The flag and anthem ordeal has me like many others, frustrated. I stand wholeheartedly behind the NFL player protests. But what has it given us besides daily fodder on slow news days in the world of sports. NFL players don't have guaranteed contracts. So those that aren't financially stable err on the side of caution fearing being cut. Owners like Jerry Jones are bullying these players who unlike their brethren in the NBA are rendered powerless. President Trump uses it as a diversion whenever he starts catching heat about things going on in his administration. He can always pick on the segment of players in the NFL who wish to carry on the narrative started by Colin Kaepernick. Maybe I wouldn't have as much of a problem if I didn't know this is more about money than anything else.
Owners have these teams to make money , I get it . But they all are profitable and they are only considering their players as cash cows. Not human beings. They stand behind causes that affect most people. For Harvey, no one said a thing about JJ Watt using his status as a player to raise money for recovery. I commend him for that. But it affected people from all walks of life so no one had a problem. Breast cancer awareness month. Who among us doesn't know anyone who hasn't been afflicted by cancer? So those things NFL owners openly support. Disproportionately, blacks seem to get the short end of the stick in judicial matters. So why not use their power and influence on Capital Hill for more stricter sanctions on law enforcement and registered weapons permit owners for unlawful or unjustified use of weapons. Not just against blacks but all people. It just appears to me that our lives aren't valued the same. That's what these players want. That's what we want. People with resources and influence who can further help facilitate change. Let's have equal unalienable rights for all citizens. One compromise would be inviting family members of victims of these unjustified acts to games as a show of solidarity and support for the cause the players are protesting for and acknowledging them like they do for slain officers and soldiers. This would go a long way in showing the masses that this is a real problem and the NFL isn't ignoring it.
I am a veteran and a Christian. Those were choices. You know what I didn't choose , my genetic makeup. So it pierces my soul, to see so much acceptance of substandard treatment against people who look like me here in this country still today.
I think I speak for most people of color when I say blood being shed here today is much more relevant to me than the blood that was shed in 1776. I am not dismissing the exploits of those pioneers of US history. But let's be real, I don't think those folks had my ancestors best interest in mind either. Hence the reason it took nearly 100 more years to abolish slavery in 1865.
First of all we must live a nearly perfect life. It's not like we can go in a church and shoot 9 people or go in a school, killing faculty and students and still expect to get your day in court. That's too much to expect. After killing 9 people, a cop really wouldn't say you look hungry sir. Let's stop by Burger King before we take you in. Cops don't do that, right. But you better not park in that handicap spot without proper licensing. Whats that like a $200 fine Let me pay it and just move on. Or how about defend your woman's honor, you wouldn't deserve to be shot. Right. Personally I think you are less of a man if you won't defend your wife's honor if she's accosted in a malicious manner by some strange man but that's another issue. How about you go to Grandmas house and have a cell phone in your hand in the backyard? Oh, those are definitely acceptable reasons to be killed. In those instances will the citizen patrol guy or the cop see any prison time? Probably not. Why not? That is simply what Kaepernick kneeled for and this stuff is still going on today. Are we supposed to leave it as status quo, because most of America can't feel our pain? I hope not. We need tougher legislation. Cops need more intensive training. But you'll never hear that from our Russian puppet in the White House.
We live in a country where two people can commit essentially the same crime but get issued far different punishments with the only difference in the people being pigmentation and/or socioeconomic status. But protesting for the betterment of your people is supposed to be dishonorable, unpatriotic. No, it's exercising rights given to them because our military has given them that right. These players aren't naive. They know at 6"5 280 they are defensive lineman for their fans favorite team while the pads are on. But when they are on the street they are considered a scary dude by those that don't know them. Not my words but Officer "Scary" Betty Shelby before she shot Terrence Crutcher in 2016 for being upset that his vehicle broke down. Her fear made her react. She didn't even get a manslaughter charge.
I understand players like Dak Prescott have a limited time to make money on the football field so they may acquiesce to ownership demands. But don't have such a narrow minded focus. Dwayne Johnson was college football teammates with Pro football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp. Want to guess who's Q rating and bank account is higher right now? Ever heard of Jim Brown? Or even Terry Crews. Football player turned actors. Don't let the NFL silence your platform that isn't the only way to make money.
Lebron James and the other NBA stars toe the line every night. No one NFL player is as big of a star as he is. But he is as vocal on social issues as any athlete has been in the last 30 years. Yes he's approaching billionaire status so he is financially set. But he still retains his marketability despite expressing his opinions adamantly. Alienating some I'm sure. But he knows he is a voice that can be heard loud and clear. Remember to whom much is given, much is required. Don't stay silent use your voice, use your platform.
