Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and now this George Floyd murder. Mindy from Buttons and Mindy said it best:
“Why? Why? Why? Why?…”
Mindy from Mindy and Buttons
(I’m guessing Rooster isn’t a fan of Mindy?).
I’ve seen the images where officer Derek Chauvin looked at ease with his hand in his pocket while murdering another human. I watched a little of the video before exiting out. Such senseless atrocities make me lose faith in humanity. But much like how most of the country responded to COVID-19, the response has restored it.
George Floyd and the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) brought back memories of my favorite Disney/Pixar film, A Bug’s Life. The 1998 animation featured a storyline that revolved around ants and grasshoppers. Antagonist Hopper the Grasshopper and his grasshopper army used their size and totalitarian regime to install fear among the smaller, albeit more populous, ant colony. If the ants didn’t provide food for the winter, then the grasshoppers would annihilate them. Even if the ants provided, the grasshoppers planned to execute Queen Ant.
One of the scenes featured protagonist Flik the Ant trying to defend his colony from a final ambush. It was almost an exact replica of what we’re witnessing now. Flik was beaten down to the point where Hopper’s foot had pinned Flik’s head to the ground. Hopper was about to crush Flik’s head/neck before Princess Atta stepped in front of Hopper. The ant colony locked arms together before they defended their territory and defeated their grasshopper enemies.
Almost. Remember that I said almost. In the real world, there wasn’t a Princess Atta to rescue George Floyd. Floyd passed away. MPD officers Chauvin, Thomas Kiernan Lane, Alexander Kueng, and Tou Nmn Thao face charges.
Could this tragedy have been avoided? We’ll never know. What we know is that NFL players warned everyone through the National Anthem kneeling protests. We couldn’t get over the methods used for communicating a needed message about social intolerance against minorities.
Discrimination must end. The rapid growth of our young country into a world superpower has largely been due to the two most discriminated groups: blacks and Jews. They deserve gratitude, not venom. Without their blessings, the United States isn’t a world superpower; it’s a Third World country. I’m beyond grateful for their contributions. Their differences contribute to the little-bit-of-everything attributes that make the USA so unique. Hatred will undo everything.
The remainder of this article will focus on numerous topics that tie into the controversies surrounding the George Floyd murder and protests. Most of that will include Colin Kaepernick and Drew Brees.
On Aug. 14, 2018, I wrote a blog titled President Trump, Fans Should Express Acceptance to NFL Kneeling Protests. I’m referring to it right now because I’ll reiterate numerous points from that article.
Colin Kaepernick: A Symbol of Cancel Culture
My National Anthem kneeling protest beliefs have progressed. When Kaepernick started kneeling, it pissed me off. Why was the National Anthem the time and place to communicate that message? How does kneeling emphasize police brutality against minorities? Is it worth taking the attention away from honoring the military? The sight of kneeling appeared more like surrender than taking action. My view was that it was disrespectful and foolish.
As time went on, I felt Kaepernick was expressing a positive message with the wrong methods. Why must players kneel during the National Anthem? Couldn’t they kneel during opening kickoff? What about the opening possession? Couldn’t Kaepernick utilize demonstrations during press conferences? Wasn’t social media the perfect platform to communicate beliefs not associated with football? Why force it during the one part of a game when everyone knows it’ll divide the fan base?
Fans believed that their frustrations about National Anthem etiquette were getting muted. In return, they muted listening to the incoming message. “You don’t want to listen to us about not kneeling during the National Anthem? Then we won’t listen to your message!”
What Brees said during a Yahoo! Finance interview (more on that later) proved that white players had similar feelings. Most people weren’t upset about WHAT was said; it was HOW. Why couldn’t those demonstrations occur BEFORE or AFTER the National Anthem?
I hate these protests. My logic is much closer to Trump’s than the players. I’d prefer different protesting methods or kneeling during a different time frame (e.g. Opening Kickoff). Acceptable alternatives include locked arms or a raised fist. The National Anthem is not meant for the players. It’s the one part of the game that isn’t. Why must players protest intolerance with their own form of intolerance?
