I have been taking a class on religious studies. I am enjoying the class, and the people that are in the class. I have been learning a lot. The class has made me question a lot of things I thought I knew, and want to learn more about things that I didn't know I supposed to know. As it is a religious studies class, it is a group of very liberal minded people for the most part. As far as I can tell, that may come with the territory as most conservative Christians don't question their belief system. Most like their safe little box. I can see why. I have been safe in my little box before, or thought I was safe in my little box.
Every class, at the end after we discuss the reading and what we were supposed to take away from it, we talk about a topic that is in current events, and how our culture, tradition, and religion operate within us, and guide our reactions, and actions to the events. Last night, we talked about Richard Spencer and his speech in Florida. (I don't even like to say his name here as this gives him more recognition than he deserves, so I will not say it again.) That conversation morphed, or transitioned into why the hateful white man in Florida was allowed to call what he did freedom of speech, while the NFL players who were kneeling during the national anthem didn't receive that same respect. I didn't say most of these things last night. I didn't feel I was being heard on the few items I did bring up. I certainly didn't think for a minute that all of my points and thoughts were going to be heard with open and listening ears, and I didn't think it was worth upsetting a number of people I care about, and a number of people I am still trying to get to know, to voice an opinion that would not be taken seriously, and even it it was, would change nothing in the whole grand scheme of things. I decided that my thoughts and feelings are better published here.
What do I think about the protest being lead by the players of the NFL? First, I have to say that this protest is their right. I also have to agree that it is a peaceful protest, as all protests should be. I have to acknowledge that it has started a discussion in this country, and made people think. Sadly however, I do not think people are thinking about and discussing the right things. I think that the cause the players wanted people to see, and help change is being widely ignored. Sure, we are all still talking about their protest, but we aren't talking about why they are protesting. Instead this country is arguing about whether or not the NFL should reprimand the players, and why any people would disrespect a symbol of the very freedom they are exercising. Veterans who fought for the nation the flag and anthem represent feel insulted because that flag and anthem represents something they risked everything for, and that many died for. These are the things that are being discussed.
I have heard many ask why they should have to sit still and listen to a lecture on white privilege, when most of those kneeling have more economic privilege than the rest will ever know. It has been mentioned that this economic privilege will get the players farther than white privilege will get a poor white man. It is hard to disagree with this argument, but that argument does not nullify the cause that the players wanted the world to see. This argument does bring to light one of the reasons that this protest is not working to further the cause the players wish the world to see and correct. Some in class last night called this right-wing co-opting I think. Is that what this is? Or is it a group of people who don't like the hypocrisy? I am sure it is probably a little of column A and a little of column B if I have to be honest, and I try to be.
This brings me to another point I wanted to make. If you are going to be the face that represents the protest for a cause, you have to make sure that you aren't going to make the whole thing look like an exercise in hypocrisy. For example, Hillary Clinton, George Bush (either one), John Kerry, Mitt Romney, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, and Tim McGraw cannot act like they know how it is to be poor to help the plight of the poor. They can use their political, or social pull to draw attention to it and ask the public to help, and they can lead by example and donate to that cause, but if any one of them stood there and said, I was poor once, and I know how it is, they would be ignored, at the very least. Why? Because they are not poor now, aren't likely to be poor again, and frankly, they look like absolute hypocrites as they sit in the lap of luxury saying they were once poor and know how that feels. No one listens to Al Gore talk about green house gases and global warming as he jets around the nation in his private jet, and the carbon foot print his mansion makes in a month is larger than the one a Ford F150 makes in a year. People won't listen to Saudi princes talk about women's rights while they oppress the women of their nation, and students won't hear teachers who lecture on values and morality if they are personally bereft of both. No one wants highly paid athletes suffering from their own form of privilege, to preach about any privilege, white or otherwise. No one wants to hear how they need to help the plight of minorities from a group of athletes who are standing in a sea of teammates showing that white is the minority in their occupation/life. I say all of this just to draw attention to the fact that it is human nature to shut down and ignore what they view as hypocrisy.
Does this country still have a race problem? Does racism still exist? Are blacks profiled and pulled over for "driving while black" in certain neighborhoods? Yes, and this is not right. Something does need to be done, but it needs to be done right or it won't succeed and will only further alienate and divide. That is what we are seeing now in this nation.
I was asked on two occasions, in two different groups, in two different formats, then how should they protest if this isn't the right way? I can only answer that I do not know. This is a group of people who can command and audience any where by having a publicist make a phone call to the press. This is a group of people who can throw money to the right organizations and groups to get the word out. This is a group of people that can help educate future generations as they are looked up to and idolized, and education has always been key to progress in anything and everything. They have far more means at their disposal than most, and the ,ore they have on their side, the more they will be able to accomplish. Unfortunately, they are alienating so many, and converting so few to their cause, and their message is getting lost too. Even if I don't have a better answer, it doesn't make sense to continue to do the same thing after it has been proven to be broken, is not productive, and may be doing more harm than good. You don't keep trying to drive a car that won't run. You don't keep replacing the car's starter, when it really needs oil, or simply because you do not know what it needs. You stop and search for the answer. You start a dialog, and bring the right people together to work as a team to fix what is broken.
I know I am not remembering all of the things I wanted to say, so if there are questions after reading this, ask them please. I am open to discussion, and think that dialog would do this nation a lot of good on a number of subjects. If we could all stop standing on opposite sides of the same street throwing rocks at each other and talk, I think we would be better off.
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