Civilization and violence are antithetical concepts wrote Dr King in 1964.

Do we live in a brutal society – this is unquestionable. If pursuing root cause, why not talk about the wholesale acceptance of brutality in our society.

Guns are everywhere. We permit mass shootings, accept the NRA buys elected officials and have mainstreamed street fighting and gory kids games. Look around: we’re inundated with violent content and themes like nowhere else on earth. How many marching against police brutality are also fans of Game of Thrones? Brutality is a multi-modal plague too. And violence begets violence. It’s at a point where it almost seems normal.

Slavery still exists! Didn’t you know? Run mostly by Chinese and Russian interests, there are more human slaves on this planet today than ever before in history.

Root cause or symptom?

Still, Americans know all too well the difference between privileged and under privileged and the dynamics that contribute to, reinforce and create such injustices. We can argue what percentage of Americans are truly tolerant, as Joe Biden seems to want to try, but I believe a great portion of us want the same future: one where the all old ugly hateful precepts, paradigms and inequities have passed away.

A just, tolerant, and prosperous society for all should be the priority – until it exists.

For anger to cease, it needs to see an end. There needs to be dialogue occurring under level-headed circumstances without the threat of violence, using empathy, forgiveness, community-based principles and collaborative leadership.

We just float around solutions without good leadership. Leadership is taking action even when you don’t know where to take it, doing things not everyone will like or understand. These issues present so much volatility, like a gaping wound, they are danced around by leaders of all shapes sizes and colors.

Insert contrarian Authoritative Racist sexist cartoon-ish President steepening this precipice all the more, turning protests into riots. We risk losing the point. This administration has tried to divert our legacy trending toward justice. He and he alone is the white supremacist in the Oval Office, a perpetual hater too insecure and unloving for fair playing fields — a tumor gnawing at our collective heart.

We have an intolerable President. And a quiet majority (…the environment for continued injustice)

By we, I mean all Americans. We’re all different but deep down you know this President doesn’t represent your ideals. If you really say you love America, you love it for how it was intended, not how it was implemented – how it is meant to hold society and show to the world.

You also know that freedom doesn’t exist unless everyone is free.

Believing such equality is possible – in fact, feeling that its only possible in America, in all its plurality and passion – this is what we can hold on to these days.

There are no limitations – except fear – to our society correcting its past, It’s not leaders, history, politics or economics in our way or guide us, as much as it is all of our indifference.

It’s on us. We hold the key to how this goes.

Sounds silly, but in each of our hearts, every day, standing up to, and for, demanding what’s right is right – even if you don’t directly benefit – because it’s the world you want.

KJS//June 17 2020