And So "It" Begins

And so “it” begins… The outrage, the anger, the sadness, the finger pointing, the justifications, turmoil, arguments, racist remarks, assumptions, and the violence. The question I have is; what is “it”? What is this that we are all apart of? No matter what your beliefs, color, culture. Socio-economic, sex, sexual orientation, etc. we are in the thick of “it”. “It” can begin like a gathering of clouds off the coast, we see “it” forming, we know “it” is coming, and we quietly begin to face the fact that “it’s” going to hit home and hit hard. So what is “it”?

To put “it” lightly, “It” is the truth walking right up to us and clubbing us over the head with a brick. “It” is that force, reality, that gorilla in the room that we have been ignoring. The scariest part of “it” is that “it” is you and me.  Yes, You and Me! I know some of you are unconsciously looking over your shoulder around the room with that, “Who me?” look on your face, Yes You.

We are “it”, this is the reality that we have created. Some of us will look it “it” with discontent, others will apply violence, some will play passive, others will run and hide, and only a few cooler heads will prevail. By our own selfishness we see the problem and apply justifications to why it exist instead of applying unselfish solutions to the problem.

“It” does not matter what side of the fence you are on good or bad, Muslim or Jew, for or against the Police, pro-choice or pro-life, Democrat or Republican when people die it’s a problem for everyone. Now, there is no doubt that there are just some bad people on this planet, but the good people far outweigh the bad. So when “it” starts brewing why does “it” seems that the bad in “it “always succeeds?

“It” might need a burning of a city to get us to face the reality of the storm that we have been ignoring for so long. “It” might be a way of telling us how unprepared we are for this type of storm, how our focus on petty disagreements kept us from focusing on how to prepare our family, homes, and selves from this type of storm. Now that the rain has begun we realize that we lack the tools, supplies, understanding, direction, and aptitude to weather the storm. So, our only option is to act in ways that degrade our human nature, belittle us, and lessen us as a people.

“It” is the racist remarks in victory and defeat, “it” is the looting and the violence to your own community, “it” is the death of a youth, the rape of a young girl, a terrorist act, the withholding of education, “it” can be a terrible thing.

“It” can also be that glimpse of hope, the uniting of a people, the passing of a law, and the feeding of the poor. “It” is peace, love, and understanding “it” is the honest judgment, a fair trial, justice, and equality. Let “it” begin, do not let “it” begin for the advancement of negativity, but let “it begin for the benefit of humanity.