Another Sunday morning and another day in which the Tweeter-in-chief continues to spend more time on social media creating a divide rather than bridging it.
In the cozy offices of, let's be honest, probably the room of his vacation estate, the 45th president of the United States tweets at will. There is no regard for others, no intelligent musings, no thought of others ravaged in Puerto Rico by back-to-back hurricanes, and he tweets with very much a blatant racist overtone.
There is no need to share these tweets here. The focus lately has been on athletes, primarily those from the NFL who continually to PEACEFULLY protest during the national anthem by taking a knee.
Why? Because inequality and racism are still very present in the year 2017. And it's being fueled by the man who sits in the highest seat of power in the United States.
A country's flag is supposed to be representative of the people within in it. If groups of people do not feel represented, or put down by other groups of people, then they have a right to peacefully protest it.
They are not protesting or disrespecting our military, our veterans, our people who fought to protect the very freedoms and liberties provided to us. They are simply using their given platform to bring the attention of injustices and inequalities to light.
Are people like Colin Kaepernick or Michael Bennett burning the flag? Are they dropping the flag to the ground and covering it in dirt? Are the putting the flag on beach towels, beer cans, bikini's, t-shirts, and paper plates?
No.
In fact, Bennett himself was recently part of the profiling and mistreatment that happens to far more African Americans than we ever hear about.
As a white male, I cannot speak for their experiences. I don't know what it's like to be profiled or to be looked at sideways or to be spit out or have racial epithets thrown my way. Or to be shot at, beaten or killed because the color of my skin.
I can't even pretend to know that feeling.
Dialogue is important, not creating banal and divisive tweets asking for the firing of the protesting athletes. Or dismissing teams and athletes who are refusing to accept White House visits. It's an abuse of power and it's not helpful in any way, shape, or form.
The issue is an important one, but instead of tweeting, ol' 45 should try leading this country. Maybe behind the scenes he's doing more (the hopeful part of me) but his public persona indicates he is not. Not one simple tweet indicating if the United States is doing anything for hurricane ravaged Puerto Rico (an American territory, part of the United States).
Decrying athletes and their right to protest quicker than calling out nazi's and white supremacists shows the president's true colors. (Not like we hadn't already seen them). It's a sad state of affairs the administration has created, slowly destroying and setting back a nation in the process.
And this isn't even going in depth about the important words of Jemele Hill, LeBron James, Steph Curry, and more. Prominent athletes and celebrities continue to speak out and to act, giving back more to their communities than ol' 45 has done.
If those decrying the protest truly believe athletes should stick to their profession, then you would have never elected a reality television star to become president in the first place.
Continue to kneel. Continue to bring meaningful conversation. Continue to be bigger people than the man who sits behind the resolute desk.
My support is with the people who fight for the progress, who fight for equality and who fight for the change for the better.
I stand with you.
Be bold. Be kind.
Comments