A test for readers.
Letter to the NFL players:
"You have an over-inflated view of yourselves. You disgrace the entire nation when you 'take a knee.' You are nothing but overpaid entertainers."
A Response:
"I consider the letter overtly racist."
Read the letter. You decide. Does the angry letter to the NFL embed racial animus? Or are critics imagining it and slandering an author?
This blog received an email, forwarded from a retired local physician of my acquaintance. The letter was addressed to the NFL and its players, telling them they were disrespecting America by taking a knee during the National Anthem.
At no point was race mentioned. The letter never used the word "uppity" or other historical code words for Black Americans stepping out of a place of subservience. The letter included a photo of a Black American solder who was badly injured, a "hero" in contrast to the NFL protesters. I am confident the retired physician who sent the NFL letter to me would say he is NOT racist and would resent the implication.
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| PGA Tournament stops at 8:46 a.m. |
It is the nature of implicit bias that it is there without being said. It is a silent letter, like the "t" in the word "often." Sometimes you hear it pronounced, sometimes not, but it is there in the middle of the word.
Or it isn't.
Maybe people imagine it and the letter writer would be just as unhappy if the protester were white PGA golfers, protesting a tax surcharge on golfers and retired physicians, or as they are currently doing, interrupting play to show support for Black Lives Matter. People rightfully resent having thoughts and motives attributed to them, and especially when they carefully avoid the very thing being attributed.
Today I present two letters. One is the original letter. The second is a response by Thad Guyer, a frequent Guest Post author, an attorney representing whistleblower employees.
Tomorrow I will present a letter that generally supports the letter to the NFL from Michael Trigoboff, and one generally agreeing with Guyer.
Letter to the NFL and its players:
If I have brain cancer, I don’t ask my dentist what I should do. If my car has a problem, I don’t seek help from a plumber! Why do you think the public cares what a football player thinks about politics? If we want to know about football, then depending on the information we seek, we might consult with you, but even a quarterback doesn’t seek advice on playing his position from a defensive tackle!
You seem to have this over inflated view of yourselves, thinking because you enjoy working on such a large scale stage, that somehow your opinion about everything matters. The NFL realizes the importance of its “image” so it has rules that specify the clothes and insignia you can wear, the language you use, and your “antics” after a touchdown or other “great” play. But somehow you and your employer don’t seem to care that you disgrace the entire nation and its 320 million people in the eyes of the world by publicly disrespecting this country, its flag, and its anthem! The taxpaying citizens of this country subsidize your plush work environments, yet you choose to use those venues to openly offend those very citizens.
Do you even understand what the flag of this country means to so many of its citizens before you choose to “take a knee” in protest of this “country" during our national anthem?
You may think because you are paid so much that your job is tough, but you are clueless when it comes to tough. Let me show you those whose job is really tough. You are spoiled babies who stand around and have staff squirt GatorAid in your mouths, sit in front of misting cooling fans when it’s warm, and sit on heated benches when it's cold. That’s not “tough” that's pampered.
You think that you deserve to be paid excessively high salaries, because you play a “dangerous" game where you can incur career ending injuries. Let me show you career ending injuries!
You think you that you deserve immediate medical attention and the best medical facilities and doctors when injured. Let me show you what it’s like for those who really need and deserve medical attention. You think you have the right to disrespect the flag of the United States, the one our veterans fought for, risked limbs and mental stability to defend, in many cases died for.
You believe you are our heroes, when in reality you are nothing but overpaid entertainers, who exist solely for our enjoyment! Well, your current antics are neither entertaining nor enjoyable. You choose to openly disgrace this country in the eyes of the rest of the world, yet with all your money, still choose to live here rather than in any other country. People with even the slightest amount of “Class” will stand and respect our flag.
You can protest policies, the current government, or anything else you choose, that is your right. But when you “protest” our flag and anthem, you are insulting the nation we all live in and love. Our country is far from perfect, but if you can point to any other country where your freedom and opportunities are better than they are here, then you just might want to go there and show respect for their flag!
