Posted on Aug 1, 2015
SPC Andrew Griffin
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Posted in these groups: Law enforcement logo Law EnforcementRacism logo Racism
Edited 9 y ago
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SGT Writer
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Edited 6 mo ago
I like what SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" said. To add to it, I interpret it mean African Americans should look inwards AND outwards in regards to such situations. I'll make this rant as short as possible. Pants should go on the waist. Belts and suspenders can assist. The "N" has little place anywhere in one's vocabulary. Black on black crimes and other acts of disrespect toward one another contradict the progress of becoming an equal race. It's so easy for some to blame people of another skin color instead of looking around and looking in a mirror. End rant.

2024 update: I wrote the above in 2016 when I was only focused on what happens within the Black community, not the white supremacy and systemic anti-Black racism that are well proven to have kept Black Americans/ADOS at a huge disadvantage for centuries. I don't remember what JP said, but SFC (Join to see) was right to call me out on the fact that my initial response doesn't "correlate to whether or not someone is getting harassed or gunned down by law enforcement." I didn't mention the 13th Amendment (watch the Netflix documentary) , school to prison pipeline, racial profiling stats, or anti-Black misandry as the primary target of White supremacy (watch Dr. Tommy Curry's video on this), all which underline the BLM movement.

Updated answer: "Black lives matter" is a complete sentence that means exactly that and nothing more or less.

I fully explained my stance on the BLM phrase, organization, and movement, and issues with common counter-arguments, in a 2022 blog post:
https://jtspratley.com/blog/complex-layers-of-racism#deplatform

RP thread for that blog post: https://www.rallypoint.com/shared-links/complex-layers-of-racism

"We’re not saying Black lives matter more, we’re saying they matter too." - Melissa DePino, co-founder of From Privilege to Progress

"What's the f****** point of contention?" - Will Smith
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SGT Writer
SGT (Join to see)
5 y
As much has changed since 2015, I want to add some works I've created related to the topic. I don't expect everyone to listen and read these, but the thread deserves some updated opinions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2HZzmJH2_g

My essay from 2016: https://jtspratley.com/blog/black-unity-essay

A related thread I created:
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/how-would-hip-hop-rap-be-now-if-gangster-rap-had-been-a-fleeting-trend-and-or-it-stopped-glamorizing-african-american-racial-slurs
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SGT Writer
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SGT Writer
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SGT Writer
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6 mo
Link is not invalid, but the specific section expands on my thoughts above. https://jtspratley.com/blog/complex-layers-of-racism#deplatform
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SGT Joe Sabedra
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It is a racist slogan.
When non blacks counter with All Lives Matter a fight starts.
It seems that to most people using this statement only Black Lives Matter.
It seems to be starting a new race war. The media builds up black deaths by any other race but does not speak of the black on black deaths which are exponentially higher.

And this will seperate our country even more.

All Life Matters.
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CPO Arthur Weinberger
CPO Arthur Weinberger
3 y
SGT Apollo Sharpe - That is bull. So called minorities who graduate from high school are allowed to score lower on the asvab test. Women need to score higher than men to enter the service. This favors minorities and discriminates against women and non-minorities. What about affirmative action; another unfair practice. Minorities are treated better. All humans should be treated equally.
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SGT Apollo Sharpe
SGT Apollo Sharpe
3 y
CPO Arthur Weinberger where did I write that?
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SGT Apollo Sharpe
SGT Apollo Sharpe
3 y
CPO Arthur Weinberger meanwhile, this post has nothing to do with asvab scores, nor even joining the military. The fact of the matter is that you can’t argue the points, so you’re trying to build an argument out of straw. Additionally, affirmative action would have never even been necessary if it weren’t for biased policies against minorities. Also, racism is directly responsible for affirmative action. Next time, formulate a better argument, your current arguments are rubbish.
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SSG Jason Neumann
SSG Jason Neumann
3 y
I guess there is no need to go back and forth like this. You can agree to disagree. But in the end, All Lives Matter. It doesn't have to be a political debate or turn into some racist baited ordeal. It is tearing the country apart.
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Capt Retired
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Edited >1 y ago
Of course black lives matter as do all lives.

I really think we need to quit the "--------" lives matter as an expression that any are either more important or less important.
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SPC Andrew Griffin
SPC Andrew Griffin
9 y
You have a Great! Great! Great Point!
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LTC Bink Romanick
LTC Bink Romanick
9 y
I guess that you haven't seen the Cinncinnati footage?
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Capt Retired
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9 y
I fail to see how any footage can make any lives less important than others.
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SFC Engineering Consultant/Instructor
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3 y
It divides people, period.
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