The words “Can’t we all just get along?†, seem to be the word of the day, following the killings in Arizona in early January. It’s kind of ironic that these words were spoken by Rodney King, 20 years ago, when Los Angeles erupted into riots and destruction following the announcement of a not guilty verdict for the four LAPD officers who were filmed repeatedly beating King even though he did not appear to be resisting arrest.
Although there may be little evidence that the provocative words of would-be politicians Sarah Palin, Sharon Engle, and others on the right led to the murders in Arizona, would any of us be surprised if it turns out that the killer was indeed influenced by one of these provocations?.
The rush to expand gun ownership rights has overtaken all of our attempts over the last few decades to expand civil rights, social justice, brotherhood and respect for the views and lifestyles of others. Instead, Americans have witnessed the erosion of many of the hard-fought gains of the Civil Rights Movement. Many of us were dismayed by U.S. Supreme Court decisions that both undermined Affirmative Action programs and elevated the First Amendment rights of corporations over those of average citizens in American politics. Others are frustrated by a government that refuses to protect the civil rights of citizens who wish to be married under Law or to serve openly in the U.S. military. And yet other citizens feel badgered by state governments that have targeted them for increased harassment based upon what they look like, and now require average citizens to carry proof of citizenship whenever they leave home to avoid possible deportation.
It is clear that our civil rights exist only if we value their importance and continually fight to protect and preserve them for ourselves and for our fellow citizens.
