Politics

President Trump launches verbal tirade against Black NFL players anthem protest

by Robert Randle
09/25/17
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The National Anthem protest started by former San Francisco Forty-niner QB Colin Kapernick jumped into high gear on Sunday, September 24, 2017, as more than 200 professional players and their coaches stayed in the locker room, locked arms in solidarity or took a knee at the singing of the National Anthem. While it can be argued that a sports event is not necessarily the best place to make a political statement, the comments by the Commander-in-Chief is inexcusable. It is one thing to disagree with the actions of the athletes, who are predominately Black, as they are the most affected by racial injustice, but to refer to them as “sons-of-bitches” is beyond the pale. Where was all this indignation and fury several weeks ago against the White Supremacists and Neo-Nazis in Charlottesville, VA? The thing that is even more troubling is when fans of the game suggestions that these players should leave the country; and where should they go-back to Africa, perhaps?? Well, as Whoopie Goldberg once said on ABC's “The View”-”We ain't goin' nowhere, and have just as much of a right to be here as anyone else.”

It is interesting to hear about all this talk of dishonoring the country and flag by African-American professional footballers but fail to realize the sacrifices that African slaves and their descendants made for this country. Chrispus Attucks, a slave, was the first person to shed his blood at the Boston Massacre during the First American Revolution. Black slaves were decisive in the Union army gaining victory over the Confederate army in the American Civil War; and so on. Yet, there are those who will stipulate the “when” “where” and “what” is the proper forum or venue to have a peaceful and silent redress of grievances; though as free citizens we need their permission, understanding or toleration. The U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights guarantees all citizens certain protections, privileges or rights, and it is this document alone, which gives meaning to the flag, our form of government and national identity. There is no citizenship or patriotism test that requires saluting the flag and standing at attention during the singing of the National Anthem, but rather to pledge loyalty to America and the Constitution, this revered document, which is the Supreme law of the land. Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and singing the National Anthem that most of us learned from Elementary School is merely social custom and tradition but to some others, it is for them like a sacred ritual.

I wonder if the Whigs in the 13 Colonies would have saluted the Union Jack of the British Parliament and King George, or taken a knee or sat during a recital of the England's National Anthem, especially if they were treated unjustly? The answer can be found in reading the Declaration of Independence, but I guess such actions which birthed a new nation to break the yoke of tyranny, with an insatiable thirst for freedom and social equity “only” applies to some people but not to others. Peaceful and silent protest, as it would seem, is the highest, noble, and most honorable patriotism. As last point: president Trump spoke before a crowd of supporters in Huntsville, AL to support Senator Luther Strange where he worked up the crowd by saying that NFL owners should fire players, but the way he screamed, “You're fired” was reminiscent of Howard Dean's famous 'scream' at the 2004 Iowa caucus. Talk about Trump, it was really S-T-R-A-N-G-E, at that.



Robert Randle
776 Commerce St Apt 701
Tacoma, WA 98402
September 25, 2017
[email protected]