Dear Editors:
America killed Philando Castile, who had his seat belt on while his girlfriend and child were in the car, and while it was streamed live.
It’s the same country that allowed racist Jeff Sessions to become the head national law enforcement officer.
It’s the same country that allows a billionaire with zero experience, who never went to public school, to lead the Department of Education.
It’s the same country that allows an anti-environmentalist to head the EPA.
It’s the same country that allows white nationalists in high positions of government—still in 2017.
It’s the same country that elected a grifter, a racist (fake) billionaire con artist that spent years attacking a sitting president, questioning his birth certificate (see also: things that racists do)…and whose only values are vengeance and money.
It’s the same country (no matter the political party) that bombs innocent civilians in foreign countries, and wonders why they hate us.
It’s the same country that started a war/wars over fake evidence and sent thousands of our fellow citizens off to die.
It’s the same country that feels compassion for opioid users (white) but prosecutes to the full extent of the law crack addicts (black).
It’s the same country that has more prisoners in jail than the next seven countries combined.
It’s the same country that only 16 years ago legalized gay sex.
It’s the same country where half want to tell women what they can do with their own bodies.
It’s the same country that only 50 years ago legalized interracial marriage.
It’s the same country that practiced intense segregation for 100 years after slavery was declared illegal (and only after 600,000 Americans were killed).
It’s the same country that has innocent black boys rot in jail without a trial.
It’s the same country that lets cops get away with murder on a consistent basis.
It’s the same country that sends white-collar criminals to country clubs rather than real jail, if they ever get convicted at all.
It’s the same country that pays women less and demands more in every aspect.
It’s the same country that has been told to demonize the poor.
It’s the same country where fake Christians try to take health care from anyone who can’t afford it and eagerly wish to destroy immigrant families.
It’s the same country whose leader told us to go shopping after 9/11.
It’s the same country that holds televangelists in higher regard than scientists.
It’s the same country where a reality star family has more influence than a senator.
It’s the same country, America; always has been and always will be.
We have zero moral superiority.
It can change.
–Scott E., Greenwich Village
