Recent events where a second string football player in the NFL decided that he was living in an oppressed state have shed light upon things that are normally not talked about except to put a large stamp of disapproval on. For those who may not be aware of it I'll try to explain.
This player in the NFL was once a starter and a pretty good player in his position for a couple of years. Having signed a spectacular contract for approximately 10 million a year all he has to do is show up, draw his salary, save a portion of it, and be set for life. He has decided at the age of 28 years that he is living in an oppressive nation and refuses to stand for our national anthem.
He has decried the excessive violence and oppression that our police state places on black people and people of color. He has the right to do just that.
Our country has long been a place of contradictions. While stating that all men are created equal and endowed by God with rights we have done some strange things in the name of country. I won't go into all the wrong because there is too much done right to list on here in the next 10 columns.
The ways of men are not always right and sometimes take generations to correct but men have been raised up at times to start and continue the steps to correct the problems that our society has encountered. Every society since the dawn of man has encountered certain oppressive acts and laws that originated from purpose or mischance. Some oppression are still enacted as a matter of national course but mostly in countries that don't have the kind of freedoms that are enjoyed here.
One of the greatest things about our freedom is the one of expression. It allows us to express ourselves in ways that would have you locked up and/or shot or worse in many other countries across the globe. We are allowed to protest any action that we believe causes us or others harm.
Freedom to express your ideas and opinions by speech or writing is guaranteed by our constitution. The same constitution that is represented by the national flag and anthem. The same freedom that allows those who wish to trample or burn the flag or trash the constitution, or even those who have died fighting for it. It's kind of strange on the face of it but that very freedom is the reason we are so different than most all the others.
Intelligent reason, facts, and statistics bear out that people of color are not oppressed more than any other race or nationality here in the US. There are and have been movements that are and have been based on lies and false narratives that would lead one to believe these things are so. I won't get into any names because I am not fit to judge because of my standing before a just God who says that is His right and his only.
I will state though that there are things being said and done in the name of justice that have a false premise to support them and only the unlearned would deem them true. I'm not truly sure of the purpose of the national media to push this narrative but it only goes to show how far down they have sunk in trying to be the lackey of those in power.
I guess this is the long way to say that this young man's protest is fine with me. I don't agree with his statements or his means of making them but I'll fight for his rights to do so. I think he's confused as to what oppression is. I think that he's confused to believe that just because he makes all that money that it makes him someone special.
I think that a lot of our citizens believe the same way in thinking their opinion is any more important than any others. Most of us could care less what an athlete or film star thinks. It truly means zip as to how I direct my life.
I love my country because I believe it's the greatest. I stand up and sing the national anthem and salute the flag as I was taught because it's a way of showing respect to those who died following it. It's as simple as that.
Until next week.
