I feel so helpless. And hopeless. This was on my cousin's Facebook page today, in response to him saying the looting was wrong. I tried to explain that when people feel powerless, they act. But then there was this:
The fact is we don't know, And I'm sure those people really don't either, Some who witnessed say 2 different things! I'm gonna believe the officer. Now as for the poor choices those people are making,would tend allow me to believe, animals act like criminals. Yes I just said that. You don't hear Caucasians gathering together acting this way if a black officer shot a white kid even if he "was running away". Some ethnic groups just don't know nor care how they act in large numbers. So I believe young Mr.Brown definitely got delt with accordingly,the force used was justified. But the actions of the mob is completely uncalled for. We are talking innocent people ( the looted) paying the price for what exactly ?!?!
I'm a teacher of English, a writer, and my words fail me. I need to
DO something.
What are my options?? I could join a protest, but I live in a very white area, with lots and lots of people like that guy above, so I would be walking alone. Which is fine, but wouldn't make any kind of impact. I have been reading comments over at DU, and many people are against the protests because middle class people are trying to get to work. Boo hoo, I said. And then I got an idea.
The only way to change this country is by hitting those in power where it hurts: the pocketbook. They don't care if a dozen buildings in Missouri are burned to the ground. They don't care how many black kids are killed, as long as the machinery continues. I think we need an organized boycott, and what better time of year than this??
I pledge to not buy one gift for anyone this holiday season that is not made locally. So no clothes unless they are made in America. No boots unless they are made in America. No coats, no jackets, the same. No big box stores. I will shop at LL Bean online for clothes. (I think they are still made in America. Correct me if I'm wrong.) No made in China crap. None.
I can't do much, but I can refuse to play the game any longer. I can make most gifts: quilts, jewelry, glass plates and pottery. I can buy from fellow artisans for things I can't make. I can do my tiny part to let corporate America and the powers-that-be know that it is not OK to run this country the way it has been run. They can put pressure on the government to make changes. The government doesn't listen to us, because we can't buy them. I can let the government know that if only a few million people do this, we can cripple businesses through the power of choice: not taking out our wallets. Then, they may begin to listen to us.
Martin Luther King Jr. did this with no social media. He organized the boycott of the buses, and it was amazingly effective. Why don't we do this?? It works.
I can only do a bit, but I'm going to do it. Will you join me?