The dramatic footage of a man dying as his girlfriend tried to relate to the world what was happening via her mobile phone, after he was shot apparently several times by police in the wake of a traffic stop over a defective light, may be the last straw for that nation in confronting what even President Barack Obama described as having racial undertones.

Speaking to the nation after the shooting deaths by police of two black men in the space of 24 hours proved a deeply moving emotional experience and he was quite blunt in saying that it was not a black problem, but that it was certainly an American problem that has been existing for too long.

As he spoke, thousands of black, white, Hispanic and Asian people took to the streets across the nation to protest what they felt were acts that proved the US had a serious issue in dealing with crime.

Both shootings captured on camera raised countless questions about police training, and also the age-old issue of having bad apples on the force, who occasionally use their weapons without hesitation when dealing with blacks. That perception is widespread throughout the nation and President Obama was clear in that it was unfair to the thousands of brave black, and white, officers who not only risk their lives daily to keep communities safe, but also lose their lives in the process.

Only hours after making that speech from Warsaw, Poland, where he was attending the Nato summit, the worst attack against law enforcement in America since 9/11 exploded in the streets of Dallas during a mass protest against violence, with five police officers killed and a number seriously wounded. This shocking development sent shivers throughout the nation, with speculation that the event had tones of terrorism. With word that several heavily armed suspects were believed involved, a number of experts were leaning towards terrorism, rather than any connection with the peaceful demonstrations taking place at the time. Within hours of that first speech, President Obama found himself before the microphones again commenting on yet another dark moment of gun violence in America.

Flanked by Nato members, he appealed to the nation to join in giving full support to police throughout the country, emphasising once again that they have an extremely dangerous job, and that while there are problems, most of the men and women who serve do so with great courage.

This was demonstrated during the vicious attacks in Dallas, where police, knowing they were being targeted by heavily armed suspects, still put their lives on the line by moving into the line of fire to protect others.

It was in sharp contrast to footage of a police officer pointing his gun at a man bleeding and dying after being shot during a traffic stop, an incident that ignited massive demonstrations across America.

With much of the investigation into what happened in Texas still very much under way by the FBI and other law enforcement groups, it will probably be some time before the full picture is clear on what motives were at play here. At least one suspect was killed by police and several others arrested.

As families across America mourn the loss of loved ones as a result of the gun, and victims are civilians and law enforcement officers, it remains to be seen whether the nation is ready yet to take another hard look at powerful weapons that are easily obtainable as a result of the right to bear arms. that has yet to be fully debated.

The world has drastically changed with various forms of terrorism and people with demented objectives, and that in itself could be the wake-up call for America in trying to unite against such evil.