Sometimes when you’re in a dark place you think you’ve been buried, but you’ve actually been planted. ― Christine Caine

Today’s independent commentary deals with these people/issues:

• Some Personal Thoughts
• Tuesday – Election Day
• One More Thing

SOME PERSONAL THOUGHTS:

I’m not a scholar on race relations. I attended elementary, middle, and high schools that were predominantly white. I joined the military where all people were equal and your rank was how you were distinguished from others. I’ve always tried to treat people the way I would want them to treat me.

George Floyd did not have to die. Sadly, he follows many other young black men in this country who did not have die at the hands of the police.

Now we have to live with the aftermath. People are mad. They have a right to be mad.

We are leaderless. With President Donald Trump saying and tweeting stupid things, it’s no wonder there are riots in the streets.

Sunday night as I write this column, there are fires and protests outside the White House. This is after our President on Saturday claimed that many Secret Service agents were “just waiting for action” and ready to unleash “the most vicious dogs, and the most ominous weapons, I have ever seen” if protesters angered by his response to George Floyd’s death had crossed the White House’s security fence. (AP)

The President may think that, but he should not say it or write it.

So to no one’s amazement, the protests near the White House are a little stronger on Sunday.

Before all that, Trump tweeted:

Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts.

I agree with peaceful protests to draw attention to issues. I don’t agree with setting businesses on fire, burning police cars, or throwing rocks at police.

Just as the police officers who murdered George Floyd need to be held accountable, the people who riot and destroy things should also be held accountable.

We are better than this.

TUESDAY – ELECTION DAY:

Hey Montanans – Tuesday (June 2) is primary election day! Don’t forget to vote!

There are also elections in several other states and Washington, D.C. The other states besides Montana are Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and South Dakota

There are many good primary races on both Republican and Democratic ballots in Montana.

If you need to register to vote, click HERE.

Maybe we’ll get lucky and there won’t be any campaign ads for a few weeks after Tuesday…

ONE MORE THING:

America…or Trump?

##END##