Why Can’t I Hear “All Lives Matter” In This Moment?

For my friends who are stuck, I offer this. ⠀
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When I say "Black Lives Matter", it's not an opposing concept to "All Lives Matter" or any other world view you have. ⠀
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Let's say you have a quarterly meeting with your board. You have 100 items on the agenda. When I say Black Lives Matter I'm saying that it's the first order of business for today's agenda. Everything else is important and will have it's allocated time and resources but in THIS moment the other agenda item is not what we're discussing. It's inappropriate to keep bringing it up. When you insist, I perceive it as disrespectful and wasting my time. I may have to ask you to remove yourself from this meeting because you're a distraction. ⠀
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Let's say you're a surgeon. Your patient is bleeding out on the table. You are asking for surgical tools and gauze to handle the situation but your staff keeps bringing up what's going on downstairs in the ER and giving you the wrong tools. That's not helpful to saving THIS life in THIS moment. ⠀
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Let's say one of your kids falls down and badly hurts themselves. If your other child is asking for ice cream can you hear them in that moment? Will you be willing to talk to them about why they deserve to have it, what flavor they want, or that you promised they could have it when you got home. I imagine that there is a chance you might yell at them - something like, can't you see what's happening here?! You would need them to help in whatever way they can or get out the way. (They will still get their ice cream later).⠀
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Now, I may not jump down your throat immediately when you say it. But I won't keep my sister from doing it though. If you continue to choose that as your stance be mindful of the choice you're making. You're part of the problem. ⠀
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Stop being right and make a commitment that works for us all in THIS thing - not your thing.

What will be different moving forward?

Share with whoever needs to hear this.