‘After the Protests, What Now?’ Such is the title and theme of my reflections on the current—and long-standing—racial crisis in America. It begins, "After absorbing the video of George Floyd gasping for breath under the knee of a policeman, the country erupted in protest. The anger and frustration of blacks especially, but people of all races in many nations across the globe, is palpable. While the protests continue, people are starting to ask, 'What do we do now?' Indeed. What can we do about intractable racism?"
I suggest you watch Raymond Arroyo's video from today on EWTN with the interview with Martin Luther King's niece. But watch the entire video. In it, Mr. Arroyo glosses over the peaceful protests to focus on the looting and burning by the minority. He engages in some character assassination of several of his own leaders. He ignores the Reverend's booting from her own church for Trump's photo op with the Bible, to support Trump's spectacle. He blames the Left for the general outrage. He suggests, without evidence that outside agitators came in, implying "people wouldn't do that in their own neighborhood." But that's exactly what happened in the Watts riots and the rioting over Rodney King.
Since this is aired on EWTN to Catholics worldwide, the implication is that this is the real message the Catholic Church wishes to disseminate. The peaceful protests are ignored to focus on the looting and burning (certainly reprehensible) - and thus diminish the majority message.
I disagree with you on racism in America, as if we've learned anything at all. I live in a small town in California - Trump country - and there's no support among the Right where I live for the protests. Once again, it's the blacks' fault for not rising from their poverty. No sir: I see no evidence in primarily Red states that anything has changed. The Right just doesn't LABEL it racism. Few people would call themselves racist. But denying the term or changing the term doesn't change the reality.
By their fruits you shall know them.
As to the art...well, I looked at the pictures and the word that came to mind was spectacle. I suppose spectacle can be art - but it wasn't artistic to me.
The works of Christo Vladimirov Javacheff are amazing. I have never heard of him. Thank you for sharing his artwork .
I suggest you watch Raymond Arroyo's video from today on EWTN with the interview with Martin Luther King's niece. But watch the entire video. In it, Mr. Arroyo glosses over the peaceful protests to focus on the looting and burning by the minority. He engages in some character assassination of several of his own leaders. He ignores the Reverend's booting from her own church for Trump's photo op with the Bible, to support Trump's spectacle. He blames the Left for the general outrage. He suggests, without evidence that outside agitators came in, implying "people wouldn't do that in their own neighborhood." But that's exactly what happened in the Watts riots and the rioting over Rodney King.
Since this is aired on EWTN to Catholics worldwide, the implication is that this is the real message the Catholic Church wishes to disseminate. The peaceful protests are ignored to focus on the looting and burning (certainly reprehensible) - and thus diminish the majority message.
I disagree with you on racism in America, as if we've learned anything at all. I live in a small town in California - Trump country - and there's no support among the Right where I live for the protests. Once again, it's the blacks' fault for not rising from their poverty. No sir: I see no evidence in primarily Red states that anything has changed. The Right just doesn't LABEL it racism. Few people would call themselves racist. But denying the term or changing the term doesn't change the reality.
By their fruits you shall know them.
As to the art...well, I looked at the pictures and the word that came to mind was spectacle. I suppose spectacle can be art - but it wasn't artistic to me.
Thanks for the comments, Michael. Food for thought!