TheBanyanTree: Last Weekend

[Russ Doden]

Sure Kitty. Any suggestions?

On Wed, Jun 24, 2020, 11:02 Kitty Park <mzzkitty at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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
> >
> > Well Being Consultant
> > www.rldwbc.com
> >
> >
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