This past Saturday I got called into work for a technical issue. On my way back home, while driving through Lakeland, I witnessed something that I couldn’t believe.

A large public gathering was taking place, which had been discouraged by the CDC guidelines set forth in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.

I saw different races in attendance and I drove slowly by as people were getting out of their cars and I certainly didn’t want to hit a anyone especially a child.

Since my vehicle is equipped with cameras, which are always recording, I recorded video as I slowly passed by.

I posted one photo of the event and a photo that I often use to represent myself.

The event turned out to be a wedding that had been planned for some time with many out-of-town visitors in attendance.

My post was reported multiple times as “hate speech” to the Facebook Police which resulted in absolutely no action being taken by Facebook.

I felt the need to publicize this public gathering since we have all been asked to practice “Social Distancing” in an effort to curb the spread of the virus and as a result I was called a racist. I was also called a “racist-ass white cop” and a few other more threatening and racial comments were addressed to my Inbox on Facebook.

For the record…I have never, ever made any racist comments on any of my many social media venues.

However, I do point out the good, the bad, the ugly, the smart and the stupid without regard to race. I feel like I’m an equal-opportunity opinion giver.

I do not post with malice towards any race but I do call out folks without consideration of their race.

I often times express opinions that many humans (white and black) don’t agree with. When that happens let’s discuss the topic that I’ve posted about. However, hurling vulgarities, racial slurs or other profanities is not the way to engage me in a conversation.

I’ll let you all in on a little secret too…sometimes the opinions I express may not be the true opinion of this monkey. I have in the past, and will again in the future, express opinions that I may not personally agree with.

When I do this, it’s to start a debate or conversation to discuss the topic at hand. I do not attack unless I’m attacked first. I will discuss any topic with the same respect that I’m shown by the person attempting to engage me in conversation or debate.

Start hurling insults, foul language, racial slurs, etc…and I will certainly stop responding and will likely ban you.

I don’t usually delete comments, but I am known to ban people from my pages resulting in them being unable to comment on my pages. They can still visit and read the pages, they just simply lose the ability to participate in all future discussion and/or debates.

Some people saw my post about Saturday’s wedding event as an attack. It was not. It was a wake-up call to the general public of this area to take the “social distancing” suggestion of the CDC seriously. I had some comments where the poster stated that they would wait on the government to tell them what to do. Well, Monday the local government spoke and issued a Declaration of a Public Health Emgergency including a 9pm-5am curfew.

Perhaps the local population will take the COVID-19 outbreak seriously now that the local government has done what should have been done a week earlier.

Just because you disagree with someone doesn’t mean that the other person is a racist. So please how about giving that ole race card a break and try talking instead of attacking.

Not once, on Saturday’s Wedding Post, did I ever make a racist comment or reply… but I did receive a few.

I did call some stupid but that was after I was called a racist-ass white cop.

I’m not racist. I’m not hate-filled. I’m certainly not a cop.

I am Valdosta Monkey, HMIC and my staff and I are just trying to bring everyone a primate’s view on human nature, news as well as a little humor.

Shoot!

We even bust on ourselves from time to time.

But, if you don’t like us that’s OK too, no one is forced to “Like” or “Follow” the Valdosta Monkey Page. If we offend you then I encourage you to block the Valdosta Monkey Page.

Well, I’m going to bed. I’m feeling a little fatigued, warm and I’ve developed a dry cough. I hope you humans haven’t infected me with your stupid COVID-19 virus crap.

You are invited to “Like” and “Follow” Valdosta Monkey on Facebook