IT IS MORE THAN JUST POLICE BRUTALITY AND RACE IN THIS COUNTRY

Embracing - Photo: wjs.com

IT IS MORE THAN JUST POLICE BRUTALITY AND RACE IN THIS COUNTRY

This past week, two African-American men were shot and killed by white police in Louisiana and Minnesota. It spurred protests and debate over police brutality, and even guns, in our country. Yesterday, a black sniper intentionally killed five police officers and injured seven more. Clearly, his ill-will intended to kill white people, especially white officers. It was an act of revenge just because he was upset about recent police shootings. 

Revenge is an act of desperation- a calling for help and not revolutionary. It is an act of hatred and domestic terrorism. Violence fuels violence as if gasoline is poured into the fire. Violence is not a solution. There is no place for that in this already violent world. Buddha once said, "Only compassion conquers all hatred." Even Fred Hampton, the chairman of the Illinois Black Panther Party who was shot by the Chicago Police Department said, "We don't think you fight fire with fire best; we think you fight fire with water best." Yes, police brutality and profiling need to stop and so hatred and violence. 

Just take a deep breath, calm down and be proactive in our action to change things. All transformation starts from the within. I remembered as a teenager in the great nation- 'land of opportunity', I was profiled by the police. I first came to this country in 1991. A friend and I were profiled and put in the back of the cars of the police just because a white kid decided that "we- the Asian-looking guys, might be the one who threatened to hit him." We happened to be the ones who walked to Peter Pan Park in Lincoln, NE. It took the police a long time to verify what we said (via the translator of course since we didn't speak the language back then). We were finally released when that kid decided that we were not the guys. No apology or anything was given to us. Thus, police profiling and brutality need to be stop once and for all. 

My family and I transformed my frustration into action via volunteering in the Asian Center and doing good deeds for the community. We obtained the highest education level possible to give back and contribute to our society. We helped the newcomers and we built bridges rather than walls. We endeavor to spread mutual understanding and compassion rather than biases and hatred. 

The solution for the current issue is much more complicated because the problem is systematic and institutional. Perhaps, we should start with anti-poverty and anti-racism efforts, the justice system, educational reform (including Title I funding), prison reform, gun laws, reducing violence in games, fantasizing guns and gangs, and/or militarism within the American society (using the robot to bombed and killed the suspect is an example). But let’s first start with changes from within. We need to be open-minded, empathetic, and develop our willingness to change for the greater good from our current situations.

It is evident that we live in a democratic system which is a nation of laws. All of us citizens must abide by the laws of the country that we created and we must take great care of our obligations and responsibilities to make this great nation even stronger. 

We, as compassionate and patriotic Americans, need to find a revolution and that revolution must have the foundation of love, compassion, understanding, equality and peace.  With the heavy heart, I am praying for all the victims and police officers in Dallas and their families. Let's turn this grief into compassionate action for our family, community and society.

May all be safe. May all be well and May all be happy.