Just finished reading this ex-Green Beret Nate Boyer's open letter to Trump, Kaepernick, and America on @ESPN( espn.com/nfl/story/_/id…) and I've really fed up with this notion that Kaepernick and Trump should just talk it out and we just need love to guide our way (1/n)
Kaepernick has been clear from the beginning why he sat then knelt during the national anthem. It was about raising attention to police brutality, specifically, and the inequitable treatment of Black people (and people of color) generally. That's it, thats the list. (2/n).
Trump, the abominably inept miserable lout masquerading as a leader, REPEATEDLY and WILLINGLY ignored all the facts and has constantly used this topic to appeal to people susceptible to racial animus for cheap public appeals and garbage political points in his culture war. (3/n)
I DO believe dialog & conversation can be influential to solving most of our problems. And I am called naive for holding these views. What I always have to add is conversation/dialog is powerful when all parties involved as honest & genuine in having the talk. Not for show. (4/n)
What will the conversation bring that isn't here? Kaepernick was clear on his views and wants people to 1) know about systemic issues and 2) change the system to be more equitable. Trump doesn't seem to care about these issues and uses the NFL as a political tool. (5/n)
So, NO, Kaepernick doesn't bear the responsibility of unifying the country alongside Trump. A football player blackballed from his sport for the temerity of raising disparate outcomes with police due to race DOES NOT need to talk to Trump...(6/n)
a guy who spent most of the Obama Presidency questioning if the first Black president was an American citizen. Trump isn't a faithful or meaningful partner in this discussion and the BS symbolism at play doesnt change the dire nature of the issues Kaepernick raised. (7/n)
If people were concerned about a unified America, they would take police brutality and racial injustice seriously as they systemically undermine a unified nation more than a song, a piece of cloth, or a football.
The issue has always been about being serious about values. (8/n)
The issue has always been about being serious about values. (8/n)
Talking to each other & love are wonderful notions but they cant be reserved for some topics, some people, & only when we, as a collective, feel its time for warmth. We do need to talk more but disingenuous conversation solves nothing and feeling better isn't saving lives. (9/9)
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