It's hard to even know what to say about the news recently.

[NRaleighLiberal]

I come here, I read, I become sick at what is going on in our country. Since we don't watch TV, hence see what news is reported, and how it is spun, I read through the links posted here at DU and on a few other sites, like TPM. It is just too much - it is hard to find the words (many here are so eloquent and do a good job putting into their words what I feel). I can't help it - I tend to lead with the heart, it hits me in the gut - and the saying - "there are no words"? Yes, sometimes there simply are none.

All I can say - and I've felt it for a long time. If we still are in a state of existence where there are people who think that they are better, or that some people are lesser - just because of something innate - their race, where they live, how much they earn, where they grew up, their sex, their sexual orientation - we are in deep, deep trouble - as human beings.

We recently re-watched the John Adams miniseries, and last summer we visited Monticello. Though I am not an extensive reader of history, it sent me off to do a bit of research, and I was shocked to find that Thomas Jefferson - considered so great, progressive, forward thinking by so many - truly felt that blacks were lesser beings. From the Monticello website - " Jefferson’s belief that blacks were racially inferior and “as incapable as children,” coupled with slaves’ presumed resentment of their former owners, made their removal from the United States an integral part of Jefferson’s emancipation scheme". That completely boggles my mind.

And what boggles my mind even more is that we are now well over a few hundred years removed from that - and so many still believe that, and act on that.

It truly makes me ill. How are have we really come, as human beings? And where the hell are we going?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Your thoughts mirror my own, my dear NRaleighLiberal, though you're far more eloquent than I am...

I am sick at heart at recent events here. Sometimes I wish I didn't care so much, or were so very involved.

There's no going back to ignorance for me. Even if I wish I could, I cannot.

I feel helpless and sick at heart.

I feel so much dread for my children and grandchildren. What kind of world am I leaving them?

[NRaleighLiberal]

4. .

[elleng]

2. My daughters wrote this:

!, about Ferguson: No matter what your stance is on the issue, let's ALL allow ourselves to move forward...that's the only direction we can go.

and quoted Kevin Hart: Not all cops are bad. Not all black people are criminals. And not all white people are racist. Stop labeling, its 2014. Let's get equal.

2 wrote this today, about Mr. Garner in Staten Island: Take a stand against racism. Stand with black Americans, show each other that we recognize our identical humanity. Be the kind of person who knows that every person who is killed mercilessly is someone's baby. Stop with this nonsense. Stop hating black people, behave like evolved human beings.

I was pleased to see this from our daughters, who are both new parents.

[NRaleighLiberal]

7. you should be pleased - very nice - and thanks for sharing it.

[elleng]

9. You're welcome.

I was very pleased, and they allowed me to not cry today when I heard the news from NYC. I was driving on the DC Beltway at the time.

[Blue_Tires]

3. FWIW, Jefferson's viewpoint was pretty common at that time...

You won't find many founding fathers who thought much differently...

[NRaleighLiberal]

6. Understood - but still unfathomable to me. What is the excuse of our time, so many years later?

[fadedrose]

5. The victims

can't stop the treatment they receive.

Only the people who have influence with politicians = contributors first, and then whites. Wrong, but that's the way it is.

As long as whites put up with the injustices done to others who are not white, nothing will change....If blacks in power help other blacks, the accusation of favoritism will make change impossible.

We have to make more noise and tell those in charge all the stuff you said in your post.

Justice is always shown blind, but our Justice is peeking, no fair because she seems to be prejudiced.

[NRaleighLiberal]

8. Humans just seem to be naturally programmed to fear that which is different -

and in that fear, either personally elevate themselves, or demean others.

[elleng]

10. Yes, its a major attribute of homo sapiens, I think,

and consequently a major part of everything we do, and of our systems.

[uppityperson]

11. I think it more people fear not having enough, and use the excuse to claim to fear others, leading

to hatred.

Fear starts with concerns of Not Having Enough, combined with human's logic which is run by emotions while seeking "facts" to back up those emotions. Then that fear is put onto "others", sort of using it as an excuse to make themselves feel better. Then because fear is so painful, they change it to hate, a much easier emotion to deal with.

I am not expressing it well, am too tired, but wanted to write something back to you.

It sucks, and having so many come out in such a short time? It could be a time of change, and is for sure an eyeopening time for many.

People are people with similarities and differences and treating each other badly is not needed because life is difficult enough as it is. I don't get it.

[NRaleighLiberal]

12. I understand what you mean and appreciate your comments.

[uppityperson]

13. It is one of the reasons I struggle with pro sports. Us vs Them

Is it a good way to channel those agressions or does it play into furthering the Us vs Them thing rather than We Are All In This Together.

Some competition is fun, but why do people root for "their" team which has nothing to do with Them beyond being based in the same city or state? "we won! we won!" Who is "we" because no, I didn't participate. Grumble grumble