Civil Unrest and Curfew

Posted on June 2, 2020 by cordeliasmom2012

The COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t chaotic enough?  At this exact time, must we also have civil unrest and legal protests which subsequently turn violent?

This is really weird.  I haven’t had a curfew since I was 16 and living at home.   I think I had a curfew until I turned 18 and moved out on my own.  That happened to be during the late 1960’s after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  I remember those times well, and the current riots and looting remind me of those days.

Today, we are under curfew in all of Erie County, New York due to rioting and looting after nightfall.  While it has been bad here, it’s been so much worse in other areas of the state and the country.  I’ve seen the videos depicting violence against people and property; I’ve watched videos of policy brutality, videos of peaceful protest followed by videos of violence and rampant looting, videos of unnecessary aggression by police against protestors, and videos of aggression by protestors against those police who are trying to do their job to control the chaos.

Have we not learned anything in the last 50 years? I find it hard to accept that there is still so much racial tension.  I tried to raise my kids to have no pre-conceived notions about anyone, whether black, white, brown, yellow, rainbow colored, or green.  In fact, at least one of my daughters didn’t know the meaning of the N word until she heard it in elementary school from one of her classmates.  I then found myself in the sad position of having to explain not only the N word, but also  many other terms maligning people of other races and from other countries (which words had also been heard at school).

Sure, there are lots of people I don’t like and have no interest in being cozy with, for whatever reason.  But those particular people have, in fact, given me a specific reason to dislike them, and it isn’t because of race or nationality.  At times I have been known to utter derogatory comments about other drivers, but those tend to be more towards the F word, and often the A and B words.  As we all know, those words can apply to any race or nationality – we can all be equally annoying to others, can’t we?

Sometimes I don’t want to be friendly with anyone.  That’s just my way.

The majority of the protestors (a variety of skin colors and nationalities) are peaceful, and most of them go home when the legal protest is over.  I understand there are outside agitators whose sole purpose is to use those legal protests in order to create mayhem, and I understand there are a few people in power who think such mayhem is a great launch platform to be used for furthering one’s own political goals.

It has to stop.  This is not the 1960’s.  We do not live in Nazi Germany.  This is America – we are all Americans.  By coming together during 911 and during the COVID-19 crisis, we have already shown that we can join together as Americans.

I am not a political person; I do not support any particular party or candidate.  But I do think it’s time for all Americans to band together and exercise their voting rights to assure that we have leadership which does not use natural disasters, health crises, and civil unrest as the basis to further their own political ambitions.

I’ll get off my own platform now.  It’s time to prepare for my return to work next week, and there’s so much to do.  You know, all those things that I planned to do and procrastinated about because the pandemic went on for so long that I thought I had a lot more time.  Well, time is about to be up.  Gotta get moving on some of those little projects.  Gotta get Puppy Cody back on a workday schedule.

I imagine that despite the curfew, a “real” photographer would use this opportunity to get some awesome urban unrest photos. Thank heavens I’m not a “real” photographer. I’ll stick with Puppy Cody photos and rebuilding photos.

 

 

The closest I’ll come to danger is this photo of a potentially electrifying situation:

(Don’t worry – it’s just an optical illusion.  There’s actually distance between those wires and that construction vehicle.)

BTW, remember those disposable masks I ordered from China?  They finally arrived today!  Ordered April 24, delivered June 2.  But at least they got here.  The disposable gloves are still in China, as far as I can determine.

Peace, everyone – wherever you are and whoever you are.

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I love to hear from my readers. You may comment on this post, comment on my Facebook or Twitter pages, or email me at cordeliasmom2012@yahoo.com
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Images by Cordelia’s Mom/TeddyRosalieStudio

 

 

 

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24 Responses to Civil Unrest and Curfew

  1. Carol says:
    June 2, 2020 at 4:21 pm

    Apparently we have learned nothing. We talk bigabout change whenever something happens, then we forget it all and move forward on the same path.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. simplywendi says:
    June 2, 2020 at 4:23 pm

    sending you love and peace as you return to work next week!

    Like

    Reply
  3. Marc Beebe says:
    June 2, 2020 at 6:00 pm

    I lived through what I thought was amazing social progress only to see it all suddenly swept aside.
    I’m too old for this rerun.

    Like

    Reply
  4. Still the Lucky Few says:
    June 3, 2020 at 12:49 am

    I’m deeply troubled too, but have vowed not to give up on humanity. We have to keep going in order to help this generation. This is all happening because of them, and also on their behalf. I have great faith that this group of people will be the change-makers. Please support all of them—the protesters, the police, and yes, even the politicians, since there will surely be a new wave of them..

    Like

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  5. willowdot21 says:
    June 3, 2020 at 5:40 am

    I wonder, had God made us all the same colour what would the bigots and racists found to separate the have from the have nots, the blessed from the not blessed? It grieves me so that we humans are so evil to each other. You may think evil is too strong a word but I do feel there is a lot of it still in the world. We are all the same under the skin, I taught my children that and I believe it. Where is kindness where is love? The leaders of the world pissed on them, money holds sway. ….you are right we should of left the 60s behind us and learned the lessons, sadly collectively humans as a species never learn . Be safe 💜🌈

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  6. New Bloggy Cat says:
    June 3, 2020 at 9:20 am

    Well said, CM! Sending peace to you and all Americans from my country to yours.（*’∀’人）♥

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. markbialczak says:
    June 4, 2020 at 8:19 am

    Be safe and be well and don’t get too close to the protests with your camera, as my friend Dennis sadly experienced here, CM.

    Like

    Reply
  8. Trent Lewin says:
    June 6, 2020 at 7:40 am

    CM, I think you should get on a platform more often and send our your words, because you just made a strong apolitical statement that asks for true leadership. That’s exactly what we need right now, everywhere.

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    • cordeliasmom2012 says:
      June 6, 2020 at 9:50 am

      Thanks, Trent. Generally, I try to stay away from politics, but recently I’ve seen the difference in leadership between the state governors, the city mayors, and the US President and congressional people. Something has to change at the upper levels.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • Trent Lewin says:
        June 6, 2020 at 9:59 am

        I can only agree with you. Leadership is so important, and right now, so lacking. Change is necessary, I think this is one of those pivotal moments when that needs to happen.

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        Reply
  9. AmyRose🌹 says:
    June 8, 2020 at 8:39 pm

    I didn’t even know we had a curfew. LOL So much for being informed. This photographer doesn’t have any intention of taking pics of protesters or riots. I think I will do a post on when I do get my hair done though. I’m still focused on beauty and will continue to do so. I agree with you that WE THE PEOPLE have become strong with the storms we have been through together and are going to change this world for the better. Many leaders IMHO are going to come crashing down. The PEOPLE will demand it. I believe there is a real positive change coming out of these horrors, CM. I really do. Unfortunately it’s taken tragedy and suffering to get people to come together demanding change. Notice how our leader in Albany is increasing the pace of opening places. FYI …. Libraries as of TODAY are open. I do believe these protesters who were not expected and in such large numbers are making some in authority very nervous. GOOD! I won’t go politics either, friend. Not here. Nope. Go get to the library! For the JOY!! xo

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