“Here are some not-so-fun facts, compiled by the Washington Post: Black Americans are two-and-a-half times as likely as white Americans to be shot and killed by police officers. We are twice as likely to be abused while in police custody. Juries give Black defendants sentences that are 20 percent longer than those given to white … Continue reading 2021-09-01: Some Things to Think About
Author: David Valade
My Dad
Those of you who know us know it wasn't always good. I know why. That doesn't matter. I'm challenging my community to be better. I posted this for them tonight: I want to tell you a bit about my dad. He was a pharmacist, owned a small business in Central Mass, Gardner, to be exact. … Continue reading My Dad
At War
Within the culture wars. Facts matter. I was once asked what one does with a legal studies degree. Well? I'm retired at 60. And I've learned how to engage in a war of words and lies. I can add truth. I posted this in a Melrose page. CRT: A PrimerSo I asked the question of … Continue reading At War
An Increase in Violence?
Why is violence on the rise? For four years we saw a massive decline in the level of civility in our public discourse. Leaders set an example. The increase in violence? Blame Trump. "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it." - George Santayana Be the PebbleAct
A Wuhan Lab
Who knows where the COVID-19 virus originated? Not me. Perhaps the Chinese do. I know I don't. There are reports, some almost seem credible, that it escaped from a Wuhan lab. Let's assume that's true. It still had to have gotten into the lab somehow. There are really only two possibilities: it was created in … Continue reading A Wuhan Lab
I Like this Quote
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt. – Abraham Lincoln Be the PebbleAct
Pain
I'm in a shitty place tonight. It's because of what I saw today, what I experienced. And fuck. I was on the easy end of it. Some of you know that I ride a bicycle. Many miles. Long distance. Sometimes bikes break. There's this sort of code. We take care of our own. Provide assistance. … Continue reading Pain
Words
I've spent most of the past year taking in words, studying, learning. I didn't understand why we as a country reacted the way we did when George Floyd was killed. I read Dr. Robin DiAngelo's "White Fragility" and came away more confused. She talked about why white people don't talk about race, but said nothing … Continue reading Words
Let’s Ignore
Let's ignore just for one moment, race. I'm not saying it doesn't matter. But remove it from your thoughts for a moment. Let's ignore that a man didn't have a gun. A Black man, but we've already let that go. A man called the police, said he needed help. They responded. Here's a bit of … Continue reading Let’s Ignore
I Can’t….
I can't feel good. A man is still dead. I can't feel justice has been done. Once in 400 years is not justice. I can hope it's a start. I can't stop feeling angry. What happened to George Floyd has happened too many times. It's still happening. That anger includes anger at myself. I should … Continue reading I Can’t….
