Post by scottyderp on Sept 29, 2015 18:05:09 GMT -5
One thing that concerns me is this erupting into violence on either side, because someone didn't have a Power Bar for breakfast, or someone's sign gets messed up by someone spitting Gatorade all over their person. I know that violence is oddly part of progress, sometimes.
I like it. It's not the best way, but there really is no best way. Nothing anyone does is going to keep racist white cops from killing black people, and there will always be enough people in power who are willing to let the practice continue. The idea of trying your best and not being able to finish the race is a powerful metaphor.
Yep. Unarmed men, women, and children are dying with no repercussions, so I can't even get it up for a race being disrupted. A black man in a wheelchair was murdered the other day. Tamir Rice's parents are still without justice. I give not one fuck about a race, and if BLM disrupted a race I was running, I would join them at the finish line.
Post by imojoebunny on Sept 29, 2015 18:26:04 GMT -5
My Dh has done the TC marathon, and we would be not be happy if he was not allowed to finish. We travelled, got a sitter for the kids, and he trained and trained. I believe that BLM. I believe in raising awareness, but I don't think that this is a forum that will come across as sympathetic to the cause. There was a group here (Atlanta) that wanted to disrupt an craft festival. It did not go over well. Protest are necessary in my opinion, but if you want to protest to be effective, pick a place where you will be heard, not criticized.
If I got to the end of a race and couldn't finish I would be pretty devastated. Then I would check myself and realize people's lives are more important than that.
My Dh has done the TC marathon, and we would be not be happy if he was not allowed to finish. We travelled, got a sitter for the kids, and he trained and trained. I believe that BLM. I believe in raising awareness, but I don't think that this is a forum that will come across as sympathetic to the cause. There was a group here (Atlanta) that wanted to disrupt an craft festival. It did not go over well. Protest are necessary in my opinion, but if you want to protest to be effective, pick a place where you will be heard, not criticized.
My Dh has done the TC marathon, and we would be not be happy if he was not allowed to finish. We travelled, got a sitter for the kids, and he trained and trained. I believe that BLM. I believe in raising awareness, but I don't think that this is a forum that will come across as sympathetic to the cause. There was a group here (Atlanta) that wanted to disrupt an craft festival. It did not go over well. Protest are necessary in my opinion, but if you want to protest to be effective, pick a place where you will be heard, not criticized.
Fuck this, what you really mean is "if you want me not to blame you for protesting don't do it in a way or place that will interrupt my hobbies." You got a sitter for you kid.
Tamir Rice's parents got a fucking headstone. Which do you think is more fucking important.
Post by RoxMonster on Sept 29, 2015 19:13:04 GMT -5
Where, exactly, do you think a protest would be "heard but not criticized?" I think this is just code for "Let it happen somewhere that doesn't interfere with my every day life, my hobbies, or anything I am interested in doing."
My Dh has done the TC marathon, and we would be not be happy if he was not allowed to finish. We travelled, got a sitter for the kids, and he trained and trained. I believe that BLM. I believe in raising awareness, but I don't think that this is a forum that will come across as sympathetic to the cause. There was a group here (Atlanta) that wanted to disrupt an craft festival. It did not go over well. Protest are necessary in my opinion, but if you want to protest to be effective, pick a place where you will be heard, not criticized.
Well. If the protest isn't right at a craft show, or a marathon..then where do you suggest it IS going to be heard and not criticized?
My Dh has done the TC marathon, and we would be not be happy if he was not allowed to finish. We travelled, got a sitter for the kids, and he trained and trained. I believe that BLM. I believe in raising awareness, but I don't think that this is a forum that will come across as sympathetic to the cause. There was a group here (Atlanta) that wanted to disrupt an craft festival. It did not go over well. Protest are necessary in my opinion, but if you want to protest to be effective, pick a place where you will be heard, not criticized.
Well. If the protest isn't right at a craft show, or a marathon..then where do you suggest it IS going to be heard and not criticized?
Post by aussiecrush on Sept 29, 2015 19:17:38 GMT -5
It's a race. I don't really care how much time or money you sink into it, it cannot be worth more than the value of people losing their lives. It's one day that might not go the way you intended compared to families who have had their world destroyed and millions who experience fear, harassment and threats daily.
Post by bigoleworm on Sept 29, 2015 19:18:35 GMT -5
I think that it's a powerful message. I have been training for a marathon for the past 16 weeks. I had to raise money for a charity to run in the marathon. I had to pay to run in the marathon. But you know what, I have the ability to do all that. While I would be disappointed with not being able to finish, I have the ability to be disappointed. I can run another race. You know who can't run for a charity or pay to be in a race or run another race? Any of the black men and women gunned down for no other reason than being black. I'll check my white privilege and disappointment and run another race.
If I were running the race and came upon this unawares, I would probably be confused and upset. But knowing ahead of time? Instead of getting pissed, why not use the opportunity to show support? I have never done a full marathon, just a couple of half-marathons, and I don't know how much stamina a person would have left to stand around and protest, but provided that I could get water and to a damn bathroom I like to think I would at least stand with them for a little bit. Wear a shirt, something.
At first I was ticked, I hate disruption and confrontation. Then I checked myself, what makes this marathon more important than someone's, anyone's life...NOTHING! It's not, it won't ever be.
So, reading this thread was yet again educational for me about the depths of my own privilege.
