Dear Friends on Curacao, Aruba, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba,“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that” – M.L. King. These are troubling times for America and the world. Reports on the protests on American streets are confusing and painful.
So we need to be clear: Americans support peoples’ freedom to peacefully express themselves. Protests represent genuine and legitimate concerns about improving the country. But violence is not the solution to injustice.
Freedom of speech and the right to peaceful assembly are fundamental rights of all people, and those of us fortunate to live in democratic societies need to respect and protect those rights if we are to keep them. But upholding our rights and the cause of justice needs to be done in a way that attacks the evil of injustice itself, and not one another.
Terrence Floyd, the brother of the late George Floyd, is calling on people to protest without violence. “We’ve been down this road already,” he said. “(George) would want to seek justice the way we are, the way we’re trying to do. The anger, damaging your hometown, it’s not the way he’d want.”
Its inspiring to see the rise of the “Walk with Us” movement, where police join peaceful protesters condemning racism, police brutality and calling for an end to violence on all sides. We can learn from these expressions of unity and solidarity with the cause of justice.
In the 1960s, violent protest rocked many places in the world. Curacao has just commemorated its 1969 “30 di mei” events with ceremonies emphasizing the need for inclusiveness in a multi-ethnic society. We Americans can learn from these lessons – Please share them with us.
In the United States in the 1960s, riots and looting were widespread in cities across the country. In a context of overt racism and brutality, Dr. Martin Luther King, the champion of social justice and Nobel Peace Prize winner, wrote a book called Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community.
In that book, he captured America’s conscience, setting forth a prescription for attaining the lasting justice he so fervently sought.
Dr. King wrote: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. The beauty of nonviolence is that in its own way and in its own time it seeks to break the chain reaction of evil.”
As we strive to form a more perfect union, these are words we all need to reflect upon.
Bron: Persbericht U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE on https://www.facebook.com/Curaçao.usconsulate
Nice statement by GW Bush:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/george-w-bush-calls-out-racial-injustices-and-celebrates-protesters-who-march-for-a-better-future/2020/06/02/2d2f7252-a511-11ea-bb20-ebf0921f3bbd_story.html?utm_campaign=wp_todays_worldview&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_todayworld
Wij hebben nog veel te leren.
Zolang wij inderdaad neerkijken op latinos en chinos.
De brallende makamba Mambo beach met zijn eigen mening kunnen we inderdaad door de wc spoelen maar er zijn ook veel makambas die al jaren hier wonen, de cultuur kennen en met ideeen komen (Door sommige YDK als kritiek gezien) en die worden meteen verwent naar je eigen land gaan!
Eens knoek-koe: in naam is Curacao multi ethnic maar in praktijk gewoon anti YDK. Kijk naar onze toppers in het parlement, overheids nvs en andere semi overheids instellingen. Bon traa is weggepest terwijl figuren die noot enige meerwaarde hebben geleverd (jardim, lasten, Romero, Reinald curiel, jonis, sluis, martis, de Geus) doodleuk blijven zitten: niet vanwege competentie maar puur vanwege YDK/nos mes por gedrag
@Sate Batata:
“Trump is about the world at large and accomplishments.”
Jij vertoeft duidelijk in een alternate dimension.
“Trump insisted in a tweet that trade wars are good, and easy to win.”
The whole world by now knows how well that went :
Cargo exports down by $20.2 billion.
Agriculture losses of $11 billion.
Consumers and businesses have paid an additional $38 billion from the start of the trade war.
Technology announced losses in the billions.
I wouldn’t tote these factual extreme losses as accomplishments the way you do. Seems you’re the one who’s out of context and truly out of your mind.
Deze reactie is verwijderd wegens strijd met de regels
OMG mr. Greenberg, what the heck.
You do know I presume that your government donot support people’s freedom for a number of years now. That the free press is under fire in the US, that the US has become less and less a safe place for journalists over the past four years.
I totally agree with you violence is not an option, definitely not looting!
But even peaceful protests were met with violence over the past few days, and today in particular. Furthermore I think you should not mention the year of 1969, since there is definitely no comparison.
Just admit that the US has become – lately – a less and less safe place for minorities and black men in particular. Yesterday and today and sure many days to come we have seen hundreds of thousands of people protesting against racism all over the world and the US in particular.
I agree with all of the people, enough is enough. It must end.
#BlackLivesMatter.
……”Curacao has just commemorated its 1969 “30 di mei” events with ceremonies emphasizing the need for inclusiveness in a multi-ethnic society. We Americans can learn from these lessons “…..
Multi ethnic society, that is correct.
But a very racist multi ethnic society too!
A racist multi ethnic society that adress certain ethnic minorities by it’s etnicity!
Like “Chino”, Koeli, Makamba, Portugues, and SanDom, enriched with some nasty adjectives…..
BTW mr US Consul General.
30 di mei 69, whas a Booze fueled plunder and loithing spree, fueled by racist populistic hate instigaters, resulting in significant destruction and damage of the arquitectonic centre of the historic city of Willemstad.
Nothing to be proud of.
…..”Dr. Martin Luther King, the champion of social justice and Nobel Peace Prize winner, wrote a book called Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community”……
Also a champion adulter (wife cheater), like many of our local dignitarios, and directors,and a champion plagiarizer, and a champion preacher that did not walk his talk.
Een en ander om de zaken in perspectief te brengen…
@Bolivar
What you bring up is not very relevant .
Has nothing to do with -often out of context details- from the NYT, which you bring up.
Trump is about the world at large and accomplishments.
Mister the Consul knows it and by far most Americans know it by now.
Hav a good evning
Deze reactie is verwijderd wegens strijd met de regels
@Sate Batata :
“President Trump is very smart and will solve this problem. no issue is to big for him. Good speech of him yesterday by the way.”
Trump on :
The 1.5 million Americans who’ve tested positive for coronavirus : “Really, it’s a badge of honour.”
Border Control :
“I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will have Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words.”
On Women :
“I will be phenomenal to the women. I mean, I want to help women.”
“Grab ’em by the pussy”
On Race :
“Black people would never vote for me because they are too stupid.”
On his wealth:
“The beauty of me is that I’m very rich”
While Trump’s core businesses racked up losses of more than a billion dollars in a ten-year period.
P.S. Very smart ?
Hello mister the Consul, how are you today?
Not a lot to share about 1969 “30 di mei” . yes, there was some booze involved.
Tucker gave some good insight yesterday about your present situation.
https://youtu.be/3n5_D59lSjc
President Trump is very smart and will solve this problem. no issue is to big for him. Good speech of him yesterday by the way.
Bye bye and take care
“So we need to be clear: Americans support peoples’ freedom to peacefully express themselves. Protests represent genuine and legitimate concerns about improving the country. But violence is not the solution to injustice.”
The non-violence you so eloquently ask for does not come from one direction, it must come from both directions. It’s a two-way street deal.
Sorry to state this truly sad fact : citizens of the USA, especially of the coloured kind, are prone to violence with deadly consequences to those who are sworn to protect.
How about addressing the fact that deadly violence towards US citizens comes from those who swore to protect them ?