You truly think Black Lives Matter called for those one or two individuals to kill police in Dallas? So, like the black race, the actions of a few are used to judge the collective? It is so strange how people are coming out in droves to denounce BLM when most of those same people had (and have) nothing to say about members of The Tea Party who committed numerous violent acts. Those who did say something focused more on the majority of the member’s political party affiliation than their outright racist actions.

BLM isn’t suggesting that life that isn’t shrouded in black skin doesn’t matter. Why are so many screaming the equivalent of “Hangnails Matter” when BLM is trying to raise awareness about the fact that “Gunshot Wounds Matter” among other things? One is an immediate threat, is propagated by a system designed to ensure gunshot wounds are frequently doled out by people who are untrained to use any weapon, and results in a situation that requires immediate medical attention, community defense and, in an ideal scenario, regulatory change. BLM is asking ALL people to help change the conditions that raise the prevalence of gunshot-related murders by law enforcement officers. And, let me be clear: I do not believe all law enforcement officers are bad. I’ve met many great ones. That said, your hangnail isn’t an immediate threat to your life and did not result from conditions created to ensure you — or people in your socioeconomic or racial demographic — always (ALWAYS) remain in a state that ensures that one of your very limited options is to run your fingers against the grain. In such conditions, nine times out of ten, you are going to get a hangnail.

The hangnail situation would be far more serious if, because of the color of your fingernail polish, you were always excessively targeted by enforcing peacekeepers who, if they catch you, break your taillight, “discover” drugs on you that you never touched, or repeatedly call you a thin, crisp wafer in front of your family and friends while physically pushing you around. You push back. Uh-oh, no bueno. Now, they have no choice but to force your fingers on a plank and make you run them against the grain over and over again as they plant a plank on you. Surprise, you’ve got a hangnail and you clearly deserved it! You should have considered your options. Had you just complied to being targeted, you could have chosen between getting an excessive fine, a lengthy jail sentence, or being forced to run your fingers against the grain of a plank. You didn’t have to get a hangnail, but your response to routine provocation experienced by everyone in the U.S. left the peacekeeper with no other option. Grain, grain.

By and large, that never happens to the people who keep screaming, “Hangnails Matter.” They also don’t get their hangnails under similar circumstances. No, these cd-selling criminals become riddled with hangnails while laying on a beach, drinking mojitos and getting fanned by unpaid or low wage workers while others are riddled with bullets and lay bleeding in the streets. Bang, bang.

Yes, all lives matter (especially the lives of those who always receive hangnail-level consequences).

Let’s agree to disagree as we each keep working for positive change. #Peace