TheBanyanTree: Last Weekend

[Kitty Park]

Thanks, Russ.  Would you consider posting where more could read it?

Kitty
kcp-parkplace.blogspot.com




On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 10:48 AM Russ Doden <russ.doden at gmail.com> wrote:

> I've been wanting to post something, but ... shy away from politics like
> the plague (modern or ancient).  Here's the thing though.  As you all know,
> there was a big rally here in Tulsa last weekend.  It was also Juneteenth.
> For Tulsa that is something very much in our minds.  Back in 1921 was one
> of, if not the worst race riot in the country.  The official fatality count
> was about 30, but with changing times, and cover up's being uncovered, it
> now looks to have been over 300.  The section of Tulsa now known as
> Greenwood was known as Black Wall Street back then.  It was a hugely
> prosperous part of the fledgling city.  It was nearly all destroyed in one
> massive act of violence.  So, here, Juneteenth isn't just a celebration, it
> is also a time of remembrance, for the entire community.  Sometimes it is a
> little "rowdy" but usually a time of coming together.
>
> This weekend had the potential to be the "perfect storm" of Juneteenth and
> the rally.  Many - most? - of us were on edge.  There is a history of
> trouble with the rallies the POTUS holds, so all due precautions were
> taken.  Friday, Juneteenth came and went with only a few minor problems.
> Not much more than any other hot summer night.  Then came Saturday, rally
> day.  You all saw the results of that.  Friends that were in the area (not
> for the rally, but because they live or work nearby) said that it was even
> more calm than was shown on the news!  That evening, there were groups of
> protesters wandering around.  Not causing damage, just ... roaming. They
> would join up with other groups, and everyone ended up in the Greenwood
> district.  There are so many great restaurants and museums there, so a lot
> of damage could have been done.  Instead it turned into a huge block
> party.  Food trucks came in, music was playing, people were dancing and
> just having fun.  People of all races, not just one.  People of all
> spiritual paths.
>
> Quick Trip, a convenience store chain based here in Tulsa had boarded up
> some of their shops in areas that could have seen problems.  The 4' x 8'
> panels became targets of taggers.  Not hate tags, but tags of hope, unity,
> and support.  Some were amazing.  It was interesting that areas of the
> stores that were not covered didn't have any tagging on them at all, just
> the boards!  The management of Quick Trip is looking to save many of the
> boards, not just from their stores, but other stores as well, to possibly
> put them up on display in the Greenwood area as a reminder of how Tulsa
> handled that combination of events.
>
> Sometimes I bitch and moan about Tulsa.  OK, the heat and humidity are
> oppressive in the summer.  In the winter people forget how to drive. The
> streets are perpetually under repair.  And so the list goes.  I will say
> this though.  I have never been so proud of this city as I was this past
> weekend.  Granted, I often tell people how great Tulsa is, with two world
> class museums, cultural events, and so much more.  This  past weekend
> though, made those fade temporarily.  The city came together. Black, white,
> red (remember this is Indian Country), asian, gay, straight, what ever,
> Christian and Pagan.  It didn't make any difference, we all felt a "shift"
> and just maybe gave people in other cities a glimpse of what can be done
> when people are willing to come together for change!
>
> Russ
>
> --
> Enjoy Life By Living In Joy
>
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> www.rldwbc.com
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