This is me. My first reaction was how mad and upset I would be because of how hard I would have worked to get to the finish line.
but really, reading the reponses makes it obvious that it isn't important. I worked hard for something and didn't get it? I'll get over it. A mother works hard to raise her child who is then killed? No getting over that.
So, reading this thread was yet again educational for me about the depths of my own privilege.
This is me. My first reaction was how mad and upset I would be because of how hard I would have worked to get to the finish line.
but really, reading the reponses makes it obvious that it isn't important. I worked hard for something and didn't get it? I'll get over it. A mother works hard to raise her child who is then killed? No getting over that.
Yes. And also my worry about what it may do to the perception of the movement. Which is already discredited and unjustly ignored. Who am I to say what people most need convincing and what is the best way to convince them?
Hm. I need someone who is in support of this and fully understands/relates to explain to me the benefit of this action.
I just read the response. I hope it goes the way that people want it to go. I can see it backfiring and just really making people feel like shit when they're not assholes/intentional assholes, etc.
Good luck to the movement, I don't not support it, I'm not really sure what the best thing is to do. If this is it, then it's it. I worry, is all.
I worry too, for all my bravado and bluster. I worry for obvious reasons, and I worry for the young people in the movement who will speak out against overt racism, only to find out that what they're protesting is just the tip of the iceberg. This shit runs way too deep in our history. The blatant stuff can't occur without a healthy dose of collective indifference, and that indifference will turn to disdain or worse with a quickness. That's the worst feeling in the world.
So, the idealism just makes me sad, because I was there once. I'm not now, obviously, and how much of my cynicism is due to privilege vs age is another thing I struggle with. I'll worry right along with you if that's ok.
So, reading this thread was yet again educational for me about the depths of my own privilege.
TRUTH.
It's one reason I like this place. At first, I was like, "eek, that's going to piss off a lot of people, and be counterproductive. People aren't going to get it." But then I kept reading, and I'm glad I did, because it is so easy to take the surface response, and be all "I support this cause BUT...." No. Change doesn't happen because it's convenient and pretty, and a circle of hippies holding hands. Change is hard, and makes us face inconvenient and uncomfortable truths about ourselves. Sometimes we even have to become inconvenienced and frustrated in a very public way like a marathon, or dare I say, even at a sacred craft fair (LOL FOR DAYS), to step back and get some fucking perspective.
Protest on BlackLivesMatter. The meaning will be lost on some, but it will get through to others, and you need a large scale venue to make that happen.
If I were running the race and came upon this unawares, I would probably be confused and upset. But knowing ahead of time? Instead of getting pissed, why not use the opportunity to show support? I have never done a full marathon, just a couple of half-marathons, and I don't know how much stamina a person would have left to stand around and protest, but provided that I could get water and to a damn bathroom I like to think I would at least stand with them for a little bit. Wear a shirt, something.
I feel like I'm into the protest. I'm a supporter but this is a valid point. I'm not making fun of it or anything but when I imagine what some of the people joining might look like...I kind of laugh.
I haven't read past the first page, but I can already feel my blood starting to boil with some of these responses.
You'd be pissed because you can't finish a race?
You know why I'm pissed? Because people that look like me and my family members keep getting harassed and killed by the damn cops, people who are hired to protect and serve. That's why I'm pissed.
And I'm a runner (I've done 2 marathons), so it's not like I don't know what training and traveling for a race entails. I'd happily join a protest during a race in order to get a message larger than me across. Sure it might make some people angry, but I'm glad the movement is still going and continues to bring awareness to the injustices.
If I were running the race and came upon this unawares, I would probably be confused and upset. But knowing ahead of time? Instead of getting pissed, why not use the opportunity to show support? I have never done a full marathon, just a couple of half-marathons, and I don't know how much stamina a person would have left to stand around and protest, but provided that I could get water and to a damn bathroom I like to think I would at least stand with them for a little bit. Wear a shirt, something.
I feel like I'm into the protest. I'm a supporter but this is a valid point. I'm not making fun of it or anything but when I imagine what some of the people joining might look like...I kind of laugh.
Yeah. I was a hot mess after just a half. I hate to think what my condition would be after a full. But, in theory, I would try to do something other than fall down and pee my pants.
I haven't read past the first page, but I can already feel my blood starting to boil with some of these responses.
You'd be pissed because you can't finish a race?
You know why I'm pissed? Because people that look like me and my family members keep getting harassed and killed by the damn cops, people who are hired to protect and serve. That's why I'm pissed.
And I'm a runner (I've done 2 marathons), so it's not like I don't know what training and traveling for a race entails. I'd happily join a protest during a race in order to get a message larger than me across. Sure it might make some people angry, but I'm glad the movement is still going and continues to bring awareness to the injustices.
It's sad that people don't get it.
This isn't going to help your blood pressure, but, when I've posted on FB about Black Lives Matter (with what little perspective I have), I have white cop wives telling me that cop lives matter, and the videos are blown out of proportion, etc. It's a mess in white social circles with the crazy cop wives. It becomes about the cops, again. It is mind-numbing. And, in this response, I get it more. Why this is necessary, this movement, but, I can't wait for the backlash, the cop lives matter backlash. And, I can't help but wonder how much of that is just used to cover racism. God, I hope I don't get flamed for that. I'm tired.
Well, if I'm reading it correctly they're going to be at the finish line blocking people from crossing it- not at like, mile 20 or something. So you ARE running the full marathon, you're just not able to cross over that line. People are pissed about that? About 26.1 instead of 26.2? Come on.