For background purposes, I’ll start by explaining what the Eric Sheppard challenge is; It is a challenge adopted by online activists in “honor” of Eric Sheppard, a self proclaimed terrorist against whites, who allegedly brought a gun to local protests. The challenge shows people dancing and stomping on top of American Flags, usually yelling explicit things regarding the flag and the U.S. Government.
Anywho, moving on. I can see both sides of it. I really can. I feel for all the people fighting for the right of the flag, and for the people who’ve defended it and our freedom. But I also get where [generally] black people are coming from, but this isn’t a race thing. An argument I’ve heard for the right to be able to fight for their rights is that “when white people walk into a store, you don’t have to deal with store clerks assuming you’re going to steal something” when iN REALITY. We do. It has nothing to do with skin color, any white kid wearing a hoodie walking into a store is going to get an extra eye put on them as well. Teenagers in general seem suspicious, teenagers of any race are stereotyped that they’re gonna steal.
Okay but hey, look at it this way. The flag, to some people, is just a piece of cloth; to others, it symbolizes freedom and democracy. It has different values to everyone. Some people have lost close friends and family, fighting for that flag. Other haven’t. You’ve got to respect both sides. I personally would give my life defending that flag and our country.
And to all those people telling everyone doing the Eric Sheppard challenge to “go back to Africa” and “go back to Europe”... shut up. These people have a right to live in this country just as much as the rest of us (unless they’re illegals, of course, then they can go back to where they came from if they hate this country so much).
And to all the people doing the Eric Sheppard challenge… shut up, too. You have a whole lot of privilege getting to live here, in such a beautiful country. You could have it way worse. You could have a tyrant or a dictator, forcing you into slave labor. You could be starving. You could be diseased and sick. But no. You’re not. Sure, some people in the U.S. are, but there are whole lot more people in other countries who are. People are dying for their right for freedom of speech every day, while you’re abusing it. Burning and stomping on an american flag isn’t going to solve anything. You aren’t “stomping out” your government or making them angry. Honestly, you aren’t doing anything but enraging random people over the internet.
Another argument I’ve heard is “it get’s the people talking”. Well. Sure. It’s kind of starting awareness, but, in all the wrong ways. It’s starting hate conversations. Anti-Bullying and Anti-Homosexual Harassment have been able to achieve “people talking” without doing anything crazy, they simply put up signs saying “think before you speak” and all that jazz.
But to be honest, I don’t even know what “equality” you guys are trying to achieve. This goes out to all the rioters in Baltimore too. You guys are not achieving anything. Like guys. Literally nothing. Burning down a Walgreen’s just gets you arrested for arson. MLK Jr and Malcolm X were for peace and equality amongst whites and blacks. They called for quiet protests. They didn’t want riots. They didn’t want lootings and burnings of stores. Those things aren’t going to make anything better, it’s only going to make things worse.
ALSO ABOUT WHITE COPS SHOOTING BLACK PEOPLE. OKAY. EXCUSE MY FRENCH. BUT IT’S TOTAL BULLSHIT.
Anywho, moving on. I can see both sides of it. I really can. I feel for all the people fighting for the right of the flag, and for the people who’ve defended it and our freedom. But I also get where [generally] black people are coming from, but this isn’t a race thing. An argument I’ve heard for the right to be able to fight for their rights is that “when white people walk into a store, you don’t have to deal with store clerks assuming you’re going to steal something” when iN REALITY. We do. It has nothing to do with skin color, any white kid wearing a hoodie walking into a store is going to get an extra eye put on them as well. Teenagers in general seem suspicious, teenagers of any race are stereotyped that they’re gonna steal.
Okay but hey, look at it this way. The flag, to some people, is just a piece of cloth; to others, it symbolizes freedom and democracy. It has different values to everyone. Some people have lost close friends and family, fighting for that flag. Other haven’t. You’ve got to respect both sides. I personally would give my life defending that flag and our country.
