“Stop pacing. You’re making my eyes hurt.”
“I can’t. I’m SO angry. They just murdered a man in cold blood, in front of everyone, and nothing is going to happen to his killers. A slap on the wrist for the guy who did it and nothing for the cops who watched and kept the bystanders back. Bystanders who kept saying that the victim couldn’t breath and that he was dying. The cop who did it, held his knee on the guy’s throat for close to three minutes after he had stopped moving. The man kept saying that he couldn’t breath and HIS MURDERER DIDN’T CARE. All he had to do was REMOVE HIS KNEE FROM THE MAN’S THROAT and he would be alive today. He MURDERED HIM IN COLD BLOOD.”
“Were there riots later?”
“Of course.”
“Riots are the screams of those who have no voice. Those who are never heard. But not always. Sometimes, like what happened last light was just spite and looting.”
“I know.”
“Does pacing help?”
“No.”
“Then stop it.”
She nodded and sat down.
“The only way to end racism is to end white power.”
“I hate all of this,” she said.
“You should. But what are you going to do about it. Actions count. I like your T-shirt.”
“Thanks,” she said, tugging on the shirt. “I got it at an end racism rally.”
“T-shirts just advertise and tell other people what you think. They don’t actually change anything.”
“They educate.”
“Really?” asked the cat.
“Yes. Really.”
“I’m just saying that action is the only thing that brings about change. When I say white power, I’m not talking about skinheads, I’m talking about all the power you take for granted and don’t even realize you have. THAT kind of power.”
“I get it,” she said.
“Do you?”
“As much as possible. I think women can relate to being afraid on the streets and never feeling safe from men.”
“That’s true, but you aren’t afraid to walk into a diner or store. Not afraid to pretty much do whatever you like, without being questioned or stopped, or killed in the street with some cop’s knee on your throat,” he said.
“I know.”
“The cop should get life. But he won’t.”
“I know.”
“The other cops should be in jail for aiding and abetting. For allowing the murder to take place right in front of them. For actually protecting the murderer while he killed the guy.”
“I KNOW!” she said.
“Everyone should be up in arms,” sighed the cat.
“Never gonna happen.”
“Did you know that a zoo is getting hate mail because two male birds love each other and the homophobes are hysterical?”
“I read about it, yes.”
“That’s how crazy your species is.”
“I agree, but could we stay on topic?”
“What good will it do?”
“I’m not sure but maybe we’ll get an idea.”
“Like passing a law that states that everyone has to marry a person of the opposite color until there are no longer any black or whites races left?”
“Won’t help. The haters will just hate those who are a bit darker or lighter. They’re insane. You can’t fix stupid or insane.”
“Can you put all the icky people in one state and seal it off?”
“That would be a dream come true,” she said. “Especially since all the politicians would disappear in an instant.”
“Do you think it’s a possibility?”
“Only in the movies.”
“Maybe you could give them all shots of some kind that would turn them into nice people.”
“Right. Like that would be easy to do, or legal.”
“Do you know what’s in flue shots, or anything else they give you?” asked the cat.
“I’ve already thought of that and that’s why I don’t get them.”
“It’s not legal to kill anyone, is it?” asked the cat. “Just because you’re wearing a uniform, shouldn’t give you the right to murder people in the street. Is it legal for parents to raise their children to kill animals, to hate people THEY decided should be hated?”
“Apparently it is.”
“You don’t have a chance.”
“Tipping points, remember,” she sighed. “It’s all about tipping points.”
“True.”
“We are so close, to so many tipping points.”
“Do you think something’s going to happen?”
“I think that’s a definite possibility.”
“Do you have the right t-shirts?”
“I do,” she said.
“If they don’t give a strong enough sentence to the killer cop and his men, there’s going to be a lot more trouble.”
“There should be,” she said.
“The cops will beat and kill the demonstrators.”
“I know.”
“You seem calm about it.”
“You can’t stop the rage,” she said. “Once the tipping point has been reached, no one can stop things from happening. It’s the way change comes about, since people feel there’s no other way to be heard. New beginnings, Rebirth. Violence is the only language the masters understand. It’s the language they made up themselves. It’s the only language they speak and the one the masses are forbidden to use.”
“Wow, you’re getting all philosophic and Orwellian on me.”
“Well, this country was founded on hatred and murder. Ownership and slavery. What do you expect? It’s been evil since the first moron put his foot on the soil. Did you see that on the first night in Minneapolis, the cops protected the big stores from being burned and looted and let the small independents burn? It’s all about economics. Who lives, who dies, who is protected and who is not. All about money.”
“Love is not the answer to every question,” said the cat, grinning.
“Love isn’t the answer to anything. That’s just a distraction, so no one actually acts and brings about change.”
“I was just testing you,” he snickered. “Did you bring food? ”
She nodded and fixed a plate of sardines and treats, as well as dry food, and put it in front of him.”
“Looks good,” he said, tucking in immediately.
“The problem is that people don’t understand that all of the problems are THEIR problems”
“They don’t care,” said the cat.
“That’s the problem.”
“There is no such thing as empathy, that’s just a word. That’s not to say that there aren’t nice people in the world. There are. It’s just that no one is really taught to look out for anyone else, unless a recognizable catastrophe happens. Then people can work together for a couple of days before they go back to hating each other. People aren’t taught that by simply letting everyone become part of the process, creativity and intelligence will explode. That by letting everyone in, you will have the best world possible. Instead, people are taught to want power for themselves, to be greedy, to get what they can at any cost, and then they run for office. That’s why politics is so evil.”
She sighed. “The armed forces and police don’t work FOR the people, they work to PROTECT the assets of the elites.”
“Another terrible situation,” agreed the cat.
“Do you have anything good to say?”
“The food was delicious.”
She chuckled. “I’ll take that as a win.”
“Desperate times,” he said.
“Desperate times,” she agreed. “Can I pet you.”
“You can try.”
She ran her hand down his back. “The kittens came home with me again. They’re with their mom right now.”
“I know.”
“What’s going to happen?” she asked.
“I’m hoping your species will go extinct and leave the rest of us alone. Sure, I’ll mist you. At least at first, but I think that’s the best solution for all of us, including the planet.”
“I agree.”
“You better stop petting me now, or I’ll bite you and tear your hand to shreds.”
“Thanks for the heads up,” she said, picking up her tote bag. “You know I love you, right?”
“Yeah. I know.”
“See ya.”
“I can hardly wait,” snarked the cat. “Be careful crossing the street.”
“You love me too,” she sang, walking backward, starting at him
“DO NOT!” he said.
“DO TOO,” she yelled.
“Maybe a little,” he muttered softly, closing his eyes. “Maybe a little.”
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Rethinking Life 
Written
on May 31, 2020