Little Girl On Mission To Hug Police Officer In Every State
(CNN) Rosalyn Baldwin is 7 years old and is roadtripping across the US on a unique journey: She wants to hug police officers in all 50 states. "This came about as a result of the Dallas shooting," her mother, Angie Baldwin, told CNN. She was referring to the killings of five officers last year in Texas. "And it really amped up after Louisiana," she said, referencing the deaths of three more officers last summer.
I wrote a rough draft of this blog joking around calling this girl a suck up, but it didn't feel right to go through with it. I think it's all fun and good to poke fun at the ridiculous stuff that goes on every day, but important to also acknowledge the really cool stuff. This is some of that really cool stuff. We're in a crazy spot right in terms of everything seemingly being surrounded by divisive issues. And it all feels strange and unfamiliar, but at the same time we're asking ourselves, and I'm asking myself, how long many of these issues and sentiments have been around without being addressed; and I think there's an overwhelming sense of our shit's been really broken for really long time.
That's why it's stories like this should be appreciated. Because this young girl is taking her school breaks and weekends to go travel and show appreciation to law enforcement. She's not doing it for any type of attention, she's doing it because she wants to show people love. And honestly, regardless of her motivations, she's fucking doing it; and it's helping people. She's not putting her head in her hands; she's doing something. We need more of this. So regardless of whatever rage is coursing your veins courtesy of this Thanksgiving's arguments, take a minute to appreciate Rosalyn Baldwin. Maybe the world won't end tomorrow.
