Michael Boylan
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Black Lives Matter

6/8/2015

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On my bicycle route I pass by a Unitarian Church.  About 10 days ago there was a sign they put out in front: Black Lives Matter.  I smiled as I made my way up a medium hill.

That's when I heard J.E.Bush say, "All lives matter."  Then he smiled (or smirked). 

It occurred to me that Mr. Bush was really saying something different.  Certainly, all lives matter.  But why was Mr. Bush saying that?  Because he wanted to destroy the movement that has been drawing attention to the many incidents of violence --particularly against young, African Americans by European descent police officers.  This was the particular meaning of the phrase and movement that Mr. Bush wanted to "go away."

Then three days ago, I passed the same church and someone had ripped off the word 'black' so that the sign said: "lives matter."  My face became grim as I attacked the hill before me.  My first reaction was that the church had been listening to Mr. Bush and his ilk.

Yesterday, I again passed the church.  There were workmen putting up a new sign that said, "Black Lives Matter." I stopped my cycling for a moment.   I deduced that the previous change had been an act of vandalism. I tried to picture who might have done it.  Was it an angry young person?  An angry old person? What expression was on their face as they ripped away the real meaning of the sign?

Today is the first Republican debate, and there will be plenty who pat themselves on the back and say, "All lives Matter" and (truly believe?) that they are calm peacemakers--the children of god.

Cycling can be dangerous.
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