LOIE
Gold Member
- May 11, 2017
- 954
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I’ve been thinking about how civil rights protests are often discussed. It seems to me that the first thing that happens is an attempt to discredit the protester himself. As if finding something negative about the individual means that he isn’t worthy of making any kind of a statement. I disagree with that. We would all be hard pressed to find a “perfect” individual on this planet to whom everyone would willingly listen.
By taking the focus off of the reason for the protest and placing it on the protester, I think we take our eye off the ball, so to speak. We act as though, if the protester were a better person, we would be more open to his message and look more closely at his cause. But I don’t think that’s true.
Because you have broken the law, does that mean you can no longer protest something you consider an injustice to certain segments of society? Because you are famous and wealthy, does that mean you can no longer protest what you consider the mistreatment of people in the community you came from? Does it mean you can never reach back and help?
Civil rights protestors have always come under scrutiny. They dug up dirt on MLK, Malcolm X, Jesse Jackson, everyone who got in the face of wrong and tried to make it right.
How can those of us on the outside looking in tell young, black NFL players they are wrong? How can we tell them that what they say happens doesn’t really happen at all? Or if it does, it’s not as often or as bad as they say it is. Celebrity Debbie Allen was snubbed by a white salesperson in a jewelry store. Vanessa Williams was mistaken for a server at a reception after she sang for President Ford. Olympic gold medalist Al Joyner was pulled over and handcuffed twice by police looking for a hit and run driver. NFL player Michael Bennett was thrown to the floor by police who put a gun to his head. Professor Gates was arrested at his own home. The list goes on.
And just because some of the NFL players have themselves broken the law, I do not think we should ignore their protests for equal treatment under that law. I can't imagine any of them saying to Colin Kaepernick, "Would love to join you man, but I've been arrested. You're on your own." They joined him knowing the firestorm that would come and the scrutiny they would endure. Yet they joined him.
But like Jesus once said, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."
By taking the focus off of the reason for the protest and placing it on the protester, I think we take our eye off the ball, so to speak. We act as though, if the protester were a better person, we would be more open to his message and look more closely at his cause. But I don’t think that’s true.
Because you have broken the law, does that mean you can no longer protest something you consider an injustice to certain segments of society? Because you are famous and wealthy, does that mean you can no longer protest what you consider the mistreatment of people in the community you came from? Does it mean you can never reach back and help?
Civil rights protestors have always come under scrutiny. They dug up dirt on MLK, Malcolm X, Jesse Jackson, everyone who got in the face of wrong and tried to make it right.
How can those of us on the outside looking in tell young, black NFL players they are wrong? How can we tell them that what they say happens doesn’t really happen at all? Or if it does, it’s not as often or as bad as they say it is. Celebrity Debbie Allen was snubbed by a white salesperson in a jewelry store. Vanessa Williams was mistaken for a server at a reception after she sang for President Ford. Olympic gold medalist Al Joyner was pulled over and handcuffed twice by police looking for a hit and run driver. NFL player Michael Bennett was thrown to the floor by police who put a gun to his head. Professor Gates was arrested at his own home. The list goes on.
And just because some of the NFL players have themselves broken the law, I do not think we should ignore their protests for equal treatment under that law. I can't imagine any of them saying to Colin Kaepernick, "Would love to join you man, but I've been arrested. You're on your own." They joined him knowing the firestorm that would come and the scrutiny they would endure. Yet they joined him.
But like Jesus once said, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."