I Got Shot

I got shot

I wrote this a while ago as a lament for the numerous black men and women gunned down by police officers while going about their daily lives. Today, with the rest of the country, I once again mourn the loss of children I did not know but whose deaths echo across the land along with their too many departed siblings. Once again we are told by those who call themselves our leaders to send thoughts and prayers, but let's not politicize this horrific tragedy by making it about gun legislation. What a load of crap! This is political. How we order our lives and live as communities is the essence of politics. And we are failing. The families and friends of the people killed at that church in Minnesota don't care if you are democrat or republican. Your thoughts and prayers sound good but they're not going to fill the holes in the hearts of this community, devestated by these deaths. And the same is true for when it happens the next time, and the next, and the time after that. So yes, make this political as hell. Take action. Tell your elected and appointed officials that it's time to shit or get off the pot, and out of office. God has heard our prayers and comforts those who mourn. When will they?

I know it's still early but today, I got shot. Yesterday, I got shot. My history and experience tells me that tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow I'll get shot. I stopped, I got shot. I reached for requested documentation, I got shot. I had my cell phone in my hand, I got shot. I had a legal weapon and said so, I got shot. I ran in fear, I got shot. I was 12 years old playing alone in a park, I got shot. I was driving an old car that backfired, I got shot. I was asleep in my bed, I got shot. I was relaxing, alone in my home, I got shot. A neighbor was concerned about me, called for help, I got shot. I committed a non-violent low level felony with no indication of a weapon, I didn't get shot. I got suffocated. I carried a sign saying stop shooting me. I got shot.

White men kill police officers or parade participants or church goers or protesters and get their day in court and maybe even lunch, or a glass of water and a thank you, for good measure. I get handcuffed while dying in the street. The rivers are becoming salty from my tears. But it's okay, because it's my fault. I got shot.

I was six years old, I got shot. I went to the grocery store or the movies, I got shot. I went to church or temple or synagogue. Surely those are safe places. But I got shot. We had an active shooter drill in school today and I got shot. I was sitting in a college classroom and I got shot. Again. I was having fun with friends in a night club. I got shot. Elected officials say "Let's not make this tragedy political by talking about gun legislation and they get shot. 

Why? Who did I hurt or offend? I hear that the officials are sending thoughts and prayers. That's nice of them but there's an empty place at the dinner table tonight, because I got shot.