I consider the letter overtly racist.
Please don't engage in any preposterous construct in which the author is not talking about black players, you would demean yourself.
In addition to being a racist the author is an ignoramus. Why do fans care about what players think? Do the terms celebrities, influencers, advertising and endorsements ring a bell? We care what shoes, clothes, cars, toothpaste, airlines, candidates and travel websites athletes, movie stars, astronauts, race car drivers and almost any other famous persons buy use or like. Jane Fonda, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Joe Namath, Yogi Berra, Megan Rapinoe?
The racist author crawled out from under his rock and doesn't think America cares what Colin Kaepernick thinks about racism, the flag and taking a knee? Seriously, the author does not understand why Americans care what political brands and social justice icons black celebrity superstar athletes say are good or bad?
Worse still this Neanderthal could ask this question after the worldwide racial upheaval we have just convulsed through? You mean to tell me that the bigoted misanthrope who wrote that letter would not understand that most African Americans and oppressed minorities in America and the world want to hear the opinions of black athletes about the murder of unarmed black men and how we as a nation could respond to it and try to remediate it?
Anyone who would author such a letter after the murder of George Floyd deserves to be harshly rebuked, intellectually belittled and called out as the racist he or she is.
You think that you deserve to be paid excessively high salaries, because you play a “dangerous" game where you can incur career ending injuries. Let me show you career ending injuries!
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| Photos included in letter to NFL |
You believe you are our heroes, when in reality you are nothing but overpaid entertainers, who exist solely for our enjoyment! Well, your current antics are neither entertaining nor enjoyable. You choose to openly disgrace this country in the eyes of the rest of the world, yet with all your money, still choose to live here rather than in any other country. People with even the slightest amount of “Class” will stand and respect our flag.
You can protest policies, the current government, or anything else you choose, that is your right. But when you “protest” our flag and anthem, you are insulting the nation we all live in and love. Our country is far from perfect, but if you can point to any other country where your freedom and opportunities are better than they are here, then you just might want to go there and show respect for their flag!
Guest Comment: Thad Guyer
I consider the letter overtly racist.
Please don't engage in any preposterous construct in which the author is not talking about black players, you would demean yourself.
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| Guyer |
In addition to being a racist the author is an ignoramus. Why do fans care about what players think? Do the terms celebrities, influencers, advertising and endorsements ring a bell? We care what shoes, clothes, cars, toothpaste, airlines, candidates and travel websites athletes, movie stars, astronauts, race car drivers and almost any other famous persons buy use or like. Jane Fonda, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Joe Namath, Yogi Berra, Megan Rapinoe?
The racist author crawled out from under his rock and doesn't think America cares what Colin Kaepernick thinks about racism, the flag and taking a knee? Seriously, the author does not understand why Americans care what political brands and social justice icons black celebrity superstar athletes say are good or bad?
Worse still this Neanderthal could ask this question after the worldwide racial upheaval we have just convulsed through? You mean to tell me that the bigoted misanthrope who wrote that letter would not understand that most African Americans and oppressed minorities in America and the world want to hear the opinions of black athletes about the murder of unarmed black men and how we as a nation could respond to it and try to remediate it?
Anyone who would author such a letter after the murder of George Floyd deserves to be harshly rebuked, intellectually belittled and called out as the racist he or she is.
4 comments:
Respecting the FLAG is a deflection. Diverting attention from the gravity of injustice caused by the police performing extra judicial executions. Simply all the letter author has left to cling to as the enormity of a daylight murder by one sworn to “serve and protect” sinks in.
I have learned that racism is ingrained in societies. Its historical roots are deep and the resulting weed is invasive and chokes out humanity. It's not enough to cut off the part above ground, it will reemerge until the roots are completely dug out.
