A thread...
As a prof, I feel a duty to help my students learn more than physiology. I want to help students become productive citizens. I've done this by talking about non-physiology issues such as sexual assault on college campuses, and Colin Kaepernick during lecture.

When you consider this is an election year, the political divide in this country, and COVID, 2020 has been a terrible year. Then we had last week…

On Monday we had the Central Park Dog Lady, and the indefensible action of 4 police officers in Minneapolis who clearly had zero regard for the life of George Floyd. His death led to massive protests and riots occurring throughout the country and now in Europe

My initial thought when I was reading about/watching the riots was how do they think burning down a Target is going to help anything. However, over the last few days as I've spent a lot of time thinking about what is going on with our nation, I realize I need to have empathy.

Do I think destroying property and attacking the police, who in my opinion are mostly good, makes sense and/or is the best way to make a statement? I do not. However, I also don’t know what is like to feel that sense of anger, rage and fear.

I don’t understand what it is like to be African American and I never will. 2-3 times a week I walk through my neighborhood around 11:00 pm (I am trying to close my rings on my watch). It dawned on me this morning that

I have never felt unsafe or worry that someone will call the cops on me. I don’t think it is a stretch to I would have different feelings if I was African American

A couple weeks ago, I got into a shouting match at the dog park, because someone wouldn’t control their dog, and this dog pinned my dog by her neck to the ground. The cops weren’t called, but would they have been called had I been African American man yelling at a white woman?

For our church service today that we had at home (Stupid COVID), we talked about being a strength to your community. We talked about what has happened over the past week, and how we need to help be a part of the change. We talked about how we need to have empathy.

Like I said, I can’t relate to the rage that some are feeling. I'm an educated, white man and I haven’t had to worry about things that many of my you have to worry about. I do think it is important to try and understand why people feel this way, and then help find a solution

So yes, I know that I have experienced loads of privilege. While I do not believe I should feel guilty for this privilege. I do believe I need to use this privilege to make the world a better place.

I shouldn't make snap judgements about the actions of others. I believe many protestors are trying to cope with built-up fear, anger and rage. What happened Monday caused them to reach the breaking point, which has resulted in the protests and riots.

Like I said, I don’t think destroying a Target is the best decision. However, I don’t think that should be our concern. I think we should be concerned with how we got to this place, why so many people have so much anger, and what can be done to fix things.

I don’t have all the answers. The first one that comes to mind right now is to get out and vote. We can affect change that way. I know there are other solutions. I don’t know what they are, but I am more than willing to listen to ideas.

I want to be better, I want my kids to be better, and I want the country and world to be better.

Wherever you are at, whatever you are doing I hope you are safe and healthy.