I was asked to write an article about this, but declined. I was then asked, “Well, you should make a blog of it then”. So here it is.
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In a Facebook group for International mothers living in Switzerland, someone asked about having a beautiful little boy that will grow up to be seen by the world as a threat, as worthless, as someone who is automatically guilty before innocent; and how do we change this.
People have been asking that question for years and when you think it is answered, somehow things get worse. People, mothers are always commenting and writing about this topic of discrimination across the globe and how do we deal with it. It could be a micro incident that happened and it would trigger a debate or a macro/ country-level or world-level incident and then a very long debate will happen on a post. Many will comment, it will get heated sometimes and the Admin will have to close the commenting to stop it getting worse.
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I normally read the comments, watch the debate and not really ever comment on it. It’s a little same old same old to me, so I don’t bother.
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However, when I, like millions of others, saw the extinction of a man’s life by a police officer as he cried for air and even his mother, this time I had to write something and this is what I wrote in response to the original poster’s post in the facebook private group.
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I’m not one for commenting on this topic, it’s exhausting, energy zapping, largely futile and downright bloody exasperating. But there comes a point when you need to put pen to paper – fingers to keyboard and say f&#k to the discomfort I keep hearing about when this subject approaches the bench.
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Can people who haven’t got a clue about the struggles of POC not display their ignorance and come up with the most ludicrous of comparisons. I’m too long in the tooth to start educating people and to be honest, I’ve got better things to be getting on with. Ignoramuses have no priority in my life and I refuse to educate them. If you are racist, go get help, see a psychiatrist and have a good look at yourself and ask why it is important for you to be this pathetic? If you are not sure about a situation, an experience, a news item; an incident, then ask – do not compare it to your own experience unless you are comparing apples with apples.
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It always astonishes me that a culture so proud of the arts, music, literature, science, astronomy, history etc is accepting of individuals to be pedestrian-like or ignorant on POC and their plight. Yet if you fall foul in your knowledge of something, anything however rudimentary on non-POC topics, you are laughed at by the knowledgeable, you are called uneducated, ignorant even and put into a class and social bracket. But it is ok, regardless of your class and stature to be ignorant of POC, their history, their lives and their culture. It is ok to amuse yourself on not knowing something about them or to make light of incredibly stupid comments and openly and unashamedly show your lack of knowledge because the subject matter is POC. Hmmm. Explain that one to me.
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With regards to George Floyd and [The Original Poster’s] post, it is heartbreaking. It was his call for his mother that got me. I used to hear stories of men, just before they would pass to the other side, they would call out for their mothers – mama, mama etc. These men were soldiers fighting in WWI and in WWII. They were on the battlefields or in the trenches, in excruciating pain and knowing their fate. So, perhaps that might give some of you an insight into the situation George Floyd felt he was in – absolutely hopeless. Unfortunately, many will follow him before something is actually done about this. Don’t blame the rioters, looters etc the culture is VIOLENT! Understand energy, chemistry and physics – if you give out violence or push a force in one direction, e.g press an air-filled balloon with your thumb – you will cause that force to come out in another direction or just react. Stop using that to deflect from the real issue here – injustice, inequality and systematic racism. Let’s keep to that point and we may get some kind of resolution.
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I assumed one couldn’t compare Switzerland to the US, but after reading [Another Poster’s comment] post I need to think again. Yes, racism is everywhere, it is very transparent in the US. Look at the history – it was founded on genocide and racism and therefore calling itself a ‘shining city on a hill’ is absurd. Forgive me my American friends this is not a personal attack on ANY of you, but that is just a fact. However, Switzerland is not blame-free. There is ignorance and acceptance of negativity toward POC. There is also culture, efficiency and pride in doing things right. Whether we will see a George Floyd incident in Switzerland, that remains to be seen. But I sincerely hope not. My heart sank when I read your post [Another Poster/Mum] – the fear for one’s child. The political landscape is breeding far-right views across Europe and I do worry for my child too, for everyone in fact.
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The saddest thing about all of this, is that it will happen again and again and again and we will write about it, post relevant memes to feel better about ‘doing something’ and then like clockwork we’ll get back to our own lives. The POC will continue to talk, protest, complain, try to educate, seek fairness etc with the hope that something will be done… one day. This blog has been titled Thoughts and Prayers for a reason….
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Thoughts and prayers don’t mean a damn thing unless it is accompanied on a federal, social, personal and especially educational level with proactive actions to stop all of this madness..
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RIP George Floyd
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