That moment when something you wrote a year ago is even more relevant today…

Back on August 25th, 2015, I wrote about how the #blacklivesmatter banner that was hung up on City Hall wasn’t sending the right message. I mentioned how I personally talked to dozens and dozens of people (at the time, prior to me writing my column), who like me, weren’t fans of the banner. Some for rational reasons, others not so rational reasons. Mine were rational reasons, which included, but was not limited to “#alllivesmatter” but according to a few, we here at this newspaper were racists and the real issue in this city because I wrote that column. Somehow #alllivesmatter promotes division and racism in the community. What?

My two major points at that time were that hanging that banner without any kind of contextual information or indication of how to obtain it and leaving the banner there for any extended period of time would be irresponsible and not what the local seat of government should be doing for the citizens who might read it and get the wrong impression. The other point was that it was definitely sending the wrong message to the fine men and women of the Somerville Police Department. Simple, right? No.

So almost a year goes by and when this newspaper published a copy of a letter from the Somerville Police Employees Union stating that yes, it does send the wrong message, and that #alllivesmatter on its Facebook page, the fun started happening. Within a very short period of time, the posting was removed by Facebook (obviously as a result of pressure by the administration), well, doesn’t that just say it all? If you’ve been paying attention for any period of time, this kind of stuff happens all the time.

It speaks to the way and manner in which things are handled in this city. It speaks to the double standard of some and the finger pointing of others. It speaks to the real reasons that people like to try and quantify their actions, all the while blaming others. I went on, in that column, to point out that we don’t have the same kinds of racial divides in this city, that other cities across the country have because Somerville has been an all-inclusive city chock full of equality for race, gender and sexual preference for so long, it’s not part of the narrative. It wasn’t then, and it still isn’t.

It never has been to me, so why try and make it seem that way? Because it causes controversy, it encourages narrow mindedness and it does nothing to bring people together to have conversations about real issues that face real people every day. That’s the true nature of derisive people who do one thing and then point the finger at someone else. It has worked in the past, especially in the political landscape of this city, but those days are over. People are smarter than that. At least I hope they are.

So it will be another series of truly moronic statements accusing me and the people associated with this newspaper of being racists, which is completely insane. Stating that we are divisive in the community, which quite frankly is even more insane. And last but not least, of promoting hate or whatever the real haters (and there are very few of them I might add) want to fabricate from their delusional minds next, instead of doing their own thing, minding their own business and trying to make a difference around here. Just stop it, already – be better than that.

So I say – bring back the hate page on Facebook and the rally cry of racism and boycotting whatever. Honestly, ten years ago it would bother me, today – I couldn’t give a shit. I make valid points in my column when I want to – all without pointing fingers, calling people names, fabricating stories or threatening anyone. So have an excellent day, and I will keep on keeping on – writing what I want, when I want, how I want. #GMK