With everything going on in our world the last thing we need is more violence (in response to the riots currently taking place in Minnesota) is a common response I’ve been seeing on social media.
But what is one to do when the only emotion they know how to express fully is anger?
To paraphrase Bishop T. D. Jakes, if a man or woman only has a hammer they will see every problem as a nail. I think it’s a great explanation of what our world is dealing with right now…
We cannot send men and women and children out into this world ill equipped to express their emotions in a healthy way, and then get upset when they are only able to communicate from a certain level. It’s unfair and irresponsible. Mental health issues are real.
People are really struggling to express themselves. It’s amazing to me how this fact can get lost in a sea of judgmental opinions. Instead of us shaking our heads at the young men and women who have been looting and destroying the city we should be asking ourselves, “what are they trying to say?”
Could it be, that just like so many black men and women, they are hurting and so tired of waking up every day to another headline of a young black man or woman or child killed. Be it a murder by one of their peers or a cop. It all hurts. And it can all be too much sometimes. For anyone.
Not that I condone the rioting or any form of violence in response to this horrible tragedy in Minnesota, because that isn’t ok. Ever. But I do think that this response requires a second look.
What are we overlooking? How can we do better for the next generation? Surely we can do better for them? For all of us.