And to all those people telling everyone doing the Eric Sheppard challenge to “go back to Africa” and “go back to Europe”... shut up. These people have a right to live in this country just as much as the rest of us (unless they’re illegals, of course, then they can go back to where they came from if they hate this country so much).
And to all the people doing the Eric Sheppard challenge… shut up, too. You have a whole lot of privilege getting to live here, in such a beautiful country. You could have it way worse. You could have a tyrant or a dictator, forcing you into slave labor. You could be starving. You could be diseased and sick. But no. You’re not. Sure, some people in the U.S. are, but there are whole lot more people in other countries who are. People are dying for their right for freedom of speech every day, while you’re abusing it. Burning and stomping on an american flag isn’t going to solve anything. You aren’t “stomping out” your government or making them angry. Honestly, you aren’t doing anything but enraging random people over the internet.
Another argument I’ve heard is “it get’s the people talking”. Well. Sure. It’s kind of starting awareness, but, in all the wrong ways. It’s starting hate conversations. Anti-Bullying and Anti-Homosexual Harassment have been able to achieve “people talking” without doing anything crazy, they simply put up signs saying “think before you speak” and all that jazz.
But to be honest, I don’t even know what “equality” you guys are trying to achieve. This goes out to all the rioters in Baltimore too. You guys are not achieving anything. Like guys. Literally nothing. Burning down a Walgreen’s just gets you arrested for arson. MLK Jr and Malcolm X were for peace and equality amongst whites and blacks. They called for quiet protests. They didn’t want riots. They didn’t want lootings and burnings of stores. Those things aren’t going to make anything better, it’s only going to make things worse.
ALSO ABOUT WHITE COPS SHOOTING BLACK PEOPLE. OKAY. EXCUSE MY FRENCH. BUT IT’S TOTAL BULLSHIT.
“In 2012, according to the CDC, 140 blacks were killed by police. That same year 386 whites were killed by police. Over the 13-year period from 1999 to 2011, the CDC reports that 2,151 whites were killed by cops — and 1,130 blacks were killed by cops.” (Source)
BLACK COPS SHOOT BLACK PEOPLE, WHITE COPS SHOOT WHITE PEOPLE, BLACK COPS SHOOT WHITE PEOPLE, BUT NO. JUST BECAUSE A WHITE COP SHOOTS A BLACK PERSON ITS THE END OF THE WORLD AND THAT COP IS A TOTAL RACIST WHO DESERVES TO DIE IN HELL.
The only reason you hear about cops shooting black people is because people seek those videos and stories. Nobody cares when a cop shoots a white person because “it’s not racist” when in reality it could be???? White people can prejudice towards white people. It happens. Let’s flash back to the 1800’s. Irishmen were unable to find jobs just because they were assumed to all be drunks. They were forced to changed their last names, dropping the “O’s” and “s’s” off of “O’Riley” and “Connors” and the whole shebang.
Overall, y’all need to calm down. This whole thing is horrible and needs to stop. If y’all need to protest, find other ways! You don’t need to go piss off a bunch of people to prove your point. Write a speech, silently protest, put up signage. Whatever. Maybe strive to be the next MLK Jr. And everyone else who’s against it, keep your opinions, but stop being rude about it. They have their rights to say things just as much as you.
Peace out, girl scout. ✌️
The only reason you hear about cops shooting black people is because people seek those videos and stories. Nobody cares when a cop shoots a white person because “it’s not racist” when in reality it could be???? White people can prejudice towards white people. It happens. Let’s flash back to the 1800’s. Irishmen were unable to find jobs just because they were assumed to all be drunks. They were forced to changed their last names, dropping the “O’s” and “s’s” off of “O’Riley” and “Connors” and the whole shebang.
Overall, y’all need to calm down. This whole thing is horrible and needs to stop. If y’all need to protest, find other ways! You don’t need to go piss off a bunch of people to prove your point. Write a speech, silently protest, put up signage. Whatever. Maybe strive to be the next MLK Jr. And everyone else who’s against it, keep your opinions, but stop being rude about it. They have their rights to say things just as much as you.
Peace out, girl scout. ✌️