On Tuesday, sadly again, we were confronted with an evil that we could not understand. To see that 19 elementary children - grades second to fourth - and two adult teachers were gunned down and killed at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, TX. It is beyond heartbreaking and unfathomable that just ten days ago, we heard the news that 10 Black people were gunned down in a local grocery store in Buffalo, NY. That same weekend Asian members of a church in California were also gunned down. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families that have been forever affected by this sickness, which in my head reminds me of Marvin Gaye's thought-provoking question, "What's Going On?"
A call for change has got to happen! There are far too many incidents of hate, violence, and rage occurring at the hands of those who feel the need to take - a life, a human being's life, a member of the community, to cut short the impact of another. What's Going On - released in May of 1971, over 51 years ago, the lyrics still ring true.
Today we have a divided society, less willing to talk to each other but more willing to argue and stand our ground regardless of the destruction. We ignore researched facts and subscribe to our preferred convenient truths that intentionally separate us as Americans. Rather than focus on the spirit of our Constitution - to sustain and support the greater good for all Americans; we've chosen one group of Americans at the expense of another. We listen to the talented talking heads that shape our thinking and conclusions vs. our hearts that speak truth to the human soul that lies within us all. So you tell me, What's Going On?
To say that we need to address this from a political lens is important, yes, we need to address gun control laws and voter rights laws, and we also need to address our communities, our families, and our children who have gone astray. To have people fearful of going to the local grocery store, or church, or even sending our children to school is unacceptable.
HAUL is committed to talking with our community - those that look like us and those who don't, with those who believe as I do and those who don't. Let's put down the guns, if only so that we can learn to talk with one another again, to become the community that uplifts and doesn't kill, steal, or destroy another life. We've got to come together to address these evils, to find some solutions and a semblance of hope in the community.
Will you join me?"
Judson W. Robinson, III