A Teen's Take

POMEROY–I understand standing up for what you believe in, but there is a difference between protesting and criminal behavior. If you have seen any of the news outlets recently, you know what is going on in our nation right now involving certain protesting towards a specific incident, the death of George Floyd. As someone who truly values law enforcement and hopes to become a part of that team someday, watching this situation is terrible for me to witness. If it were up to me, I would handle this whole situation a lot differently.

As I watch all this happening, my question is why destructive and violent rioting is what some groups of people in our nation think is the best option and is this really about the death of a person? Protesting violence with violence and destroying property doesn’t seem like a productive way to send a message. I can see protesting with a large amount of people carrying signs and even giving speeches, but what is happening just doesn’t make sense. There must be a better approach to handling the situation, I would think.

Is it really to protest the actions of police or is this situation happening because people are bored at home and this gives them something to do or if people honestly feel this way towards the men and women who protect us and our communities every day?

My mom always taught me to think before I act. I think that this is something many people in this country need to be reminded of because they are not thinking about the consequences of their actions, the amount of damage they are doing, and the people they are hurting. They are causing more damage to hardworking people, (women and minorities) who rely on their businesses to live. Seeing all of these nasty things happen to good people makes my heart hurt for them and our culture. Is this what we have become? Are we so much more interested in destroying things and people than helping each other?

I do agree that people have the right to be upset and protesting is a way to get their message out, but people are taking this to an all-time societal low, further dividing us and pitting one American citizen against the other. I was hoping I would never have to witness this type of behavior. I thought people had learned their lesson the last time.

In my opinion, it is up to everyone to think before they act, it means the difference between a good outcome and a bad.

I hope this finds everyone well and ready for the next phase. So happy we get to enjoy outdoor activities in this warm weather.