Cop Shootings

Breaking news here in Phila this evening... more cops shot. These cops will survive, but for anyone keeping score these days, this is something like 5 or 6 within weeks... But what is discouraging is the description of the suspect given by Fox news: Black male, 5' 10" and wearing a black coat. And we wonder why racism persists in this country?

So, instead of the Seinfeld rerun I was expecting to listen to whilst I do other things, I am listening to some talking heads saying nothing. Now, we are getting a live update from the helicopter pilot to explain what we are seeing from the "SkyCam" because we should waste as many resources as possible rubbernecking from above.

There are though, a lot of reports lately, of police being shot (and many killed) in Phila. It's only bound to lead to many more problems and undoubtedly higher incidents related to racism. And instead of sitting around asking what we can do, we need to stop pretending that it doesn't exist--we need to to talk about it and loudly. The methods and tactics of yore won't work anymore--marching, protesting and gathering are only symbolic, but cannot create change anymore. We need to elicit change through the mediums of today that spark people to action. Music, movies, television, internet, media files... the revolution of today will be fought using these media and those to come. But, when we look at the top messages of today... the top single is Chris Brown's Kiss Kiss which implies that the character in the song is an 18 year old pimp. Whether it is being used to lure the woman the song is about or not, it is standard. The top movie, "American Gangster" based on the real life crime boss Frank Lucas. Television, still arguably the most popular medium, still very Caucasian.

Not to minimize the tragedy of violence, but we live in an extremely violent society. Our country is at war with itself on so many levels, it would take numerous full time people to even begin to keep track. Case in point, I scheduled a hair appointment this weekend in a part of Phila that is called University City. The location was at the northern part of UC... and my coworker advised that I might reconsider as it starts to get sketchy and rough not too far from there. I didn't and it isn't a bad part of town, but there are not so good parts north of there.... and south of there, and west of there and even east... We have to stop living in fear of what might-be, what is unknown and start to know. It's cliche, but it's truth: there is nothing we should fear but fear... and maybe if a few more of us remember that sentiment, things would be a whole lot better all around.