Thursday, August 2, 2018
$tand up for What?
Stand up for What?
The flag and anthem ordeal has me like many others, frustrated. I stand wholeheartedly behind the NFL player protests. But what has it given us besides daily fodder on slow news days in the world of sports. NFL players don't have guaranteed contracts. So those that aren't financially stable err on the side of caution fearing being cut. Owners like Jerry Jones are bullying these players who unlike their brethren in the NBA are rendered powerless. President Trump uses it as a diversion whenever he starts catching heat about things going on in his administration. He can always pick on the segment of players in the NFL who wish to carry on the narrative started by Colin Kaepernick. Maybe I wouldn't have as much of a problem if I didn't know this is more about money than anything else.
Owners have these teams to make money , I get it . But they all are profitable and they are only considering their players as cash cows. Not human beings. They stand behind causes that affect most people. For Harvey, no one said a thing about JJ Watt using his status as a player to raise money for recovery. I commend him for that. But it affected people from all walks of life so no one had a problem. Breast cancer awareness month. Who among us doesn't know anyone who hasn't been afflicted by cancer? So those things NFL owners openly support. Disproportionately, blacks seem to get the short end of the stick in judicial matters. So why not use their power and influence on Capital Hill for more stricter sanctions on law enforcement and registered weapons permit owners for unlawful or unjustified use of weapons. Not just against blacks but all people. It just appears to me that our lives aren't valued the same. That's what these players want. That's what we want. People with resources and influence who can further help facilitate change. Let's have equal unalienable rights for all citizens. One compromise would be inviting family members of victims of these unjustified acts to games as a show of solidarity and support for the cause the players are protesting for and acknowledging them like they do for slain officers and soldiers. This would go a long way in showing the masses that this is a real problem and the NFL isn't ignoring it.
I am a veteran and a Christian. Those were choices. You know what I didn't choose , my genetic makeup. So it pierces my soul, to see so much acceptance of substandard treatment against people who look like me here in this country still today.
I think I speak for most people of color when I say blood being shed here today is much more relevant to me than the blood that was shed in 1776. I am not dismissing the exploits of those pioneers of US history. But let's be real, I don't think those folks had my ancestors best interest in mind either. Hence the reason it took nearly 100 more years to abolish slavery in 1865.
First of all we must live a nearly perfect life. It's not like we can go in a church and shoot 9 people or go in a school, killing faculty and students and still expect to get your day in court. That's too much to expect. After killing 9 people, a cop really wouldn't say you look hungry sir. Let's stop by Burger King before we take you in. Cops don't do that, right. But you better not park in that handicap spot without proper licensing. Whats that like a $200 fine Let me pay it and just move on. Or how about defend your woman's honor, you wouldn't deserve to be shot. Right. Personally I think you are less of a man if you won't defend your wife's honor if she's accosted in a malicious manner by some strange man but that's another issue. How about you go to Grandmas house and have a cell phone in your hand in the backyard? Oh, those are definitely acceptable reasons to be killed. In those instances will the citizen patrol guy or the cop see any prison time? Probably not. Why not? That is simply what Kaepernick kneeled for and this stuff is still going on today. Are we supposed to leave it as status quo, because most of America can't feel our pain? I hope not. We need tougher legislation. Cops need more intensive training. But you'll never hear that from our Russian puppet in the White House.
We live in a country where two people can commit essentially the same crime but get issued far different punishments with the only difference in the people being pigmentation and/or socioeconomic status. But protesting for the betterment of your people is supposed to be dishonorable, unpatriotic. No, it's exercising rights given to them because our military has given them that right. These players aren't naive. They know at 6"5 280 they are defensive lineman for their fans favorite team while the pads are on. But when they are on the street they are considered a scary dude by those that don't know them. Not my words but Officer "Scary" Betty Shelby before she shot Terrence Crutcher in 2016 for being upset that his vehicle broke down. Her fear made her react. She didn't even get a manslaughter charge.
I understand players like Dak Prescott have a limited time to make money on the football field so they may acquiesce to ownership demands. But don't have such a narrow minded focus. Dwayne Johnson was college football teammates with Pro football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp. Want to guess who's Q rating and bank account is higher right now? Ever heard of Jim Brown? Or even Terry Crews. Football player turned actors. Don't let the NFL silence your platform that isn't the only way to make money.