Me, 2018
Fast forward to today. Four years have passed. I’ve seen how the world reacts. I’ve seen what people respond to. Social media has created a society where outlandish behavior (e.g. fire challenges) generates the most exposure (e.g. page views, likes, subscribers).
You can create the best takes; however, if drama or controversy don’t exist, then the audience tunes out. Kaepernick had to do something out of the ordinary to get everyone’s attention, keep it, and get them to listen.
Perhaps Kaepernick could’ve demonstrated with a less controversial method. What I now realize is that it wouldn’t have reached nearly as large of an audience or generated as much media coverage. Kneeling was the best way to deliver his message to the largest audience possible in an “in your face” way. The unfortunate part was that the media focused more on the protest methods than the actual message. The message was de-prioritized. This caused it to get lost in the shuffle.
I’d love to see an alternate reality where kneeling was replaced with locked arms from the get-go. Kneeling reminds me of soldiers who are about to take a bullet from terrorists. It’s a bad visual that I had a hard time getting over.
Locked arms? Players were doing some of that toward the end of protests. Imagine an audience of 50,000-plus locking arms during the National Anthem. What an awesome visual. The message would’ve been better received.
Locked arms should become a regular part of every anthem routine.
Disrespectful? Actually, the Protests Honored the Flag
I’ve mentioned that my original views of the kneeling protests were that they were disrespectful and foolish. My thought was that the protests could’ve occurred at a different time. Allow the National Anthem for honoring current, former, and deceased militia.
I was wrong.
Consider a solider who sacrificed his or her body and/or life. Their losses occurred because they fought to protect and improve the country. Common logic suggests that the best way to honor them is honoring the flag through rituals and traditions.
What would those soldiers truly want? Would they prefer displays of honor? Or would they prefer corrections against injustices? Our military made and make sacrifices to help the country become a global superpower. Many passed away trying to end injustices.
Traditions are respectful; however, Kaepernick’s protests were a way to fight against the injustices that other soldiers never had a chance to live out and end themselves. He’s sort of finishing what they started.
Never forget that former United States Army Green Beret Nate Boyer encouraged Kaepernick to kneel. If some soldiers encourage it, then fans and I shouldn’t overreact to it.
No, You can’t Cancel Drew Brees
“I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag…”
Drew Brees, 2020
Above was a response from Drew Brees when he was answering questions about the George Floyd murder during a Yahoo! Finance interview. The interviewer asked Brees for his feelings of the National Anthem protests possibly returning for the 2020-21 NFL season.
Brees’ comments caught people off-guard. He received much backlash from teammates and blacks throughout the league. He has twice apologized for his criticized response. Some players have insisted that they will never forgive him.
Props to that reporter. He was sly as a fox. That was a hook, line, and sinker job. He set the trap. Brees fell right into it. That reporter damn well knew about Brees’ 2016 response. The reporter knew he’d get a controversial remark from him. $$$.
Former NFL punter Pat McAfee discussed how the locker room had conversations about the kneeling protests throughout the season. McAfee always provides a fascinating listener experience.
Brees didn’t physically harm anybody. He didn’t steal. There was no adultery. No crimes were committed. At worst, his sin was making a misinformed reply. This misinformed reply was from a belief that he already stated back in 2016. The interviewer asked him about the protests. Brees reiterated what he stated years ago.
Forgive Brees. There are two reasons you should:
- If you don’t forgive, then you’re harming the cause. Why would people support a cause if they know they’re canceled regardless of a changed mind and heart? Brees has done a ton of good for his community and the world. In March 2020, he donated $5 million toward coronavirus relief.
- Forgiveness isn’t about the sinner; it’s about the forgiver. If you don’t forgive others, then you’re holding grudges. Those grudges will corrupt you. The more forgiveness you withhold, the more you corrupt yourself. Corrupting oneself because they disagree with Brees’ misinformed response to a question? Spare yourself the anguish.
Stop playing God. You can’t cancel every single person for every single wrongdoing. You’d cancel the entire world. Cancel culture creates a community silence caused from a fear of retaliation. Remember Election Day 2016? Most people assumed Donald Trump had no chance to win. The reality was that there were many people who just kept to themselves.
