Thursday, July 7, 2016 is a day that, yet again, will forever be burned into the minds of those affected by the Dallas Shooting. During a #blacklivesmatter, peaceful protest, a gunman, Micah Xavier Johnson, 25, of Mesquite, Texas, whom was a military veteran who'd served in Afghanistan, went through with a well-thought out plan that would take the precious lives of police officers guarding the protesters that day.
It's been tweeted nonstop that Johnson was taking a stand against racist officers that abused and tormented black people and their families. On this day though, officers would pause to take photos with protesters and talk with them. They didn't seem to be all that racist and violent in the images. Nonetheless, I believe that there are corrupt officers, just like there are corrupt politicians and judges and even preachers. To me, that doesn't justify the murder of officers that you have no idea were even corrupt or not. In the tragedy that took place, five police officers were killed and seven were wounded in the firing. It has been considered the deadliest single incident for U.S. law enforcement since September 11, 2001. Two civilians were also hurt that day. It's been explained that officers charged through the oncoming bullets to further protect the protesters, act of courage that not many would ever take.
What I'd like to get into the heads of American's is that the black lives that are abused by officers do matter, the lives of officers who defend helpless citizens matter, the lives of protesters matter, the lives of whites matter, the lives of any person that breathes, matters. Life is life and in the end, no life is worth more than another. There is no exception for this. This country has lost all sympathy for one another and I'm not referring to race. When I look at another person, I don't see a color/race. I see a living, breathing person. I want to be able to see kids stand up and say the pledge of allegiance in school and know what it means to be one nation under God.
This country needs more prayer and love more than ever. American's aren't just whites, or blacks, or any race. We are a nation. We are supposed to stick together to defend our way of living and praise those who go above and beyond to do so; our soldiers, officers, even politicians. The corruptness in our country is getting out of hand and there's no better person to fix this problem, than the Lord, our Savior. I know everyone doesn't have this belief, however, this is a perspective of a God worshiping person and the solo fix in my eyes. I respect those who have their own opinions that aren't the same as mine. However, instead of putting labels on the lives that matter most, let's start making our lives worth living, and that my friend, for me, is starting with prayer.
Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV)
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
