Dr John Mohan Razu
The President of the United States of America Donald Trump shall be remembered in history certainly not for good reasons or for having carried out radical reforms or having done something groundbreaking, but for adding woes and miseries to those who are vulnerable, poor and marginalized. This is what the majority people of the United States of America and the rest of the world witnessed during the last few years since he took over the presidency.
There are leaders of this type across the world. As we live in difficult time I am reminded of a verse in the Bible “Where there is no vision, the people perish, but he that keepeth the law, happy is he Proverbs 29:18, King James Version (KJV). This is apt to COVID-19 context that we live where there are leaders across the world playing their political games on human lives. We come across such leadership of various kinds in history.
Take the countries that are gradually climbing up and topping the corona deaths and affected lists show that the available data indicates those countries responded to COVID-19 had taken for granted during the initial months. It was revealed that if they were judicious and responsible they could have saved several thousands of lives and perhaps contained the virus spreading further substantially. Their words and actions manifests that they live in their own glass houses.
Added to COVID-19, racial violence and injustices surfaced in the United States due to the brutal murder of George Floyd and started spreading to other parts of the world.. Covertly and overtly racism is prevalent in many countries. People are made to accept and are forced to reconcile with it. Nonetheless, it surfaced on and off, but somehow watered down after initial skirmishes. Floyd’s gruesome killing has created international outrage and convulsion right across the United States transcending race, gender and creed reckoning the historical wrongs.
To the surprise of many particularly the white supremacists “Black Lives Matter” movement has pushed the plight of the blacks to another level. It conveyed a clear message by reinforcing that racial crimes should never be tolerated and settles racial injustices that warrant the white supremacists to change their attitude and mentality. It also reckons with the fact that the blacks have equal value and dignity to their lives. Historical wrong needs to corrected and changed.
The episode of George Floyd has set new trends in the history of the blacks who suffered all sorts of injustices in the hands of white racists. Movement of the “Black Lives Matter” is unique and distinct than the previous ones. It is largely comprised on the millennial cutting across race, gender and creed such as those belonging to the middle and older age groups. George Floyd kept saying “I have to touch the world” which he did in his death—an amazing witness.
Racism is institutionalized and hidden. The younger generation is seeing closely in-cameras and through the lens minutely observes the overt and covert ways racism is exercised and employed. Never before racism is seen in close quarters and for this technology has contributed immensely. If not for 8 minutes 46 seconds video, the racists would have concealed and concocted the entire episode to their advantage. The police system is exposed and should go for thorough change.
Racism has impacted individuals, communities and societies irrespective of the religio-cultural and political beliefs. It has divided and created wedge between the communities and societies in such appalling levels by the color of the skin. In the wake of coronavirus they are bit relaxed and so the young generation keep watching minutely what’s happening to them and the society in which they live, the system that governs them, and so in this case they want the police system to be thoroughly overhauled.
Americans by and large are now on a turning point. And so there is no returning back to normal, but to go all out for swift changes. Racism manifests in different forms violating the fundamental character of human persons who have equal worth and rights like everyone. It calls for clear reckoning for a new paradigm. Gruesome death of George has impacted the world and it is the moral duty of those with conscience to change it. This time Americans expect change.
Everyone has the right to enjoy fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution. Feat, hated and blind violence consumes the lives of many. Equality, fairness, peace, justice and rights have been undermined by those who ought to uphold. Times keep changing and so police brutality and racial profiling should stop. Leaders who are in responsible positions should reckon with the reckoning. And those who think they are above would learn the hard way.
The episode has ripped open the fallacy of the “American Dream”, “freedom” and “equality”. Though President Trump did manage to polarize the American society in the last three years, his partisan game unfolded. Majority in the police force tow the ideology of white supremacy. For them those who are different subscribing to bi-partisan views, believes in equality, sympathize and support racial equality are considered as their enemies. Their psyche is enmeshed with racial overtones.
For instance, post-George Floyd scenario shows anger and aggression of the police force that have come to the open. Recently in front of the eyes of many Americans in one video from Buffalo, New York, candidly depicts a 75-year white man approached the local police to hand over something, but was shoved forcefully. As a result he dashed his head against the pavement and started bleeding profusely from the head. Cops passed by as if nothing had happened till the National Guard medic came to his rescue. This video went viral and two cops were suspended.
If not for the video footages the racist cops would not have been penalized. Initial response of the racist cops was that 75-year dripped and fell. When asked President Trump about this he responded that “it was a set up and put the blame on conspiracy theory” This shows his insensitivity, mean, crude and arrogant. These are not expected from a leader of a country known for its values and civility. Leaders of this sort continue to prey on racist and casteist mind-sets.
Ground is shifting in which the new generation thinks differently and wants their world to be different. As information and knowledge keep progressing everything is brought before them and is being watched racial violence perpetuated at those who are different than the previous generations. Further, social media transmits the day-to-day happenings swiftly that reaches millions across the world. Therefore they believe in change and consider the present times for radical change.
Momentum is catching up as it is compounded by COVID-19 and many other factors. We have been witnessing protests and uprisings in many countries against racism. Statues, images and names that depict the racists and slave traders are now besieged and at any time they may be pulled down. In some places such as Bristol in UK statue of a “celebrated slave trader’ with all kinds of adjectives is now gone. Police disbanding and reforms and those involved in racial injustices and police brutalities would not be spared like before.
