Fair Game ?

   Shaquille O'Neal is known as one of the most dominant big men in basketball history. His sheer dominance on the basketball court was awe inspiring. He was such a force of nature, that after breaking down a few basketball goals, the design of these basketball goals had to be modified, or Shaq proofed,  but he wasn't great at everything. His free throw throw percentage was awful, but his 3pt shooting % was even more atrocious. He was 1 for 22  or  about 5% for his career. Needless to say his coaches preferred for him to play down low, but as a basketball player all rules that apply to an accomplished three point shooter like Steph Curry apply the same to Shaq. They are both basketball players and although they have different skillsets they are officiated under the same type of rules.
     This brings me back yet again to our current state of equality here in America. The same America that has a professional sports league that has ostracized a man (Colin Kaepernick) who protested against inequalities and mistreatment of people of color in regards to police brutality and other atrocities. This same league has teams who signed a QB (Chad Kelly) who was once kicked out of the  Clemson Tiger football program for being emotionally unstable,belligerent, any other synonym to describe someone who was a pain in the rear after being told he wasn't guaranteed to be a starter in an upcoming season. This man also once threatened to shoot up a bar with his AK47, but was only subjected to community service. Last year he sneaked in a family's home in Colorado and was arrested, ultimately getting him dismissed from the Denver Broncos. This choir boy still manages to get opportunities, just last month he was signed by the Indianapolis Colts. If you speak out against the wrong doing of your fellow man,  the shallow moral compass of some fans, discourages most team owners from taking a chance on a player like Colin Kapernick, even if he's a more viable option than a lesser talent like Nathan Peterman aka, the most prolific thrower of interceptions in NFL history. Thats the NFL for you.
      Just recently in Arkansas a young gentleman named Ed Truitt had an encounter with an officer who pulled out his service weapon on him as he was stopped in a parking lot. Not knowing all the facts in the case, Mr Truitt had a weapon in his vehicle which he said was registered and apparently there had been a series of break ins in the area which led to him being accosted by the cop. Truitt was deemed suspicious, but without having anything of consequence on Truitt the officer still pulled out his gun on him. Truitt having seen similar incidences occur with the likes of Philando Castile and Stephon Clark, kept his hands in visible sight as well as he streamed the encounter on Facebook live. In those incidences those cops made assumptions and murdered those men due to fear of a potential weapon being used on them although a command was given to perform an action.What's even more alarming is Clark was just holding a cell phone. When did Samsung make a cellular gun?
      Permittless, Concealed , and Open Carry are now legal in Arkansas for those who can legally possess a firearm. A category Truitt falls into.  Like my basketball analogy explained, there can be 2 different types of players, although they play different ways, the same still rules apply. It is a shame that in a land where we are taught in school that we are all equal. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all, but it doesn't resemble that one iota. Why does it feel like we are divided and true liberty and justice exists for some  and not all?  Are we that naive to believe that these principles instituted by this country's forefathers, looks nothing like they envisioned. When a man has to live stream to ensure his life will be spared. It speaks volumes. Trust me, some people won't have to stoop to that level to ensure their survival. Case  in point, Grady Wayne Wilkes. In  Auburn,  Alabama this man shot and killed an officer, and wounded 2 other people after authorities were notified about a domestic disturbance involving him. Despite the violent nature of his crimes. His arrest was rather uneventful despite the fact he was known to be armed and dangerous.  