I've been reading the Twitter box and let me just say, there are a lot of crazy people out there and of course, I'm going to write about it. I'm sure some of you are surprised I have yet but I was getting my thoughts together and wondering if I could do this in a way as to not offend people and lose some followers but now, I don't care. After reading the visceral comments and just the hypocrisy of some people condemning the NFL and its players for taking a stance against social injustice, I'd rather you didn't read this blog. It's your choice.
First of all, let me just say that if you decide to stand and put your hand on your heart during the National Anthem, I don't think you're crazy. But, when you decide that your freedom of expression is more important than someone that decides to kneel because they're tired of being discriminated against in this country, which it absolutely does happen, then I feel like you're leaning to the cray, cray. And then, if you decide to publicly come out and use such violent speech, suggesting that we ought to have rules to worship a flag or fire those son's 'a bitches if they don't, then I believe you have full-on leaped into crazy. Yep.
Let's look at the hypocrisy here. How many examples are there of people disrespecting the flag in this country? If you decide to wave a confederate flag, does that not show disrespect for the American flag? I mean, we did have a war, right? The confederates on one side and the United States of America on the other? Right? We lost more American soldiers in that one war than like all of the next five wars we fought in combined. But that's somehow ok? Or, let's say you decide to wave a swastika around claiming it's your right for freedom of speech promoting the ideal or supreme race, knowing how many people Hitler killed mercilessly. Somehow that's not as offensive as kneeling or sitting or locking arms peacefully at a football game as a way to bring attention to the minorities that don't feel apart of this culture because of the way they've been and are being treated?
And here's the deal, all you people blasting the NFL and its owners for siding with their players; are you serious? The majority of the players belong to a minority group. Many have come from areas in our country that have been left behind. Many have seen and experienced the brutality and the unfair treatment of our judicial system and other American institutions and they are the product that's on the field making these owners their money. It's because of those players that the owners enjoy the success they have so what would you do? Side with a president that refers to your bread and butter as, "Son's 'a Bitches," or support those players that are supporting your ass?
You can't force people to side with you. They either do or don't. Hopefully, we create a culture and a system of institutions that people will agree to and align with. It's called a democracy. And when people are getting the shaft, they should speak out. That's also a key part of being a democracy. When we limit or deny a group from speaking out, that's called fascism. It's something we fought World Wars over. It's something we continue to fight against today in other countries. Is that where we're heading? Is that what you want?
Two things kind of bum me out here. One is that what was a peaceful protest to bring light on social injustices has now become an entirely different argument thanks to the pres. Thanks pres. But at the same time, his ignorance and volatile comments has just brought more attention to the situation and has united more people to the cause, i.e., the owners and coaches and the vast majority of the players locking arms and uniting. But please, let's get back to the issue that started this. Let's have some dialog not about kneeling or standing but about how we can include people from all these different cultures, races, ethnic groups, and backgrounds that we all benefit from, into our culture and find a way to reach some kind of social justice. We can't burry our heads anymore. Racism exists. Discrimination exists. Police brutality exists. Let's do something about it.
And the other thing I want to make clear is that of those players that decided to make a statement by kneeling, which is their right, use your voice by also participating in the institutions provided by our government. Vote. Yeah, that's right Kaepernick, go to the fricken polls and vote! And if any of the other players that decided to protest didn't vote, then shame on you, too.
Keep 'em where they live...
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