The first step in this is for everyone to recognize and admit their own racism, the bias we learn from childhood. It's all around us, from "Aunt Jemima" to stereotypes in entertainment, including sports. We are taught that people with different skin colors are foreign and that different cultures are a threat, including the African American urban subculture. Overcoming this conditioning takes an almost superhuman effort because so much of it is subconscious. I would point out it's true of misogyny and homophobia as well. As more individuals become enlightened and begin the effort to change their thinking and behavior the larger society and its institutions will change as well, but as we are seeing it's a very painstaking process.
Some of the assertions in the letter are valid, I agree that athletes are pampered, but that's a separate issue and certainly doesn't affect their right to express their views. Aside from that, the writer exhibits a limited notion of patriotism and it clouds his understanding of citizenship in a democracy.
The main error is simply this: The flag is not a symbol of the military, nor those who have served in the military. One might argue the flag has been co-opted by those who attempt to use its symbolism for their political agenda; as a loyalty test, but this is a subversion of free speech.
"The supposed symbolism of the colors red, white and blue is drawn from heraldry and was not originally intended to apply to the flag. Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, discussing the proposed U.S. Seal, gave symbolic meanings for the colors in the seal, drawn from heraldry, with white signifying purity and innocence; red, hardiness and valor; and blue signifying vigilance, perseverance and justice. Over time, that explanation came to be associated with the flag.
Over the years, other interpretations have included that red is for the blood of patriots, spilled in the fight to protect the country. In 1986, president Ronald Reagan gave his own interpretation, saying, "The colors of our flag signify the qualities of the human spirit we Americans cherish. Red for courage and readiness to sacrifice; white for pure intentions and high ideals; and blue for vigilance and justice." - Wikipedia
Questioning authority, protesting and revolt if necessary are the values symbolized by the flag.
I would argue that it's disrespectful to those who have sacrificed to not protest in the face of injustice.
Finally, the national anthem is a singalong, and not a very good one at that.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star-Spangled_Banner
"The text of 36 U.S.C. § 301 is suggestive and not regulatory in nature. Failure to follow the suggestions is not a violation of the law. This behavioral requirement for the national anthem is subject to the same First Amendment controversies that surround the Pledge of Allegiance. For example, Jehovah's Witnesses do not sing the national anthem, though they are taught that standing is an "ethical decision" that individual believers must make based on their "conscience."
"When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and waving a bible"...
Posted for John C:
"I agree with Guyer's assessment but rather than just throw water on the grease fire, I'd like to ask the writer some questions:
1. Exactly what does the flag stand for if not the freedom of expression, including yours?
2. Do you agree that the premise of The Declaration of Independence that an aggrieved people have the right to dissent and even replace a government that isn't working for them? Is there any context where that should not be expressed or exercised?
3. What is exactly wrong with using a public platform to express your beliefs or exert influence? The NFL is a business that makes money from its brand. Trump got elected President based on nothing but his inflated TV brand and being able to stoke outrage. He's now using his presidential platform to stoke outrage of a different kind. The NFL at first caved into Trump's bullying but has figured out that more of their tribe (and earnings) are aligned with racial justice than the mythical nostalgia of white America. If you don't like the brand-then you're free to not shop there. What does the NFL actually owe you?
4. I thought it was striking that an African-American GI was used as your example of a "real hero". What do you say to the data that show that this "hero" is many times more likely to be arrested and incarcerated JUST because he is black? Further, what do you personally propose to do about this kind of systemic injustice? Or do you agree that's all okay so long as nobody acts disrespectfully to the symbol for which he fought and was disfigured.
Oh, it's all so simple if you don't bother to think about it "
John C
I agree with Mr. Guyer's commentary pointing out why we care what NFL players think, but wondered if it was necessary for him to call the letter writer an ignoramus? To say he had "crawled out from under a rock". Labeled him a Neanderthal. That's not likely to get the writer to reconsider his racism (conscious or unconscious). Labels and metaphors are vivid, a kind of shorthand for the reader. They make for a good story. But do they help us understand each other better? Work together to solve problems? They can. In this guest commentary, however, I felt the negative labels detracted from Guyer's well reasoned ideas and make it harder for us all to acknowledge our latent racism (as pointed out Mr. Milward).
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