care of political and social energy, practically 3/4s (75%) of those MAGA-leaning people say violence is a suitable merchandise of their political toolbox. They’re prepared to bomb, torture and kill those that maintain a distinct political view than theirs.
And although each social metric exhibits them on the statistically higher finish of wages, wealth, life expectancy, healthcare entry, job hires, job promotions, constructive media pictures, outsized political illustration and voting energy, and many others., hundreds of thousands of them really consider they’re essentially the most oppressed and mistreated demographic within the U.S. They usually’re taking a look at us as the rationale for no matter isn’t going proper in whiteworld. Therefore, white home terrorist assaults on Blackfolk have skyrocketed, and present no signal of slowing down.
I preserve listening to the “I’m not voting” crowd checklist the explanations for his or her stance. However within the phrases of Howard College’s Dr. Greg Carr, they’re affected by “the lack of the momentum of reminiscence.” Too many people have both forgotten or by no means recognized and thus can’t fathom issues going all the way in which “leff.” The loopy factor is, there are a gazillion examples of nations all around the world (and cities and counties right here within the U.S.) transferring ahead in some semblance of normalcy and “democracy” and social calm… till all hell breaks free, and one group loses all its rights.
These are harmful, harmful instances, and so long as now we have entry to the facility of the vote, now we have a serious device/weapon we are able to use to combat for what we wish. I’m not saying voting is every part, however when you have got zero vote and 0 voice, you have got what the Palestinians have proper now – a actuality the place they’re lower than second-class residents in their very own land, handled (mistreated) any form of manner and don’t have any authorized or political recourse in anyway.
That’s what’s on the poll with each election within the foreseeable future.