I don't get it. A man with a gun who just killed a comrade you don't fear him. But if you look in your glove compartment  you're a dead man. I guess  the approach of shoot first and ask questions last has some unknown variables that are only applied in certain cases which seems like a violation of the rules of equality. Which makes me wonder why did these officers not fear for their life since this man had proven to kill a man, not just a man, but one of their own? They made a conscious decision to allow this man to live. But a 12 year old child with a toy gun gets shot on sight with no repercussions. Maybe I have a distorted view of how I see it, but stuff like this is incomprehensible. Day after day our judicial system continues to allow these acts to happen. Fans were able to get the NFL to institute a new interference review rule after an ergregious missed call was not made in the NFC Championship game. There's been more than enough outcry about these unjust killings to make changes too. But still no movement. Is a football game more important than a human's life? I think it's about time we get some transparency on rules of engagement and what is deemed an unlawful killing by law enforcement. In most jobs, when a person makes an ergregious error they are punished significantly. Those actions which led to the incidents I have mentioned should get dissected for gaps and corrections with the intention of having no more reoccurrences. I think if some of these officers were held more accountable, and punished satisfactorily , we'd make tremendous strides in interactions between cops and minorities.  We should have more defined lines of clarity. Apply all the rules appropriately. We all should be afforded the same rights unless we have proven ourselves to be unworthy. A person with a violent criminal record riding around with a gun in his car, doesn't have much of a ground to stand on. If you have a criminal record  or aren't disciplined enough to conduct yourself in a civilized manner, then an officer maybe justified to be more demonstrative in their engagement with you. I shouldn't be fearful of being killed for following a command. Just as important is the fact the people who can't handle pressure well, don't need to be cops. It takes a special type of person who has the right temperament to perform under intense conditions,  if you don't have it, find a new job. You are putting the public in just as much harm as you are serving and protecting.
   In my basketball analogy I compared Shaq's style of play to Steph Curry's style. We are all privy to the same rules, laws, etc. But some of us are better equipped to operate in different areas better than others. Did Shaq need to shoot threes? No, because he wasn't good at it. Should Steph try to go down low in the post? No, he's too slight.  Although they don't do those tasks well, they can still attempt to execute them because they play on the same court under the same rules. We know how skilled these two basketball greats are because we've seen them perform on the highest level, but you can pick another NBA player similar in size and their skillset and overall abilities maybe totally different.  Should the rules be applied differently? No. The difference is you may not give Steph an open three pointer because you know what he's capable of. Give the other guy a shot and  see if he is a serious threat before you try to race out to defend him on the three point line. He may very well be harmless and throws up bricks as much as he could be a great shooter too. But afford him the opportunity. In all walks of life, stop assuming and apply rules appropriately. Judge people on their character. Stop stereotyping people based on looks. You'll find this will go a long way in healing what ails America.

