More victims of terrorist attacks in Brussels today. Muslims again, so of course, some blame the religion. Just as we blame blacks for the violence in the inner city. Nevermind the obvious discomfort that results from moving one people into the space of another. But, do we try to take away that discomfort? No. Do we try to prevent violence? Of course not. That is not the American Way. We prefer our violence securely in the past so we can worry about blaming someone... Usually a whole lot of someones. Gang violence is committed mostly by black or brown youths so those black or brown youths must be inherently violent, right? It couldn't possibly be that the lawless situation created in spaces where cops don't put as much effort into solving such violence leads inevitably to more violence. Or, where police overreaction to those suspected of doing something wrong means the locals don't trust the police, they turn to one another, and more reliance on gangs and gangland justice comes. And the police back away more because who can deal with these animals. No attempt to fix the situation. No. Just let it be, let it slide further and further down into the darkness and blame its victims for its condition.
Similarly, we blame the Muslims, blame Islam. Blame refugees and immigrants because what other option is there? Fix the situation? Fix ourselves? No. Blame THEM. Then ban THEM. Then make war against THEM. And, when more of THEM become refugees, and they find themselves in conclaves among US, and turn to THEMselves for justice because THEY know WE don't care, WE blame THEM all over again. The cycle continues...
We strike. They strike. We strike. They strike.
Each attack furthers the growth of the enemie's numbers. On either side. Their children become the next generation of our enemy. Our children become the next generation of theirs.
Pull a group out of its home, for whatever reason--Africans brought to America because of slavery, African-Americans migrated into the cities to find work, Afircan-Americans migrating again to new cities after a hurricane (and bad planning) destroyed one of their cities, Syrian refugees migrating... Well, anywhere to escape a war zone... whatever example you like. Take THEM and move THEM and what? You expect them to integrate with you because you're white, you're dominant, it's your world and THEY are lucky they get to live in it!?
I am tired of this American Way of trying to solve problems only after they have arisen. Whether it's healthcare, inner city people of colour or foreign refugees, we'd rather let the spark become a fire than figure out how to put the spark to good use... To perhaps strain that metaphor.
I see two options. The side of banning and warring and judging races and religions and ethnic groups en masse gets to win but only through utter destruction or the wars and rumours of wars we've got going now. And, that's hardly pleasant for anyone but the rich folk who make money off weapons and armour and vehicles, off oil contracts and what have you.
Or, the side of integration, accepting people as people, wins. And, yes, I know the other side might not choose this route at the same time we do. But, at some point, an eye for an eye, as they say, leaves the whole world blind, ignorant, and crying in pain at the sight of the destruction and the death.
We're supposed to try to improve the world, not give it new scars to replace the old, faded ones.
Utter destruction. Utter acceptance. Maybe neither is possible. But, what is the more noble goal?