Lebron James and the other NBA stars toe the line every night. No one NFL player is as big of a star as he is. But he is as vocal on social issues as any athlete has been in the last 30 years. Yes he's approaching billionaire status so he is financially set. But he still retains his marketability despite expressing his opinions adamantly. Alienating some I'm sure. But he knows he is a voice that can be heard loud and clear. Remember to whom much is given, much is required. Don't stay silent use your voice, use your platform.
Owners have these teams to make money , I get it . But they all are profitable and they are only considering their players as cash cows. Not human beings. They stand behind causes that affect most people. For Harvey, no one said a thing about JJ Watt using his status as a player to raise money for recovery. I commend him for that. But it affected people from all walks of life so no one had a problem. Breast cancer awareness month. Who among us doesn't know anyone who hasn't been afflicted by cancer? So those things NFL owners openly support. Disproportionately, blacks seem to get the short end of the stick in judicial matters. So why not use their power and influence on Capital Hill for more stricter sanctions on law enforcement and registered weapons permit owners for unlawful or unjustified use of weapons. Not just against blacks but all people. It just appears to me that our lives aren't valued the same. That's what these players want. That's what we want. People with resources and influence who can further help facilitate change. Let's have equal unalienable rights for all citizens. One compromise would be inviting family members of victims of these unjustified acts to games as a show of solidarity and support for the cause the players are protesting for and acknowledging them like they do for slain officers and soldiers. This would go a long way in showing the masses that this is a real problem and the NFL isn't ignoring it.
I am a veteran and a Christian. Those were choices. You know what I didn't choose , my genetic makeup. So it pierces my soul, to see so much acceptance of substandard treatment against people who look like me here in this country still today.
I think I speak for most people of color when I say blood being shed here today is much more relevant to me than the blood that was shed in 1776. I am not dismissing the exploits of those pioneers of US history. But let's be real, I don't think those folks had my ancestors best interest in mind either. Hence the reason it took nearly 100 more years to abolish slavery in 1865.
First of all we must live a nearly perfect life. It's not like we can go in a church and shoot 9 people or go in a school, killing faculty and students and still expect to get your day in court. That's too much to expect. After killing 9 people, a cop really wouldn't say you look hungry sir. Let's stop by Burger King before we take you in. Cops don't do that, right. But you better not park in that handicap spot without proper licensing. Whats that like a $200 fine Let me pay it and just move on. Or how about defend your woman's honor, you wouldn't deserve to be shot. Right. Personally I think you are less of a man if you won't defend your wife's honor if she's accosted in a malicious manner by some strange man but that's another issue. How about you go to Grandmas house and have a cell phone in your hand in the backyard? Oh, those are definitely acceptable reasons to be killed. In those instances will the citizen patrol guy or the cop see any prison time? Probably not. Why not? That is simply what Kaepernick kneeled for and this stuff is still going on today. Are we supposed to leave it as status quo, because most of America can't feel our pain? I hope not. We need tougher legislation. Cops need more intensive training. But you'll never hear that from our Russian puppet in the White House.
We live in a country where two people can commit essentially the same crime but get issued far different punishments with the only difference in the people being pigmentation and/or socioeconomic status. But protesting for the betterment of your people is supposed to be dishonorable, unpatriotic. No, it's exercising rights given to them because our military has given them that right. These players aren't naive. They know at 6"5 280 they are defensive lineman for their fans favorite team while the pads are on. But when they are on the street they are considered a scary dude by those that don't know them. Not my words but Officer "Scary" Betty Shelby before she shot Terrence Crutcher in 2016 for being upset that his vehicle broke down. Her fear made her react. She didn't even get a manslaughter charge.
I understand players like Dak Prescott have a limited time to make money on the football field so they may acquiesce to ownership demands. But don't have such a narrow minded focus. Dwayne Johnson was college football teammates with Pro football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp. Want to guess who's Q rating and bank account is higher right now? Ever heard of Jim Brown? Or even Terry Crews. Football player turned actors. Don't let the NFL silence your platform that isn't the only way to make money.
Lebron James and the other NBA stars toe the line every night. No one NFL player is as big of a star as he is. But he is as vocal on social issues as any athlete has been in the last 30 years. Yes he's approaching billionaire status so he is financially set. But he still retains his marketability despite expressing his opinions adamantly. Alienating some I'm sure. But he knows he is a voice that can be heard loud and clear. Remember to whom much is given, much is required. Don't stay silent use your voice, use your platform.
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