Stand United Or Fall Divided

This week catches us amidst a strange, if not bizarre, dynamic unfolding. On the one hand, young people of all racial and political backgrounds have come together. Then, on the other hand, conservatives seem to be attempting to lasso, or corral, like-minded folk into a movement that appears to be headed back to a place where they feel as though they have lost ground. Conservatives seem to be hell-bent on pointing out that during the past civil rights movement, they were forced to give up some of the baked-in advantages they received from centuries of being an authoritarian people. We guess the question they are attempting to ask is, "Did they give up to much?" Should they now coalesce around the ideals and movements being made by the hardline republicans? Who has taken the obstinate position of trying to reverse things to make them conform to a time when they felt like things were better when they were in control?

The problem with that kind of thinking is that it is predicated on Blacks, and liberals do not have the stomach to stand against such a morbid plan. They depend on being loud and belligerent and causing confusion and chaos among the masses. They are deliberately playing the race card and trying to magnify the apparent differences while simultaneously pointing out why we need to go back and not agree with the right-wing. We must point out that things are happening in succession, from how court cases are decided to government appointments, the conviction of Dereck Chauvin in Minneapolis, and the lack of murder charges of those in the Breonna Taylor case. All of those things paint an uncertain picture of how we are moving forward. These events demonstrate that America has come to a crossroads. People must make their choices and decisions based on their hearts rather than what is popular or their political affiliation.

Now is the time to weigh possible decisions and choices based on the future ramifications and not on the immediate gratifications. One has to be mindful there is a reason why everything now seems to have some racial implication. It is designed to make us consider the ramifications if we keep trying to go on with business as usual. We must consciously decide how we feel about race and other things. The time of following the crowd is over. We must purposely choose now which way we will go. Either forward to a future of inclusion or backward to a time where inequality was a way of life, the status quo. Be mindful there are some who are so caught up in what they want they cannot see the forest for the trees.

With that said, we would like to take a moment and introduce you to a group trying to push people to think about the problems and consider what the solutions might be. The group just held a program online where the subject was "Where do we go from here?" We fully endorse them and recommend you consider getting involved with them or another group.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT; there are high numbers of people who will lose their lives to take advantage of the perceived right they have not to be told to wear a mask. Many Americans seem to forget we Americans don't gain anything by dealing with negativity and pointing out every negative that is going on in our country. We need to remember we do our country a disservice when we make our President look weak to the world. But we find many conservatives would instead continue to "Take America back," than to realize divided we all shall fall. The time is here for you to stop, look, and leap into action.

Sincerely Yours,

What Will You Do?

Elder, James W. Williams

Chairperson, Advocacy Organization, LifeLinePlus