       

2 Sided

     Take any two people regardless of race, age, religion, etc. and if they accidentally touch a hot iron or stove. What do you think they’d do? There are severe illnesses that affect the feeling in your extremities. But if both were considered normal, relatively healthy, human beings would one feel the pain from the heat, more or less due to their ethnicity. No. I am sure they both would undoubtedly agree that it was a rather unpleasant experience. Think about people from northern states like Minnesota and Michigan. Temperatures in the single digits aren't uncommon to them. But if they have a 50 degree day in February,  they'd put on shorts and sandals due to unseasonbly warm temperatures. Whereas people in South Florida exposed to those same temperatures would probably freak out because they are usually warmer. Why such a drastic difference in feelings? They come from two totally different environments. One is more tropical the other is more frigid. Proving our sense of normalcy isn't always the same. Based on what we've been exposed to majority of the time our interpretations of a particular variable, in this case temperature, can be viewed markedly different. I know its cliché,  but the phrase perception is reality is confirmed by this premise. We are all a products of our environment.  But like a chameleon we can change to blend in. So why is it so difficult for us as humans, especially Americans to coexist?
     We all have witnessed some of our loved ones go on to glory. No matter how it occurs it's always painful. It could be health related like cancer or heart disease, a car accident, or something malicious such as murder. Either way it's painful for those left behind to lose someone they whom they knew and loved.
     Some Americans are too rigid in their thoughts and opinions. Sure there are some issues that we may be unequivocally passionate about. I despise women and child abusers. But some people continue to lack objectivity, empathy, and overall self awareness in regards to how others in a different demographic or socioeconomic group might perceive the same thing. Issues like welfare assistance,  and  legalization of marijuana come to mind.
    I'm not dismissing the fact that groups like #blacklivesmatter aren't needed. They are.  I concur wholeheartedly that the way cops interact with us needs to change. Under no circumstances should a cop who kills an unarmed citizen who wasn't a legitimate threat to them, to still be able to get a job in law enforcement again, but it happens. Our lives are valuable too. But the results of Philando Castill's (black man killed by a Hispanic cop)death by an officer and Justine Damond's(white woman killed by a black Muslim cop) death by an officer in the same area only years apart, netted a far different result for each victim and the scary, incompetent, cops that killed them. The outcry for police protection was far less prevalent for one over the other as well as the pay outs for the families. Why? Was the prosecutor that much better? Blacklivesmatter is needed.
     #Blacklivesmatter also needs to address the issue of black lives, caring about black lives too. Control what we can control. This starts at home. If you see someone that looks like you and you call them a brother treat them like one. Jealousy and envy are the works of the devil. The fact is we just can't highlight incompetent cops and turn a blind eye to the black on black crime going on in America too. Everybody can't rhyme like Jay Z.  Shooting another man for stepping on your Jordans is foolish, but that's the world we live in. People competing to see who's the top thug, who has the most women, money,  clothes, and who has the fliest ride. I believe rectifying these issues will help us with some of these other societal problems. They need to put more of an emphasis on showing love to your neighbor. Having such an unstable footing in black communities makes it that more difficult to combat injustices that go against us. The animalistic approach we sometimes have towards one another leads to innocent people being judged unfairly.
    Lastly, why I don't have a flattering opinion about abortion. I recognize that God is the ultimate judge. So who am I to judge. Yet some are so vocal about this issue and use Christianity as a way to condemn those who have abortions calling it murder.  What if it was a situation where a mom could endanger her life by having the child, or if she was raped? Yet some of these very same people find ways to justify killings of unarmed people by cops and want to be cops over things as small as parking in a handicap spot. Why the difference? It's possible to feel mournful for an unborn child. I get it, but for people who were already established and were apart of, or even had their own families it is a much more meaningful loss for their loved ones. An unborn fetus hasn't created memories and hasn't had a chance to impact others with the exception of the mom they were carried by. No person, including me is above reproach. Modern day society allows us to be more expressive than ever,  but if somebody dares to push against the old guard, they are hit with ridicule. I can't give you the most poignant explanation, but is this God's best for us to always be at odds? I don't think so. Differences of opinion are natural,  but it shouldn't cause  such a toxic environment. I believe we all desire a blessed and prosperous livelihood. One were our families are safe and we can live our lives in a harmonious fashion. Let's put differences aside and work towards that common goal.

$tand 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.

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.

Standing for a Cause

Standing for a Cause

The name Colin Kaepernick will forever be stored in the annals of NFL history. But not for the fact he has the most rushing yards in a game by a QB in playoff history. Or leading the San Francisco  49ers to Super Bowl 47. But for starting a league wide protest during the playing of the national anthem at the start of NFL games back in 2016. Say what you want to, but his reasons for doing so are being validated , even today. Why else is a man slain on camera for defending his woman from some strange man? After it was obvious he wasn't attacking the guy further once a weapon was brandished. A fatal unnecessary shot was delivered and law enforcement won't press charges on the shooter. Why not? Most real men would have reacted similarly to a stranger accosting their significant other but did he deserved to die for it?

Do we Matter?

