SportsCastles.com<\/p>\n
Benjamin Watson who plays for the Baltimore Ravens posted the following on his Facebook page and it has since gone viral:<\/p>\n
\u201cAt some point while I was playing or preparing to play Monday Night Football, the news broke about the Ferguson Decision. After trying to figure out how I felt, I decided to write it down. Here are my thoughts:<\/p>\n
I\u2019M ANGRY because the stories of injustice that have been passed down for generations seem to be continuing before our very eyes.<\/p>\n
I\u2019M FRUSTRATED, because pop culture, music and movies glorify these types of police citizen altercations and promote an invincible attitude that continues to get young men killed in real life, away from safety movie sets and music studios.<\/p>\n
I\u2019M FEARFUL because in the back of my mind I know that although I\u2019m a law abiding citizen I could still be looked upon as a \u201cthreat\u201d to those who don\u2019t know me. So I will continue to have to go the extra mile to earn the benefit of the doubt.<\/p>\n
I\u2019M EMBARRASSED because the looting, violent protests, and law breaking only confirm, and in the minds of many, validate, the stereotypes and thus the inferior treatment.<\/p>\n
I\u2019M SAD, because another young life was lost from his family, the racial divide has widened, a community is in shambles, accusations, insensitivity hurt and hatred are boiling over, and we may never know the truth about what happened that day.<\/p>\n
I\u2019M SYMPATHETIC, because I wasn\u2019t there so I don\u2019t know exactly what happened. Maybe Darren Wilson acted within his rights and duty as an officer of the law and killed Michael Brown in self defense like any of us would in the circumstance. Now he has to fear the backlash against himself and his loved ones when he was only doing his job. What a horrible thing to endure. OR maybe he provoked Michael and ignited the series of events that led to him eventually murdering the young man to prove a point.<\/p>\n
I\u2019M OFFENDED, because of the insulting comments I\u2019ve seen that are not only insensitive but dismissive to the painful experiences of others.<\/p>\n
I\u2019M CONFUSED, because I don\u2019t know why it\u2019s so hard to obey a policeman. You will not win!!! And I don\u2019t know why some policeman abuse their power. Power is a responsibility, not a weapon to brandish and lord over the populace.<\/p>\n
I\u2019M INTROSPECTIVE, because sometimes I want to take \u201cour\u201d side without looking at the facts in situations like these. Sometimes I feel like it\u2019s us against them. Sometimes I\u2019m just as prejudiced as people I point fingers at. And that\u2019s not right. How can I look at white skin and make assumptions but not want assumptions made about me? That\u2019s not right.<\/p>\n
I\u2019M HOPELESS, because I\u2019ve lived long enough to expect things like this to continue to happen. I\u2019m not surprised and at some point my little children are going to inherit the weight of being a minority and all that it entails.<\/p>\n
I\u2019M HOPEFUL, because I know that while we still have race issues in America, we enjoy a much different normal than those of our parents and grandparents. I see it in my personal relationships with teammates, friends and mentors. And it\u2019s a beautiful thing.<\/p>\n
I\u2019M ENCOURAGED, because ultimately the problem is not a SKIN problem, it is a SIN problem. SIN is the reason we rebel against authority. SIN is the reason we abuse our authority. SIN is the reason we are racist, prejudiced and lie to cover for our own. SIN is the reason we riot, loot and burn. BUT I\u2019M ENCOURAGED because God has provided a solution for sin through the his son Jesus and with it, a transformed heart and mind. One that\u2019s capable of looking past the outward and seeing what\u2019s truly important in every human being. The cure for the Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice and Eric Garner tragedies is not education or exposure. It\u2019s the Gospel. So, finally, I\u2019M ENCOURAGED because the Gospel gives mankind hope.\u201d<\/p>\n