Our Current Times

 Many years ago, 

  Comedian Red Skelton did a reading of The Pledge of Allegiance ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJNL_rhGDq4 ) , breaking down each part of the pledge and explaining the particular phrase related to the pledge. I believe that the pledge of Black Lives Matter needs the same treatment, because it seems that the pledge of Black Lives Matter only seems to apply to persons involved in alleged criminal activity and not across a wider spectrum. Now, I will blatantly admit that I am not a person of color nor have I experienced what a person of color has experienced, so to most people of color it would appear that I am talking out of my nether regions, but I also have the right to express my opinion, and I will do it here.

BLACK: Persons of color, whether they are African, Cape Verdeans, Dominican, Puerto Rican, Columbian, persons of mixed race and anyone else I may have missed. THESE LIVES MATTER.

LIVES: The lives of these people, whether they be involved in alleged criminal activity by police brutality, whether they be innocent victims of police brutality, victims of prejudice or racial injustice, single mothers of color who are abandoned by the fathers of their children, women who are verbally, emotionally, and physically abused by their partners, children who have to witness the above and are scarred by these actions, victims of black on black crime, drive-bys, gang wars, drug wars, biracial people who are not accepted by either race and have difficulty finding love and happiness because of their genetic makeup, Persons in biracial relationships who are frowned upon for loving the people they love. THESE LIVES MATTER.

MATTER: Whether it is a need for love, acceptance, racial justice and inequality, the pursuit of happiness and personal growth, education, freedom, and respect, THESE LIVES MATTER. 

I think a better slogan for Black Lives Matter should be clarified to say ALL BLACK LIVES MATTER, not just the lives that make the national news media. ALL BLACK LIVES MATTER and steps should be put in place to make sure that this is the case. Just like The Pledge of Allegiance, we should pledge allegiance and ally ourselves to our friends of color and support them in their efforts to make a better world for themselves and their families.