Is the BLM movement helping or hurting the racial discussion?

2020-08-17T13:45:26-04:00

I feel now more than ever the opportunity to talk about race in America is relevant. With riots breaking out across the US in a number of cities with calls to defund the police and take down statues it seems rather obvious we need to have an "honest" conversation about race in America.

Without a doubt racism has played a part in America's history - so I'm not saying there's no need to address our past or our future in regards to race however I feel the BLM could actually be more destructive than constructive in moving us forward.

As such I wanted to get a feel for people view's on BLM - I see a lot of signs in my neighborhood so I know there is support. I've even marched at a BLM rally with neighbors and friends both white and black if that even matters.

Now Karl Marx and Engels were without a doubt highly racist individuals. Engels openly called for genocide of southern Slavic nations which he felt were inferior and Marx referred to Mexicans as "lazy" and worse. Not even going to post their more extreme racist observations - you can look it up yourself.

Now BLM co-founder in response to concerns and criticism of BLM lacking a clear ideological framework Cullors stated during an interview that BLM's leadership does have a framework. She states that both her and Garza are trained Marxisit.

Seems BLM leadership is side stepping the racial divisive views of the individual that they have structured their worldview and organization around. This makes me wonder as to what is the real goal of BLM? Are they seriously saying there's systemic racism just not in their ideological framework or do they have a more sublime Marxist agenda?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YM5zUwiCTzw

BLM Founder Says They Are "Trained Marxists"

Our press corps and politicians stand 100% behind people who describe themselves as "trained Marxists"

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Aug 17 at 2020 2:02 PM

2020-08-17T14:02:13-04:00

I think it is further dividing us. It might have had some good intentions but that's been lost.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 17 at 2020 2:05 PM

2020-08-17T14:05:20-04:00

One can proclaim they are leaders with certain ideologies but the that does not mean they will be adopted by the masses. It would be pointless to push for communism as they don't have the ways and means to effect the change.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Aug 17 at 2020 2:14 PM

2020-08-17T14:14:41-04:00

It depends.

Black Lives Matter isn't just one thing. It is a movement. A state of mind within politics and modern culture. But BLM is also an organization and Non-Profit. I think the BLM movement is just the ongoing evolution of the constant updates we have been making as a nation since the Civil Rights movement. It is a vital part of our Nation improving which is what American does. We are constantly improving to make ourselves better.

But the BLM Organization is different and needs to be seen as a separate body. Not everyone shouting Black Lives Matter is part of the BLM non-profit. The official BLM group has a set goal and mission statement that is troubling and personally I do feel their goals and tactics as a group are detrimental to the cause.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Aug 17 at 2020 2:17 PM

2020-08-17T14:17:39-04:00

SPC David S. Dear African Americans, you lives matter.

Response by PO3 Phyllis Maynard made Aug 17 at 2020 2:27 PM

2020-08-17T14:27:25-04:00

SPC David S. I am not sitting on the fence but what I see is not a movement for relevant change to focus on law enforcement policy, I see something sinister and underhanded posing as a movement. I don't trust what I see. So, no at this time I do not support BLM. Mr. George Floyd's name has left the conversation.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 17 at 2020 3:45 PM

2020-08-17T15:45:13-04:00

It's like watching all of those che guevera socialite "socialists" running around with a t-shirt featuring that racist homophobe without even considering che's actual history of bigotry. You just can't make this shit up!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 17 at 2020 5:02 PM

2020-08-17T17:02:52-04:00

When people allow their message to be hijacked by people who are out to loot and destroy, it poisons any chance that a real discussion can be had.

Response by Wayne Soares made Aug 17 at 2020 8:13 PM

2020-08-17T20:13:22-04:00

Definitely dividing us

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 17 at 2020 11:35 PM

2020-08-17T23:35:20-04:00

I don't understand the Karl Marx picture. Holocaust is a word that has existed long before the Nazis.

Response by LCDR Joshua Gillespie made Aug 18 at 2020 11:01 AM

2020-08-18T11:01:17-04:00

Here is the issue in a nutshell.

I don't really know any Caucasians who genuinely believe on ANY level that slavery was a "good" thing, that "Segregation" was just, or that there's one iota of difference on a biological, spiritual, or intellectual level between themselves... and anyone of African ancestry. However; I do know plenty of people who believe that the inner-cities are more dangerous than the rural areas, that violent crime is more prevalent among urban communities, and that there are cultural variances between these regions that result in social conflict. In that sense, we're really not talking about a "racial" issue... but rather, a "cultural" issue.

Because of this, movements like "BLM" seem to be sounding false trumpets to anyone who's not been directly impacted by the issues they're citing. I believe police officers sometimes kill people unjustly... the worst I've seen on film was a Caucasian man killed by a Caucasian officer. I believe people are often treated unfairly... I've personally been asked to leave a restaurant because I wasn't dressed "hip" enough. It happens to many people... not just African Americans, and is rooted in many things deeper and more prolific than "racism". For me, these things hinge on economics, religious belief, and the "generation gap".

Much of these issues would probably go away if we were all as rich as Bill Gates. Envy is created when someone is working hard... and getting nowhere, while someone else is working "smarter'... and getting leaps and bounds ahead. It's that sense that they "know something we don't", or more likely, "were helped" that breeds this sense "they" are "special"... and "we" are victims.

Similarly, if we all shared the same spiritual views... I doubt we'd have so many conflicts. People either believe in something, or they don't. If those beliefs say that there are visceral and permanent consequences in the afterlife for actions taken during life... it stands to reason that adherents to those beliefs will vehemently resist efforts to subjugate them. Likewise, those who reject those beliefs will work equally hard to prevent them from entering "their" daily lives. The only viable solutions to this issue are either compromise... or conquest. I sincerely hope we choose the former, and not the latter.

Finally, maybe if we were all either twenty-two... or sixty-five, we'd have more in common. I certainly don't view the world the way I did twenty years ago, and I expect my views will be different twenty years from now. It's all about relative experience, and frankly... many of the people out there as activists don't have that experience. They've not seen how much things may have improved since the 1950s, or how badly even the best laid plans could evolve over the next half century.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 18 at 2020 1:29 PM

2020-08-18T13:29:57-04:00

I think it's causing division. For starters, I haven't even come close to being convinced that black people in America are being systematically killed or imprisoned. We've recently had a black president, we see black people in every industry and at every level of society, and the last two jobs I applied for went to black Soldiers. So if we're systematically racist, we're not very good at it. That's my personal observations. Others' may vary.

As for the actual BLM movement, I don't know what their end goal is. I've heard it has nothing to do with black lives at all but I can't confirm that. What I do know is that some of the protests that it has spawned have been obviously destructive. And the ideas like defunding the police are crazy and equally destructive.

So what's the answer? In my opinion we need to leave race out of it and simply say "Love your neighbor as yourself" regardless of their color/religion/nationality/etc. If we all did that, every day, this country would be a much better place to live. Jesus taught that 2000 years ago. Maybe He was onto something.