Recall that in the June 7 post I quoted Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who, while criticizing Drew Brees, claimed that taking a knee was never about the national anthem. I don't know if Rodgers was being stupid or cowardly or both. But here is Kaepernick, the instigator of kneeling during the anthem, on this July 4th: "Black ppl have been dehumanized, brutalized, criminalized + terrorized by America for centuries, and are expected to join your commemoration of 'independence,' while you enslaved our ancestors. We reject your celebration of white supremacy and look forward to liberation for all." Yes, America did terrible things to black people. But we fought a war over slavery and slavery was ended. Yes, blacks were treated badly still, and we passed civil rights laws. And America elected a black president. Twice.
What Kaepernick does not get is that the words of the Founders helped create the very equality that did not exist for all in 1776. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." What Kaepernick does not get is that America has continued to improve in extending rights for all. What Kaepernick does not get is that America continues to pursue "a more perfect union." What Kaepernick does not get is...everything! That the American system of government provides freedoms that others can only dream about. That American capitalism has lifted more people out of poverty than any other system created.
What Kaepernick does do is dishonor all those, white and non-white alike, who have fought and even died in order to defend his freedoms. And he does not get that people want to come to America from all over the world to be able to share in the American dream - to make a better life for themselves and their children. And, perhaps Kaepernick would be surprised to learn that black people continue to emigrate from Africa to come to the USA. Kaepernick clearly does not speak for all of black America.
It has been reported that National Football League commissioner, Roger Goodell, said this: "We, at the National Football League, believe Black Lives Matter. I personally protest with you and want to be part of the much-needed change in this country." And: "...the protests around the country are emblematic of the centuries of silence, inequality, and oppression of black players, coaches, fans and staff." Centuries of silence? Did Goodell also forget the Civil War and all the civil rights legislation? Does Russell Wilson's four year contract for $140 million dollars also qualify as oppression? Does the minimum NFL salary of $440,000 qualify as oppression?
The NFL apparently intends to play what has been referred to as the "Black National Anthem," called "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," (written in 1899) before all the first week's games of this season. If you believe in identity politics then you probably like the idea. But if you believe in E Pluribus Unum, (out of many, one) the unofficial motto of the USA, then you know that it is a bad idea. What will the NFL do if Mexican-Americans want to hear the Mexican anthem? How about "G-d Save the Queen?" Or the Italian anthem? Or Hatikvah, the Israeli/Jewish anthem? We have ONE national anthem - The Star Spangled Banner. But the Left is always seeking new ways to divide us. Rather ironic and hypocritical when they make the accusation against Trump.
It has also been reported that the National Basketball Association, in conjunction with the players' union, has announced a list of acceptable "social justice" messages that will be allowed to be worn on players' jerseys. Those permissible words and phrases include: Black Lives Matter, Say Their Names, Vote, I Can't Breathe, Justice, Peace, Equality, Freedom, Enough, Power to the People, Justice Now, Say Her Name, Si Se Puede, Liberation, See Us, Hear Us, Respect Us, Love Us, Listen, Listen to Us, Stand Up, Ally, Anti-Racist, I Am a Man, Speak Up, How Many More, Group Economics, Education Reform and lastly, Mentor.
One person Tweeted: "Congrats to everyone who bravely displays an NBA approved message on the back of their jersey this season." Bravely? No, there is nothing brave about going along with the political correctness of the day. What would be brave is if a player had one of these messages: Trump 2020, Make America Great Again, E Pluribus Unum, In G-d We Trust, I Believe in the First and Second Amendments or Capitalism is Great. A responsive Tweet to the above Tweet said this: "Wonder if the NBA will kick out all the Chinese Americans wearing "Free Hong Kong" t-shirts. (Or does) social justice only matter when it's not hurting your pockets."
For those who don't know, and to otherwise refresh recollections, the General Manager (Daryl Morey) of the NBA team, Houston Rockets, caused quite a controversy last October with this Tweet: "Fight for Freedom, Stand With Hong Kong." The Chinese Communist government has been imposing harsh restrictions on the freedoms long enjoyed by the residents of Hong Kong. But the NBA, especially the Rockets with Yao Ming, has been quite popular in China; with the relationship also being a profitable one for the league. But defending other people's rights, especially when money is at stake, is apparently something the "brave" NBA players were not inclined to do. Rocket star, James Harden, offered a meek apology to China: "You know, we love China. We love playing there."
Commenting on the issue of Morey's free speech rights, superstar LeBron James said this: "Yes, we do have freedom of speech. But at times, there are ramifications for the negative that can happen when you're not thinking about others, when you only think about yourself. So many people would have been harmed, not only financially but physically, emotionally, spiritually." It's easy to be "brave" when there are no negative consequences that will ensue. It is easy to support free speech when everyone agrees on what you are saying. But Morey's support of freedom for the people of Hong Kong did, in fact, affect players economically, as China sought to punish the Rockets and the league. When that happens, bravery and support for free speech, and for people's freedom, is far less important.
Here is a Tweet emanating from the official Democratic National Committee Twitter account: "President Trump will be at Mount Rushmore, where he'll be standing in front of a monument to two slave owners and on land wrestled away from Native Americans." Wow. I guess the Dems will take down Mount Rushmore (or at least the two visages of Washington and Jefferson) if they succeed in November. And, what's the plan - return all of the United States to Native Americans? Everyone should give up any property rights they have, and maybe they will be allowed to lease the land back for a period of years. I can't wait until all the wealthy liberals give up their properties. I'm for that.
Of course, when Sanders went to Mount Rushmore in 2016, the media was proud to report that Sanders called it "a monument to four great American presidents." And: "just the accomplishment and the beauty, it really does make one very proud to be an American." The mainstream media, aka the propaganda arm of the Democrat party, said Trump's speech "stoke(d) a culture war," (The LA Times), "a divisive culture war message," (The NY Times), "push(ing) racial division," (Associated Press) and "warns of 'left-wing cultural revolution' in dark speech ahead of Independence Day," (The Washington Post).
Here are a few quotes from Trump's "dark" speech. In attacking left-wing insistence on obedience to their ideology, Trump said this: "One of their political weapons is cancel culture, driving people from their jobs, shaming dissenters, and demanding total submission from anyone who disagrees. This is the very definition of totalitarianism, and it is completely alien to our culture and to our values and it has absolutely no place in the United States of America." How refreshing to have a politician stand up to the mob. But if you want to live in a less free society, then Joe Biden is your man, as I have no doubt he lacks the courage to stand up for freedom.
But here is the most appropriate quote from the Trump speech for this July 4th weekend: "No nation has done more to advance the human condition than the United States of America and no people have done more to promote human progress than the citizens of our great nation. It was all made possible by the courage of 56 patriots who gathered in Philadelphia 244 years ago and signed the Declaration of Independence. They enshrined a divine truth that changed the world forever when they said, 'All men are created equal.' These immortal words set in motion the unstoppable march of freedom. Our founders boldly declared that we are all endowed with the same divine rights, given us by our Creator in Heaven, and that which G-d has given us, we will allow no one ever to take away..."
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