America has fallen in love with that “You don’t agree with me? You’re fired!” mindset. We’ve become a society of professional stone-throwers. It has established a politically correct culture where individuals are afraid to voice harmless opinions without fear of retribution. People have chosen silence or, when forced to make a decision, simply agree with the popular stance.
Me, 2018
Don’t get too upset with Brees. Forgive but don’t forget. If anything, get upset with the media trying to—once again—redirect the course of discussions.
“Fight for the Flag…”
One of the reoccurring remarks about the kneeling protests revolves around “Fight for the flag.” The idea is that the individual and/or his or her relatives believe the protests were disrespectful toward the United States flag.
Nobody literally fights for the flag. Americans fight for the people who provided the good aspects of the country. They fought for those who didn’t have the luxury of using peaceful protests to win independence from England, end slavery, or use World War II to help elevate the U.S. from a low point into world superpower. Front-line workers worked through the uncertainty of a pandemic in an attempt to save lives and prevent economic collapse.
We don’t fight for the flag; we fight for the people. Jesus didn’t die for the cross; he died for the people. You remove the flag? People can make a new one. Remove the people? No flag. What Kaepernick was trying to accomplish—agree or disagree with his methods—was for the people. He shouldn’t get penalized for that.
Don’t treat the flag as an idol. The flag holds its symbolic value because of people.
Sign Colin Kaepernick?
Blackballing Kaepernick never made sense. There are plenty of liberal markets whose fan bases would’ve supported him. Were teams afraid of losing conservative fans? Those teams would’ve more than recouped their losses with new fans and loads of positive media coverage. The more important aspect was that it set a dangerous precedent.
Society shouldn’t silence individuals. When properly used, silence is the deadliest weapon. Consider the 2016 election. Trump was an underdog against Hillary Clinton. Most people thought he had no chance of winning the nomination. At this point, simply not participating in a gay pride social media posting was enough to earn condemnation and unfollows. The perception was that there was no way that our country would want to stray away from the accomplishments of the Obama Administration.
Trump won. Reality set in. Those silenced voices didn’t translate into changing mindsets. Silence created a false perception of the opponent. That opponent was just buying time to prepare to play Guerrilla Warfare. Leftists weren’t ready for the ambush. They bought into silence as their sign of victory. Turns out it was four years of retreating.
What can everyone learn from this, especially rightists? Political correctness doesn’t solve disagreements. Silencing voices doesn’t kill the enemy; it creates a deadlier, harder-to-combat foe.
Me, 2018
Kaepernick turns 33 this year. Assuming he’d still want to play, then someone should give him an opportunity.
As for Jake Fromm…
Buffalo Bills rookie quarterback Jake Fromm was caught sending a text message in Mar. 2019. This text message, referring to guns, said:
“just make them very expensive so only elite white people can get them haha.”
Jake Fromm, March 2019
This would’ve occurred when Fromm was age 20. When I was in my early 20s, I listened to Rucka Rucka Ali parodies. It wasn’t because I agreed with anything that was said. I just had a bad sense of humor.
Honestly? I’d like to know what the joke or reference was that required “White.” I’m assuming the “Haha” indicates that Fromm was joking. Maybe he actually believes that?
Meh. Everyone has stupid beliefs at that age. Move on.
NO MORE GEORGE FLOYD OUTCOMES! WE ALL MUST STOP ALLOWING THE MEDIA TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE!
We must stop allowing the circus sideshows to stray from the primary topic. Remain focused on what’s important. How can this generation eliminate systematic oppression and police brutality? What causes people to commit these crimes? Why is there such a disconnect between police and blacks, blacks and whites, or just anyone with any difference whatsoever?
Love thy neighbor as thyself.
…..
Thursday Night Football: Kill it Before it Kills the Players
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Athletes, Leagues Must Address Fan Misconduct on Social Media, at Live Events
WWE Must Start Creating Larger-Than-Life Stars
Joshua Huffman was born in Middle Tennessee. His content has been published on websites including Yahoo! Sports (via Contributor Network) and Titan Sized. At SoBros, he’ll provide daily fantasy sports analysis and broad sports coverage. Check out his sports blog, :59.
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