Today officially marks 50 days until I leave! The past few weeks have absolutely flown by, and I cannot believe how close this all is. I'll still be working through my to-do list for quite a while, but I finally started my biggest task - applying for a visa. Which isn't actually as terrible as it sounds, so I won't bore anyone with all the details.
What I really want to talk about is the current issues that are ravaging our country. In all honesty, this past week especially has really convinced me that leaving the US for a year is the right thing to do. I don't want to keep waking up to the news of another police shooting of a black man. I don't want to wake up to see innocent police officers gunned down by a sniper. I don't want to live in a country where these tragedies continue to happen, yet the government refuses to change things. While I am still grateful to have grown up in America, and will miss it while I'm away, it's time for me to say goodbye for a while.
Unfortunately, not everyone is so lucky to be able to just get up and leave for a while. I am very privileged in this way. These thoughts have caused me to reflect on my life, and truly acknowledge the amount of privilege I really have. One of the current trending topics are the "issues" surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement. This is an extremely powerful movement, and one that I am fully supportive of. However, a lot of people see this as "oppressive", "problematic", or "unequal." "ALL LIVES MATTER," these "oppressed" white people yell from the sidelines. "It's unfair to exclude other races!"
Pardon my French, but what a complete load of bull.
I have had a really great life. I grew up in a wonderful family, nice neighborhoods, and have never truly wanted for anything. In addition, I have grown up surrounded by people like me - middle-class white people. I know my privilege. I see it every day. And every day I wake up and wonder how I could possibly help those who are behind the Black Lives Matter movement if I don't truly understand what they're going through. Here's how - shooting down All Lives Matter.
All lives do matter. But right now, that's not the point. Not all lives are being innocently gunned down. Not all lives are fearful when they are pulled over by the cops for what seems like no reason. Not all lives need to fight for equality. I am privileged. Most of the people who read this will likely be privileged like I am, so we cannot truly understand Black Lives Matter. But if you read this, don't support All Lives Matter. That is not what the country needs right now.
Think of it this way (and I can't take credit for this example, I saw it on the internet) - a group of four people sit down at the table. Three people are given food. The one without food says, "I deserve food." The other three say, "We all deserve food," and keep on eating. At that moment, it doesn't matter that everyone does deserve food. What matters is the inequality that hangs in the balance, and that one person is still going hungry.
I know that racial issues are prevalent everywhere, and that going to England will not save me from the inequality. But at least in England, innocent black men aren't gunned down by those who are supposed to be protecting them.
I'll leave with this - black lives matter. Some people see this as unfair, oppressive, or unequal to other races. I will forever struggle with my own white privilege, but there is one statement that I tell myself every day that helps make it a little easier, and I hope those reading this will carry it with them wherever they go. When you are used to privilege, equality seems like oppression.
