Patriotism and Pink Ribbons
In the last three years, one hundred and twenty one NFL players have been arrested...
Nine were players for the San Francisco 49's.
Two of those players were arrested for domestic violence; one for sexual battery.
None were named Colin Kaepernick.
Yup, you're exactly right; this another one of 'those' posts.
Maybe you love them.
Maybe you hate them.
Maybe you're completely indifferent, and just want to be entertained.
Maybe what you're about to read (if you so choose), will completely offend you.
But what I am about to write, you need to hear.
We all need to hear it.
Now, just to be clear...
I love the NFL; and football in general.
I love the United States of America.
And I love the Star-Spangled Banner.
But I DO NOT love injustice.
Or misguided malice.
Or viewing one human's life, or their pain and suffering, as less significant than any other living, breathing being's.
And right now, we live in a culture that is more infuriated by a perceived lack of patriotism, than it is by the value for human dignity.
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Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem. People across the United States have not only criticized his actions, but fans have burned his jersey, called for him to be benched, released or forced to leave the country, and have even gone so far as to threaten his life. Yes; Threatened. His. Life.
It is unfortunate that more people are disgusted by Kaepernick than Ray McDonald.
Don't know who Ray McDonald is, let me help: Mr. McDonald played for the San Francisco 49's from 2011 to 2014, and then was picked up by the Chicago Bears for the 2014-2015 season. From May 25, 2014 to May 25, 2015, law enforcement was called to Mr. McDonald's residence four times for acts of violence against his then-fiance; in July 2015 he was formally charged with domestic violence, felony false imprisonment and child endangerment, after being arrested for violating a restraining order. In August 2015, a grand jury indicted Mr. McDonald, along with 49's linebacker Ahmed Brooks, for sexual assault and battery.
It is upsetting that more people are bothered by Kaepernick than Josh Brown.
Don't know who Josh Brown is, let me help: Mr. Brown is a placekicker for the New York Giants. He was arrested twice in the last twelve months for domestic violence. Recent police interviews indicate he admitted to "abusing my wife," reportedly physically attacking her "on more than 20 occasions in the last few years." He even went so far as to convey he often viewed, and treated, her as his slave.
No burned jerseys. No twitter hashtags. No threats. No public outrage.
How can this be?!?
To be quite honest, if patriotism is valuing an anthem more than the citizens who make up that nation, I think we have gone seriously wrong somewhere.
Whether Colin Kaepernick rubs you the wrong way or not; whether you agree with him or not...he has never physically attacked another person, or emotionally tormented them, or attempted to hurt someone.
The man took a knee. He did something shocking, something maybe even upsetting to the majority of the nation -- he made us uncomfortable. And maybe we needed that. I can almost imagine the general public's response when Rosa Parks refused to stand because that's what was expected. And let's not pretend that her action wasn't questioned, criticized, and disgusted nearly sixty years ago.
Yet, here we are, in 2016, more enraged that a football player took a knee during the national anthem, than we are by hundreds of his fellow players who have directly disregarded, disrespected, and disgraced other human beings.
Mr. McDonald and Mr. Brown aren't the leagues only batterers. In fact, fourteen NFL players were arrested for domestic violence over the last three years; seven of them still currently play in the NFL. And, just in case there is concern these might be simple 'spats' between couples, let me clarify the assortment of charged made against players -- these arrests included stalking, violating restraining orders, "assaulting her while she held a baby," "pushing the mother of his child to the ground," "injuries that included bleeding from the ears," "attacking his pregnant fiance," and "rendering her unconscious."
If that's not enough, twenty-five NFL players were arrested for driving under the influence; two of whom crashed into objects and three of whom sped away from police at over 95 mph. And the other notable arrests included: assault, drug charges, solicitation of a prostitute, weapons charges, animal cruelty and child abuse.
Today, 80% of these players are still playing for the NFL.
No burned jerseys. No twitter hashtags. No threats. No public outrage.
And I say again, how can this be?!?
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This month, just as they do every year, NFL players will don pink gloves, socks, cleats, towels...a whole plethora of pink to raise awareness for breast cancer.
Despite the fact that twice as many women are directly impacted by domestic violence than breast cancer. More players in the NFL are connected to significant others, sisters, and mothers who will become survivors of domestic violence than survivors of breast cancer.
Please hear me, my problem is not with patriotism and pink ribbons...
It's with a society that has become more concerned about the actions of the Colin Kaepernicks than of the Ray McDonalds and Josh Browns.
And a sports culture that believes saturating October with pink somehow shows a genuine and all-inclusive care for women's well-being.
And I am going to call bullshit on it all.
I don't know what your personal feelings are on Colin Kaepernick or Breast Cancer Awareness; and quite frankly, I don't care. My intention is not to criticize you for caring about the national anthem or breast cancer....my hope is simply that you would expand 'who' and challenge 'what' matters.
Be outraged about domestic violence.
Talk about it.
Be bothered by it.
Refuse to accept it.
And demand, "NO MORE!"
Because the problem is clear; if we would actually pay attention to what's happening in front of us:
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