Well, here we are again. Every so often, America seems to get back to this place of #BlackLivesMatter versus #BlueLivesMatter. It’s been made into a battle between the black and the blue, which leaves everybody involved in a state to be expected: black and blue. This country has become a place of throwing blame and throwing bullets instead of solving problems.

I am a police officer’s daughter. Before you go and discard my opinion, pay attention to what I have to say. I am not, by any means, here to say that the police are always right. We’re humans; that means we are going to make mistakes, and those mistakes can be deadly ones. That being said, I’m not here to say that the Black Lives Matter movement is always right, either.

First off, there are racist police officers. Even in such a society of political correctness that we have attempted to build, there are still going to be people who are racist. *Gasp!* What?! You mean that people can have opinions different from my own? Yes. Yes they can. It’s a shame, isn’t it? Racism becomes a highlighted issue when it causes people to treat somebody as lesser beings than themselves. I’m not going to say this doesn’t happen in the police force, just as I can’t and won’t say it doesn’t happen in accounting, real estate, teaching, hospitals, or fast food service. Racism occurs in every line of work, but is more noticeable in the police force due to the nature of the mistakes that are made.

Secondly, black people aren’t always innocent. Just as there are racist people in all lines of work, there are criminals in all races and communities. Because of how our society seems to work, groups of like individuals try to stick together as a benefit for all people involved. This can be illustrated in something as big as an entire race banding together, or something as small as a group of the popular kids at school. These groups can be so blinded by their sense of loyalty to their fellow community member that they often fail to realize that they, too, are fallible. Just because you have something in common with somebody else does not mean that they are exactly who you are. We tend to see ourselves as theoretically being in the same position as people similar to us, saying “Well, I wouldn’t do that, so why would they?” Well, surprise, surprise: it’s time for a reality check. There are black and white murderers, rapists, violent shooters, domestic violence perpetrators, child molesters, and the list can continue for pages. Just because you wouldn’t do it, doesn’t mean somebody like you won’t.

Those two facts being said, not all police officers are racist, and not all black people are criminals. These are the facts we need to focus on. Instead of jumping to conclusions when we see that a black man was killed by a white officer, we need to objectively look at the facts of the situation before becoming upset. What weapons were involved and how? Was the person shot acting violent in a way that lives were in danger? Was the person being uncooperative and threatening in a way that quickly could’ve changed to deadly violence? These are things to be greatly considered, whether those injured were black, white, hispanic, or asian.

There are simple ways for both black and white people to avoid unnecessary confrontation with police officers. First of all, don’t be a criminal. *POOF* It’s that easy! It doesn't matter what race you are; if you don’t do something against the law, the police won’t be looking for you in the first place. In addition to not killing your neighbor, try not going faster than the speed limit, keeping your car inspection up to date, and following the simple parts of the law. Doing this will prevent smaller confrontations that could expand into something bigger.

Should you be stopped or pulled over, whether that’s for being wanted for involvement in a crime or for going too fast in a school zone, there are simple things you can do to avoid making the situation a threatening one for either party. Start with keeping your hands high on the steering wheel as the officer approaches your vehicle. You can pull out your license and registration when he or she gets to your window. Sorting through your car in a panic can make an officer assume the worst, especially since they have likely been involved in “the worst” before. If you have any weapons in the vehicle, declare them when the officer is at your window. Let the officer know, in a calm, nonthreatening fashion, that you do, in fact, have a handgun in the backseat, or a few hunting knives in the glove compartment. Letting him or her know the location and type of weapon you have with you can avoid a threatening interpretation of movements later. Remember, the officer doesn’t know you. He doesn’t know whether or not he can trust you, and until proven otherwise, his job tends to require that he think “not” for his own safety and the safety of the general public. Finally, in all cases, avoid making sudden movements. This can help to avoid the illusion of having a weapon that you could use against the officer.

Through following these steps, not only can you make sure that your interaction with the police is minimal, but you can make the job of the officers a lot less stressful. The solutions to the problems at hand are simple. Remember: the police don’t want to shoot you. Their job is to protect their own lives and the lives of the members of the public. We are all humans, no matter the color of our skin, our status in society or our occupation. We are all just trying to do what we can to have the lives we want to lead. If we can learn, as a society, to respect one another despite disagreeing with each other, we can prevent many unnecessary deaths on both the sides of the equation.