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When symbols change.
5 months ago
Take care of your friends.
How can I show support for Police and rule of law when the symbols I am familiar with are frightening my neighbors.
As a veteran of two foreign wars, I have met many who see and embrace the punisher skull as a badge to show that they stood in harm’s way to protect a greater good. Often and increasingly my neighbors see only the vigilante eager to seek revenge by murder with little care for people in the way once the fight starts. I have stood in harm’s way on foreign soil and in CONUS. I want to honor that. For every time I explain to someone the skull is about standing in harm’s way there are many more who will not talk to me and read a very different message. There are some for whom that skull brings terror.
My father worked as a beat cop in Oakland CA. My grandfather was a superior court judge in California. At the time of his death, he was the oldest former judge and the only one to make it to 100 years old. I have worked as a prison nurse in Texas. I know the thin blue line, and how thin it is. I know that line is frayed and in places tattered. When I see the tattered white on black flag with the blue line, I see police going to work every day hoping to come home at the end of their shift. Just as a nurse I do a quick health assessment of everyone I look at. Police do a risk assessment, so I don’t have to. Often and increasingly my neighbors see only “I can’t breathe.”
I have the right to say what I want. I am also responsible for the consequence of what I say and what I display.
What symbols can I use to show my support for those standing in harm’s way holding the line? What symbols can I use to show my support for the rule of law? How in a sticker can I also insist on accountability?
I stood in harm’s way. I can show the EGA and the corpsman shield. Most of us can’t. What other symbols can we use that do not strike fear into some of our neighbors?
I am angry about losing the thin blue line to fear. I do not know how to change that.
I know people very close to me who react to the skull with a level of fear that leaves them trembling. I know people close to me who feel dismay, defensive and disrespected when the skull is questioned. Sometimes they are also left trembling.
When people are that upset they rarely resolve anything.
As a veteran of two foreign wars, I have met many who see and embrace the punisher skull as a badge to show that they stood in harm’s way to protect a greater good. Often and increasingly my neighbors see only the vigilante eager to seek revenge by murder with little care for people in the way once the fight starts. I have stood in harm’s way on foreign soil and in CONUS. I want to honor that. For every time I explain to someone the skull is about standing in harm’s way there are many more who will not talk to me and read a very different message. There are some for whom that skull brings terror.
My father worked as a beat cop in Oakland CA. My grandfather was a superior court judge in California. At the time of his death, he was the oldest former judge and the only one to make it to 100 years old. I have worked as a prison nurse in Texas. I know the thin blue line, and how thin it is. I know that line is frayed and in places tattered. When I see the tattered white on black flag with the blue line, I see police going to work every day hoping to come home at the end of their shift. Just as a nurse I do a quick health assessment of everyone I look at. Police do a risk assessment, so I don’t have to. Often and increasingly my neighbors see only “I can’t breathe.”
I have the right to say what I want. I am also responsible for the consequence of what I say and what I display.
What symbols can I use to show my support for those standing in harm’s way holding the line? What symbols can I use to show my support for the rule of law? How in a sticker can I also insist on accountability?
I stood in harm’s way. I can show the EGA and the corpsman shield. Most of us can’t. What other symbols can we use that do not strike fear into some of our neighbors?
I am angry about losing the thin blue line to fear. I do not know how to change that.
I know people very close to me who react to the skull with a level of fear that leaves them trembling. I know people close to me who feel dismay, defensive and disrespected when the skull is questioned. Sometimes they are also left trembling.
When people are that upset they rarely resolve anything.
Vix