Je Suis Human

Je Suis...Michael Brown

Je Suis...Eric Garner

Je Suis...Human

I am sympathetic to the folks at Charlie Hebdo in France. That's the satirical magazine whose headquarters were attacked last week by Islamist extremists in response to cartoons from the publication depicting the prophet Muhammad, a big no-no. This wasn't the first time the magazine had been attacked. In 2011, the offices were fire bombed, but no lives were lost. Unfortunately this time, they got exactly what they wanted. Revenge. Their victory didn't last long as the two suspects involved in this particular attack were apprehended days after.

The outpouring of support for this publication, for the lives lost and the right for free speech, is touching. The tribute for the cartoonist and writers is very nice. Leaders from around the world gathered in Paris in a mass show of support, with the United States conspicuously absent from the proceedings, and the hashtag and phrase "Je Suis Charlie" (I am Charlie) has traveled the world over.

Let's not forget however, that we are not just Charlie. While it was very nice for those world leaders to show up in Paris as a show of solidarity against terrorism, it would've been nice if those same leaders showed up in New York or Ferguson as a show against police brutality. The deaths of these two black men—and those are just the ones I have decided to address—have left this country on just as shaky ground as France. In France, people are in constant fear of attacks. The threat level is high and warnings are being issued. Here in the United States, people can't even trust the police. The police. The very people who have sworn to protect us have now lost our trust. How does a society exist that way? The inequality here has left patience among races thin. It seems like it's always a few whacks away from breaking.

Again, I am taking nothing away from what has happened in France. It was a terrible, terrible tragedy. I am also not taking anything away from the support towards Charlie Hebdo. I'm just presenting the view that this goes far beyond a satirical magazine. That this type of support should be heard for all other issues, and I'm not just addressing the loss of black lives at the hands of police. We are all human. Black, White, Asian, Latino, Native American, Arab, Straight, Gay, Transgender. All of our lives matter. We are all human.

J out.