      Picture it , Sicily 1948. Ok,  that's a little Golden Girls humor. But I figure, I might as well be a little light hearted because of so much contention and discord in modern day America. Even Shonda Rhimes couldn't come up with a script as entertaining as the real life scandals going on in the White House. We have a reality TV star as the President. Only in America , right. Everyday at town halls across the country in areas that 45 aka,  President Trump, won overwhelmingly.  Lawmakers are being taken to task over this healthcare reform bill that will supplant Obamacare.  But for as much drama this has caused. One of America's most heinous and darkest issues continues to rear it's ugly head.  Cops killing innocent citizens , most notably, black males without any repercussions. 
    Comedian Dave Chappell once told a joke referencing why do those Foreign terrorist  groups never capture Black Americans and use them for their intimidation tactics up to and including beheadings. Now personally I'm not one to volunteer for that type of assignment, but he does make a good point. Do they perceive us as Black Americans,  to be less valued in our country than other other ethnic groups?  Does it hurt Americans less to see a black person killed?  How about on June 12, 2016 the day of the Orlando, Florida,  Gay nightclub shooting. Two of the survivors  mentioned that the shooter ,Omar Matteen, shouted thru the locked bathroom door  "That if you are black I won't shoot you. You guys have suffered enough". Despite his "generosity" the two witnesses wisely stayed in place. The events of that night were horrifying, and ultimately Mateen was put down and justifiably so. But it does make you wonder about how we are perceived.
       Last fall, then San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick was ridiculed for not standing for the American flag prior to the start of NFL games.  His reasoning was due to lack of suitable punishment for cops who wrongfully assassinate innocent people, especially those of color. Also in regards to the Presidential election he felt neither candidate put much effort into pushing this agenda. Being in California, a staunch Democratic State.  His vote was largely irrelevant due to the antiquated system known as the Electoral College. But that's another issue. Unfortunately his message got lost because people conveniently ignored it. Instead they lambasted him for his approach. But tell me what effective protest doesn't make some people feel uncomfortable?
     Believing that no man should have a right to kill a person without repercussions when the victim  has done nothing wrong in that moment is blasphemous. Of course there is the ensuing character assassination,  to "somewhat" make some people feel the killing was justified.  But as witnessed on May 17th , 2017. America still accepts cop killings. The latest example,  Officer Betty Shelby was cleared of her manslaughter charge for killing Terrence Crutcher. The whole ordeal was caught on camera and still there was no conviction. All before, with the Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown cases , all we had was here say, nothing was a slam dunk,  no confirmed eyewitness accounts or concrete  evidence. So this one should have been a slam dunk, right. No. Fortunately there was a recent conviction of a cop killing in 2015.  An eyewitness taped N. Charleston cop, Michael Slager  shooting Walter Scott as Scott attempted to run away during a traffic stop. Yes he should not have ran, but he had a warrant for back child support and didn't want to go jail. Officer Slager ensured that mom won't get child ever again. Was the punishment worth the crime? If not for the video, Slager would almost certainly be free, since his account was a whole different story and was nothing like the evidence showed. Of course a jury of "his" peers would've let him off and he would go on with his life. Fabricating the truth just enough to stay out of trouble is taught on the first day of Police Academy .
     Seriously , lets not forget the fact that innocent human beings are being killed, families are being broken, lives are being altered. All some people care about is character assassination or justification for these murders.  My thought is, if someone is selling cigarettes illegally does that equate to being killed?  I don't care about their prior offenses. If nothing illegal is going on at that moment and it doesn't threaten your life. Why take their's? Don't slaughter us unnecessarily, we aren't like deer or any other wild game, are we? Or is that how some people portray us to be.  If someone of another ethnicity was suspected of doing the same act would cops react the same?
    Why do proponents of #bluelivesmatter try to justify the reason someone has loss their life. They feel that the cop is always right. Aren't  they are paid to protect and serve "all" citizens. If a crime was committed by me at least let me get my day in court, unless you unequivocally,  without a doubt, had to kill me. Surely if Dylan Roof can knowlingly kill 9 parishioners in a church, and get taken to Burger King afterwards, I can expect the same treatment too, except take me to Whataburger. My point is protect us, don't just kill us and concoct bogus stories to get out of being punished for your screwup. If I mess up on my job , depending on the severity of of the incident, I can be fired.
      This is mind boggling how in our,  "Christian" society,  some people care more about a police dog than a fellow human being. Kill a police dog, you get 40 years. By contrast a cop kills an unarmed black man and they get an endless amount of money in their Go Fund me account . To me there's something seriously wrong with that picture. The fact that an animal is held in higher regard than a person is really appalling.
    But I have faith in God that these atrocities will one day be an afterthought. That only happens if we truely do matter. I'm not talking about  LeBron James,  Beyonce,  or Denzel Washington.  You shouldn't just care about only those folks that entertain you. If you really cared for them,  when they voiced their opinion you would respect their thoughts and not say, "stick to playing  basketball",  you're no politician " so on and so forth. When folks got on social media complaining about Colin Kaepernick speaking out against social injustice. It showed their ignorance and what they view him as. He is a person first and foremost. Just like you he has an opinion and because of free speech and the fact he lives in the greatest country in the world he's entitled to it. After all the commotion started by Colin we still see the same results. So I ask this in closing , will we continue to die as martyrs? Or will "All Lives Matter" once and for all.