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
Author: David Valade
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….
Trouble
I am having trouble tonight. I don't believe Derek Chauvin will be convicted. At it's core is that this country since 1619 has said that Black lives, especially Black male lives don't matter. I was brought up believing in justice, justice for all, yet I'm losing faith. I want to believe, yet it keeps kicking … Continue reading Trouble
Policing in Melrose
I posted this last night to a community page here in Melrose. I'm adding it here so I can keep it as part of my blog archive. Yeah, I'm that guy. And I'm writing to tell you that what happened in Minnesota yesterday won't, can't happen in Melrose. It can't. Simple reason why. Let's take … Continue reading Policing in Melrose
A Prediction….
...that you won't remember: After Joe Biden and the Democrats pass the infrastructure bill, House and Senate members of the GOP , who will have voted against it, will brag in their districts about the benefits their constituents will receive. Be the PebbleAct
A Thought About Justice
"The separation of the races is not a disease of the colored people, but a disease of the white people. I do not intend to be quiet about it". - Albert Einstein, 1946 at Lincoln University, an HBCU in Pennsylvania Be the PebbleAct
I have to Ask…
I want to talk about Atlanta. About the six Asian women killed there. They are being held up as examples of Anti Asian Hate. I want to ask everyone. Where were any of us? Women where they worked, were killed, are usually being sex trafficked. Did anyone stand up for them when they were alive? … Continue reading I have to Ask…
2020 Wasn’t All Bad
Actually, there was a lot of good. COVID-19 just made it harder to see than usual. Robin Abrahams, who writes the "Miss Conduct" column in the Boston Globe asked people to write and tell here what we learned. She used two parts of my email in the "Learning to Be Grateful" and "Making the Effort … Continue reading 2020 Wasn’t All Bad
