I don’t know about you, but every day I receive email alerts about an issue under attack, asked to sign a petition, and, oh by the way, send money. A recent one concerned Yellowstone National Park, the nation’s first, and the spectacular Grand Canyon regarding land to be possibly given to hunters and oil merchants. Since our national park system is a unique national treasure of special monuments, recognized around the globe, and represents our “cathedrals” that revere Americans’ love for nature, open space, and the natural wonders of the world, I pay attention to these seemingly outlandish threats.
After all, in one of his first actions as President, Donald Trump, Jr. attacked monument policy established by another Republican, President Theodore Roosevelt, and reduced the size of our newest monuments in Utah. The Bears Ears and Escalante Grand Staircase was first chronicled in Edward Abbey’s book The Monkey Wrench Gang in 1975. An area called a “history book written in fossils and artifacts” (Smithsonian Magazine, June 2020) is of cultural significance to Native Americans. With geology dating back 250,000,000 years, the area is identified as an extraordinary legacy for protection, for all of us.
In 2017, the President, in the single largest reduction in Federal land protection in U.S. history, eliminated 85 percent of this monument area. Oil and gas companies and uranium mining interests immediately moved to lease the now-open land. Does the President’s action in the Bears Ears signal that our national wonders and cultural treasures could also be up for grabs? Interested people stay tuned...the land give away has not galvanized a significant citizen interest.
There are a myriad of issue alerts that bombard us every day. Privatization of prisons and our post offices, Roe v. Wade, planned parenthood, immigration, the Wall, children in cages, gun reform, climate change, clean air and water, wild life, forests, pipe lines, civil rights, child care, and many more. And each issue has a following of citizens, both pro and con.
There are just too many splintered groups dividing our attention and energy. Focused attention on any one concern has not been strong enough to make a significant difference for change. Costly law suits have become the remedy.
That is, until May 25th. A police officer’s action in Minneapolis—the public service that is suppose to protect us—turned that notion on our head and brought focus to the simmering, “don’t-talk-about-it” issues of racism and social justice. Focus on a very public in-your-face black man’s murder by a police officer finally galvanized significant attention and action by a confused, frustrated, and divided citizenry.
Generations of protesters—especially Millennials and Gen-Z—marched and demonstrated and, in short order, made their voices heard in the interests of fairness and justice. Many seniors citizens, dismissed under stay-at-home orders (except in Buffalo, where a white senior demonstrator was pushed down by armored police) watched, sometimes applauding and other times sighing “all live matters” too.
The media bombshell showing 8:46 minutes of a human murder by a public servant confronted citizens. How could this happen? Overnight, social justice and Black Lives Matter became the center of interest and activity, engaging millions in protest around the world.
In short order, within two weeks communities passed emergency legislation to reform police departments. Others initiated efforts to create new revenue networks for mental health and recreation, and resources to reduce disparity in education. Books on racism flew off the shelf in libraries and books stores by a concerned citizenry sincerely wanting to learn more about systemic racism. Monuments celebrating the U.S. Civil War came under scrutiny for removal as a step to put exoneration of white Civil War figures that fought to protect slavery to an end.
Some shrug and say the demonstrations for social justice will be forgotten, just as the shootings of students and others by terrorists have been shrugged off. But, not this time.
I wager that this time is different. The young people are our future leaders and they care deeply about inclusion, equality, fairness, and freedom. They want to put the actions of man’s inhumanity to man out of business...a tall order. There will be resistance in days to come, with conspiracy stories attempting to confuse a focused citizenry. But, the images of Minneapolis police and George Floyd’s last words, “I can’t breathe” and “Mama!” are seared in our consciousness. It will not go away.
In the weeks of continuing demonstrations by a young and diversified crowd in jeans and t-shirts—a major contrast to armored, baton and tear gas carrying police—there has already been change within social justice systems at all levels of government, recognizing the humanity of us all. Focused attention is spreading like wildfire and in three short weeks has achieved some institutional change, as well as raising attention to systemic racism. From my aged perspective, I think there is a new dawn arising and we will all be better people as the world moves forward. Energy moves with focused attention, which can dramatically foster change. For social justice and Black Lives Matter, is there a new world coming?
What do you think?
As for those other issues we care about...national parks, culture, the environment, and politics mentioned above…will new interest and attention, a broader more coordinated constituency, and a new focus eventually happen for them too?