I would like to make an observation and express a concern about the Dallas killings...

[Jitter65]

First. I heard this in a passing statement made by one of persons being interviewed by CNN. The parents of the shooter were divorced. I don't remember if it was mentioned when that divorce took place but shooter lived with his mother. AND his father had recently re-married and had married a white woman.

Now before anyone attacks me for being against interracial marriages or a hater of whites...I am the product of an interracial marriage. I loved both my parents dearly and they loved me (now deceased). I also have half-brothers and sisters, three black, one white. We all very young when our parents divorced and grew up in a loving family with little or no obvious or negative feelings about our skin colors or our parents. As very young children, there was not even a hint of any kind of differentiation from either side, at least in the eyes of 3-7 year olds. As we grew into adulthood and married and had children of our own, it became apparent to us all that things and relationships were changing and so were feelings. Not that we still don't feel the love we all shared but there is no question that we all drifted...our lives were different, our circles were different and it was felt by all though not outwardly discussed. This drifting even happens in families of a single race.

I say all this to express what may have set this mad, angry young man off to commit the unforgivable horror that he did. Just think about it. (My father, whom I love so much, leaves my mother whom I also love so much and I witness her pain on a daily basis. And the cause of my mom's pain..I perceive..is this white woman who took my dad away.) Just let that sink in for a while. And set these possible thoughts against the background of seeing two helpless black men being shot and killed by white cops and knowing or at least feeling that nothing will be done about it. Think about it.

Second: Our President will venture to Dallas in a few days as he tries to do what he feels he can do to help heal and bridge this nation's divisions. He needs a hedge of positive thoughts, prayers, and energy to protect him while he is there. Dallas has many good decent people but Dallas also has a many fiercely racist, bigoted, and weaponized people. Just remember the history of Dallas and I will say not more than this: hold our dear President in your positive energy.

[BumRushDaShow]

1. I heard the same report

and blinked.

But then looking at his age (and I have a niece the same age) - as the younger millennials come of age, they are fully realizing that history has been unkind to us (POC). And they are seeing that although much has changed, there is still much that hasn't.

The week before last when the House Dems were holding their sit-in, I happened to point it out to one of my younger nieces who I was babysitting (she is 10). And she innocently asked me "What is a sit-in?". I was gobsmacked and went completely silent... And then I attempted to talk about "protesting something that was 'wrong'", but honestly, trying to explain the reasons/history behind sit-ins and protests to a 10 year old, without making her want to broad-brush hate all white people (given she is growing up in a very integrated area), left me completely helpless to find a good analogy on the spot.

There are some young people who see what is going on and seethe as they try to process it.... and all it takes it something that might be entirely unrelated, to set them off, and they will "act out" and lash out about their state of being (even if the events really haven't impacted them personally as much as others). It's something that you see over and over and that was even given editorial cartoon treatment of late - i.e., "The talk".



And about "Dallas" - that was a place that my mother used to always reference. Back when we went to Hawai'i in the mid-80s with a stop-over in Dallas (American airlines hub), she made a note about it.

[oberliner]

3. You couldn't explain a sit-in without making your daughter hate all white people?

You should maybe reflect on that a bit more broadly.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. We are talking about a niece

who is growing up in a similar integrated environment (although in the suburbs) as I did (in the city - which is rare since de facto segregation is still alive and well).

Perhaps you need to consider my historical life experience of "sit-ins" associated with this type of thing -



Or this -



and then consider checking the tone deafness at the door.

[GusBob]

2. Could be a piece to the puzzle

One of many. I think his military experiences may have played a part too.

Will learn more as time goes by I reckon

[Jitter65]

5. Guns are HUGE problem too especially the ammo

We have weaponized our speech our actions so sad.