9, July 2020 Another July 4
passes, time for reflection
As yet another July 4 slips away into the pages of our history books,
it is time for reflection. A society should always be judged on how it treats
its most vulnerable citizens. African-Americans continue to suffer
disproportionately to the pandemic, systemic racism and gut wrenching police
brutality. These appalling crimes have been exposed time and time again and it
is heartening to finally see white Americans protesting alongside blacks,
Hispanics and Asian Americans to demand change.
Even Donald Trump’s harsh, racist and divisive language has lost its
allure with many of his supporters. On a slightly optimistic note,
comparatively little white backlash occurred when confederate statutes were
being pulled down reflecting the beginning of a change of in attitudes.
Consider that in 2001 Mississippi had a referendum on what to do with their
confederate flag. Two-thirds of those who participated voted to keep it. In
2020 the governor decided to bring it down with few dissenting voices. The
momentum for change, initiated by “Black Lives Matter” must be accelerated.
A “Truth and Reconciliation” commission should be established to
chronicle systemic racism and horrific police brutality inflicted on
African-American and the genocide of Native Indian communities modelled on the
South African or Rwanda Commissions. Ideally, this should be under the auspices
of the United Nations. Following the recommendations of the Commission, massive
reparations in the form of enhancing educational and job opportunities should
be offered to our most vulnerable citizens. They have waited over 400 years.
Let them wait no longer.
Finally, a holocaust museum should be built in Washington DC modelled
on the Jewish museum to chronicle crimes perpetrated against Native Americans
and broken Treaties.
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