South Carolina seems to demonstrate that – since
Treyvon Martin – it is indeed open season on black people in America. AGAIN.
As a British Methodist of Afro-Caribbean descent I experienced
more than just sympathy, empathy and huge sadness for the 9 victims of your latest senseless and apparently racially motivated killings at a prayer meeting
in S Carolina. There is something like gloom and confusion dislocating
everything. So, instead of waiting to blog on Tuesday as usual I am posting
extra today.
It would be bad enough if this were an isolated
incident but it is not. Neither gun crime nor killings of black people by white
are rare enough in your country, the world’s most powerful democracy. But like a lot of seemingly intractable problems, may I suggest that straightforward
solutions often pack a punch.
Firstly, categorising these types of crimes as
terrorism might rocket them up the priority list where they belong.
Secondly there needs to be an increased and
enormously heavy premium in the criminal system for crimes committed on the
basis of hate to counteract the subdural poison insinuating that black lives are more expendable
than white.
Thirdly – and in some ways most importantly - it is
time – it is past time – it is way beyond time when you absolutely have to get
to grips with gun control.
Here in the UK we are not devoid of racism (I can
personally attest to that). We also have all the usual nasty attitudes of one
group against another. We also have violence and crime. HOWEVER, with rare
exceptions, we do not have the miserable litany of weak inadequate disturbed
individuals randomly blowing away large numbers of valuable lives on a regular
basis year in year out.
It is not possible to get rid of or anticipate
people with evil intentions. It is possible to control guns.
Come on America
Grow up
Yours in fellowship
Amanda Baker