By Seth Koskey Currently in the United States of America there are two pandemics coexisting. Covid-19, a virus that American’s don’t know how to respond to, and a police brutality pandemic.
Many people in America think police treat everyone the same regardless of their race. Even one of my former friends, when asked if police brutality was real, responded with a simple “no”. That's when I decided I didn’t want to be associated with him anymore. I have no problem with being friends with someone who shares different political views than me, but if you are so uneducated and oblivious I won’t stand for it. Actually many Americans are just like this. My family members on my dad’s side of the family (excluding my dad and a few select other people) think like this. Their roots have been in the segregated south since the late 1800s so it explains the behaviors, but it definitely does not excuse them. Every human holds biases including every police officer, so denying police brutality is like denying climate change, there’s so much evidence showing it exists that it’s just embarrassing to deny it. According to a U.S. News article published in 2020, Black people are three times more likely to be killed by police and are 1.3 times more likely to be unarmed. The statistics don’t lie. As a white male I rarely if ever experience racism, prejudice, or injustices towards me, so I can’t speak from my own experience. But on my mother’s side of the family, through marriage and adoption, there are many people close to me who are from Burundi in Africa. My uncle specifically, who is an African American Muslim living in Arizona (which is a state notorious for having a large police brutality problem) has a new story of how he has been targeted or harrased by police every year. I have five cousins, three uncles, and one aunt who are all a part of the African American community, this creates worry for them especially and for the family as a whole. Being a part of this family has definitely made me more aware, than if I belonged to a family of all white people. I am glad that America is having a conversation about systemic racism and police brutality. I feel it educates people who are willing to listen. Unfortunately, this discussion is happening when the American leader is an ignorant, evil coward who couldn’t care less about minorities and what they have to go through in America. It is a pessimistic viewpoint but I don’t think much will change in America unless something drastic happens soon. Racism is still alive in America and we can only hope and attempt to create change until we advance as a nation.
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By Harley Casas My life before the virus was a lot different from how I am living today. Before the virus, I was able to go to public places, such as the grocery store, without worry. I was able to visit friends and play my favorite sports. Around this time of year, I would be playing my Junior football season. I would be seeing all of my friends in class right now, writing with paper and pencil. My family and I used to go on many trips throughout the year and visit family from out of town. Life was good and full of activity.
But now, a lot has changed. We rarely go out on any trips to public places anymore and rarely get to see family. I don’t hang out with friends as often, and my Football season is over now because of the virus. All of my schooling is online, no longer in a classroom. I have quite a bit more time to play games though, which I'm not complaining about. But for me, having a lot more free time is pointless if you can’t go out and do something. Overall almost everything about my daily life has changed, and I'm still trying to get used to it. When it comes to this whole thing ending, I really don't think it's going to come quick. If places keep opening back up, then the virus is just going to spread more and more, and just make the whole matter worse. We need to reduce all unnecessary trips to public places and stay clean and safe. For the necessary trips, we need to wear a mask. This pandemic isn't going to fix itself any time soon so we all need to pitch in to make a difference. It really is a matter between life and death, and we all need to take it seriously. |
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