If it were up to me, a Thin Pink Line #FREEBRITNEY flag would be flapping over Atascadero City Hall by now. Civil rights are civil rights, whether we’re talking conservatorship abuse or rainbow regulation. But while we’re busy clashing over flags and ribbons, actual public safety issues get buried under comment thread chaos. Is it activism or a distraction? Depends on whether you want justice—or just really dramatic lawn décor.

If George Floyd’s murder didn’t make it clear, our society is boiling over with racial tension — and it’s spilling into local school board meetings. In Paso Robles, a white-majority panel made tone-deaf decisions about ethnic studies in a district where most students are kids of color. We can’t fix what we refuse to acknowledge. Ethnic studies aren’t radical — they’re reality. And our kids deserve the tools to build a better future than we did.

“Back the Blue” on the Central Coast has become cosplay for the insecure — all lifted trucks, loud flags, and louder egos. As a fourth-generation law enforcement kid, I know firsthand what real support looks like, and it’s not Facebook rants or false hero worship. You want to honor cops? Start by holding the bad ones accountable so the good ones can make it home safe. Respect isn’t loud. It’s earned — and it’s overdue.