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- Story Listed as: True Life For Adults
- Theme: Drama / Human Interest
- Subject: Death / Heartbreak / Loss
- Published: 05/29/2020
Empathy
I see that it is oh so difficult for you to show empathy for me because you can’t see yourself in me. The injustice and sometimes oppression I may endure in our country, in your lifetime you’ll never see. If I comply and respect your authority may I then live free? Free of fear, free of abuse, free of injustice we should all be. This is America. Deadly force used indiscriminately has me recently, internally debating should I obey or flee. I give myself up, submit on one knee, yet you don’t find it necessary to stop choking me. Car trouble under a tree, instead of assisting we; on that highway in broad daylight you murder me. These scenarios you can’t fathom or even relate to because in your life this could never be. My family of four becomes three and there is no justice that we can see. Law enforcement has the right and might to kill me justly. Conviction, incarceration for the culprit there will never be. Because he or she wears a badge and had to kill me, because they fear me for just being me. Being what God intended for me to be may threaten you, so in your dread and unjust fright you may behave deadly. There is no recourse for my family mourning me, only anxiety. Sympathy you struggle to have for me, instead you work towards finding fault in me. What did I do to force them to take my life; what is it about we? Why does my existence not hold the same value as she or he? Why am I not afforded the same tolerance and justice promised to me by mother liberty. This is America. If I speak out against injustice I must do it gently. My words I must craft to be easily palatable to you or you will attack me. I can protest in a peaceful way but to you even that is not always satisfactory. God before countrym I live my lifem but it doesn’t mean I don’t love the flag or my country. My slice of American pie is quite slender compared to yours and far less tasty. So when I ask you to understand my plight and strife that shouldn’t encourage you to further beat on me. The message gets blurred and everything else becomes more important than the lives that are lost daily. I pray for an end to all of this but I am not always judged by my deeds or my morality. My faith keeps me, thank you Jesus, for there may never be justice on this stolen lan,d but I will find it in Heaven where soul will reside eternally. While we are here on this earth you see, I hope you can find it somewhere in your heart to muster some empathy for people who look like me.
Empathy
Empathy(Cam Rascoe)
Empathy
I see that it is oh so difficult for you to show empathy for me because you can’t see yourself in me. The injustice and sometimes oppression I may endure in our country, in your lifetime you’ll never see. If I comply and respect your authority may I then live free? Free of fear, free of abuse, free of injustice we should all be. This is America. Deadly force used indiscriminately has me recently, internally debating should I obey or flee. I give myself up, submit on one knee, yet you don’t find it necessary to stop choking me. Car trouble under a tree, instead of assisting we; on that highway in broad daylight you murder me. These scenarios you can’t fathom or even relate to because in your life this could never be. My family of four becomes three and there is no justice that we can see. Law enforcement has the right and might to kill me justly. Conviction, incarceration for the culprit there will never be. Because he or she wears a badge and had to kill me, because they fear me for just being me. Being what God intended for me to be may threaten you, so in your dread and unjust fright you may behave deadly. There is no recourse for my family mourning me, only anxiety. Sympathy you struggle to have for me, instead you work towards finding fault in me. What did I do to force them to take my life; what is it about we? Why does my existence not hold the same value as she or he? Why am I not afforded the same tolerance and justice promised to me by mother liberty. This is America. If I speak out against injustice I must do it gently. My words I must craft to be easily palatable to you or you will attack me. I can protest in a peaceful way but to you even that is not always satisfactory. God before countrym I live my lifem but it doesn’t mean I don’t love the flag or my country. My slice of American pie is quite slender compared to yours and far less tasty. So when I ask you to understand my plight and strife that shouldn’t encourage you to further beat on me. The message gets blurred and everything else becomes more important than the lives that are lost daily. I pray for an end to all of this but I am not always judged by my deeds or my morality. My faith keeps me, thank you Jesus, for there may never be justice on this stolen lan,d but I will find it in Heaven where soul will reside eternally. While we are here on this earth you see, I hope you can find it somewhere in your heart to muster some empathy for people who look like me.
Empathy
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Cam Rascoe
10/19/2022Thank you Darlington, this writing evoked many feelings inside me as well while composing it.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Gail Moore
06/03/2020Wow, there are no words, just tears. So sad :-(
So wonderfully written. :-(
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Cam Rascoe
06/02/2020What is going on in America today can leave the most talented of writers speechless sir. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
JD
05/31/2020Happy Short Story STAR of the Week, Cam. Thank you for sharing your heart with us.
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Cam Rascoe
06/02/2020Thank you so much for providing this platform where we all may be heard. I appreciate the support and I am happy that my work is received well.
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Kevin Hughes
05/30/2020Cam,
Fifty years ago, almost to the month, I asked to be transferred to the Regular Army from the National Guard. I told the First Sergeant that I didn't join the Military to point a weapon at American Civilians. 1969 and 1970 were rife with riots, protests, Teamsters Strikes, and Racial tensions were high.
And here, fifty years later, you have to write a piece like this. Why? I couldn't answer that question fifty years ago...and still can't.
I am no Saint, heck, I was forty years old before I realized simple things that you have to deal with daily: like "flesh colored" crayons look like my skin, not yours. Or that Shampoos are made for "Natural/Normal Hair" meaning, flowing locks and soft long curls...not tight hair that is every bit as "natural". The Army helped me a lot- you spend a year in a barracks with people from different backgrounds- and you discover the commonalities...and yes, prejudice is rampant there too. But it has some advantages.
A Sergeant is a Sergeant, promotions might lean towards making people who look like me more eligible - but once you met that rank, you got the same pay, same housing, same access to the NCO Club, and the same duties. It isn't much, but it is a start over Civilian structures.
You spend weeks sharing a shelter half out in the Field with a guy who might have to save your life- and you find out he misses his girl, loves his Mom's cooking, and thinks his best friend is weird. Just like you. And his athletic past is just as inflated as your own..."if it hadn't been for my knee..." LOL
I remember one guy in AIT, that I got so close too, I let him read my letters from my girl back home. He let me read the letters from his Wife. Just three weeks after he got married, he got Drafted. The names were different, but the content, tone, and love in both letters were the same.
Still, I hope for good things to come out of bad things. Only this time, I hope for real change. I am old now, and only want to live in peace - and for everyone to have had the chances and opportunities I have had. My Dad taught me to respect until disrespect is earned. The Exact Opposite of what I was taught in Society...where we had to Vote to keep Civil Rights for everyone. I don't think many folks thought about what that means, that we were arrogant enough, filled with pride and hubris, that we could decide if another human being had rights. And that isn't right.
Follow your heart, keep the compassion, and someday...Doctor King can stop rolling over in his grave.
Kevin
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Cam Rascoe
06/02/2020Kevin thank you for sharing your insight with us. As a man who has lived American history your words are to be appreciated and respected. Thank you for your service then and now sir. I pray we can make this the last time so that we may all live in peace.
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