USA Today sports columnist Nancy Armour has had it with "white people" who are “stubbornly ignorant” about NFL protests. She writes that it should not take a Democrat senatorial candidate who dazzles her with his Bobby Kennedy-type looks to have to explain the reason why the NFL’s players are justified in their protests during the national anthem.
Beto O'Rourke, who’s running against Republican Ted Cruz for U.S. Senate in Texas this fall, recently said:
“This problem, as grave as it is, is not going to fix itself. And they’re frustrated, frankly, with people like me and those in positions of public trust and power who have been unable to resolve this or bring justice for what has been done and to stop it from continuing to happen in this country.
“Non-violently, peacefully, while the eyes of this country are watching these games, they take a knee to bring our attention and our focus to this problem to ensure that we fix it.”
That quote is both encouraging and infuriating to Armour, a strident defender of social justice warrior athletes and coaches:
“For almost two years now, NFL players have been saying the exact same thing when asked to explain why they are taking a knee or raising a fist during the national anthem. They might have used different words than O’Rourke, but the message was the same:
“The protests are not about the anthem, the flag, the military or any other smokescreen intended to detract from them. They are about systemic racism in our country’s justice and economic systems, and the devastating – sometimes fatal – consequences it has for people of color, particularly young, black men.”
Armour says it’s great that O’Rourke, the Philadelphia Eagles’ Chris Long and Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers have all defended the protesters, but more white players and politicians need to speak out. Even though it “shouldn’t be necessary.” Then she zeroed in on the ignorant white fans and President Donald Trump for viewing protesters as unpatriotic.
These people “remain stubbornly ignorant about why the players are protesting and oblivious to the work they’re doing. The players are still viewed by a large number of their fellow citizens as unpatriotic, disrespectful or, worst, un-American, despite protest being a cornerstone in our country’s foundation. What, you thought the Boston Tea Party was an actual party?”
The Trump-hater then went after the president, who “never misses an opportunity to stoke fear and hatred of black and brown people. But it’s also an uncomfortable reality that many white people will dismiss the complaints and fears of minorities until they’re given voice by fellow whites."
“Maybe it’s unconscious bias. Maybe it’s an inability to recognize and understand a reality that differs from our own. Maybe it’s the naïve wish that racism and discrimination no longer exist.”
Armour further vents that the Eagles’ Malcolm Jenkins appearing in above photo) made a sign intended for President Trump stating “you’re not listening.” And she hopes that the enlightened Democrat candidate for Senate O’Rourke’s message will resonate with more people who are just too dumb and too racist to understand the protests aimed at the flag during the national anthem.
