One of the beautiful things about being a U.S. citizen is the right to voice your opinion.
That’s why Lady Liberty is emblematic of (most) everyone’s idea of a country that welcomes the oppressed and downtrodden with the promise that those days are over.
So it’s not a little puzzling to have President Donald Trump criticize U.S. football and basketball players who are using their stature as professional athletes to protest racial discrimination.
By such action, Mr. Trump is not only belittling the athletes’ complaints, but is also saying they have no right to protest racial profiling widely practiced by law enforcement officials among blacks and other minorities.
In fact, Mr. Trump is saying such protests for equal treatment are “un-American,” and that fans should boycott their games and the players should “be fired” for their “disrespectful” actions.
Oh boy. Talk about turning the U.S. Constitution on its head.
WHEN important, but admittedly tedious, things like health care, immigration and tax reform try Mr. Trump’s patience, his inclination is to resort to fireworks like threatening nuclear war with North Korea and now this taunt with NFL and NBA players.
And just like magic, he’s rallied his base, while making U.S. race relations all the more fraught with hazard.
— Susan Lynn
