March For Our Lives

Wednesday, my daughter Randie and I attended a March For Our Lives rally that was held in downtown Greensboro. 

The rally was 3 blocks from my office and Randie had to pick me up from work anyway. We were already in the neighborhood so our attendance of the rally did not constitute any great sacrifice on our part.

Well, other than that both Randie or I do not cope well in big crowds so I guess there was that to consider.

So we made our 3 block trek to join the crowd gathered in support of increased gun control measures and an end to gun violence. Randie had participated in walk outs at her school this past spring in support of this movement and was very interested in seeing what this might be like. 

For me, it was my first time at an event like this.  

Students from Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, Fla. Teamed up with teenagers from places like Milwaukee, Maryland and New York as well as local student organizers to make this event happen.  Sara Jado, one of those local students who had organized a student walkout earlier this year, spoke at the rally: “This society values guns more than it does people. We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains.”

I have to admit I felt a little weird being there. 

Let me make this clear: I am in favor of my daughter or anyone’s child of NOT being shot in the face while at school.

Actually, let me expand on that: I am in favor anyone  NOT being shot in the face while anywhere. 

If I were running for public office against a candidate in the pocket of the NRA (let’s say, Ted Cruz), I would put out a negative ad against my opponent along the lines of this:

“Ted Cruz: In FAVOR of you being shot in the face! Is that what you want, America? To be shot in the face? Unlike Ted Cruz, I am NOT in favor of you being shot in the face!”

“My name is David Long and  I approve this message.”

Then Ted would get all whiny and protest that he’s not in favor of people being shot in the face and that David Long is a big ol’ meanie!  Then I would respond with this ad.

“Ted Cruz is a LYING FUCK BASTARD who IS in FAVOR of you being shot in the face! “   

“My name is David Long and I sure as hell approve this message, you lying fuck bastard.”

It would be a civilized campaign propelled by an honest and civil discussion of the issues and calling Ted Cruz a lying fuck bastard repeatedly. 

Anyway, it appears I have digressed. 

While I am most emphatically in favor anyone NOT being shot in the face, I nonetheless felt weird at the March For Our Lives rally. Why? 

In addition to the issue of being shot in the face VS. not being shot in the face while at school, work, music concert, movie theater, night club, etc etc, some of the speakers were conflating that message with the Black Lives Matter agenda.

OK, now let me make this clear: it is obvious to me that there is a disproportional amount of black men being targeted by the police leading to way too many of these black men being shot and killed.

This observation does not make me anti-police. I’m grateful for the men and women who put themselves in harm’s way every day to serve and protect. I respect the police. But that gratitude and respect does not preclude someone recognizing, “Hey, maybe there’s a problem here.” 

But is that why I was at the March For Our Lives rally? Perhaps my discomfort owes to my white privilege or something. I can compartmentalize the problems of deranged maniacs with guns killing kid at school and the problem of too many African American men being shot by the police.

Of course, if you’re a black teenager who copes with the ever present fear of being shot  in the face at school by a deranged maniac or being shot on the way home from school by a cop, I suppose it all does lump together. Criminal maniac or nervous, possibly racist cop, does it matters who shot you? You’re still shot and you’re still dead.

“This just in on Fox News: Grieving black mother relieved to hear son was shot by nervous, possibly racist cop instead of criminal maniac.” 

No I don't think so. 

But I am concerned that this kind of conflating of separate social injustices plays right into the hands of those who would dismiss these young people out of hand. 

Sean Hannity’s bulbous head fills the screen as he rants,“These CHILDREN want to get rid of ALL guns! But they are also AGAINST the police! If you HATE the police, how are you going to protect yourself if you take away ALL the GUNS! These KIDS have NO idea what they’re talking about! No GUNS and NO POLICE?!?! These KIDS are CLUELESS!!”

It really worries me how easy it is to channel a Sean Hannity style rant. Turn off 90% of your brain and you're there. 

The thing is I really do respect and admire these kids who have taken pain and trauma and channeled it into a movement to promote real change in this country.  We need political leaders to remember who they work for; they work for all the people in their cities, their districts, their states. Yes, all the people in this country. It’s not just being in the pocket of the NRA, Too many so called political leadersare more beholden to their party, to their ideology. They only recognize those specific people who vote for them.

We need political leaders who look beyond the narrow focus of their ideology and who will do what’s right for the people they represent.  It seems like such a common sense thing to ask for. But these young people have enemies aligned against them to preserve the power they have. Which is why they have to stay in control of their message. If their message of one social injustice becomes mixed with another, that's a weakness their political enemies will exploit.  

Across the street from the rally N.C. House candidate Peter Boykin had pulled together a small group of people waving “Make America Great Again,” “Don’t Tread on Me” and U.S. flags. They looked so small.  

“We are here to support our Second Amendment,” said Nancy Browning, one of those demonstrating with him.

I was there to support people NOT being shot in the face.

And I damn well approve that message.