"One of the fundamental rights this country is founded on was freedom of speech, and we have a long tradition of nonviolent, peaceful protest. Those who exercise the right to peacefully express themselves should not be demonized or ostracized.”
Sounds like a statement from a U.S. President (current or former), in response to criticisms of athletes who protest the current administration’s policies by kneeling, sitting, waiting to take the field after the National Anthem, or refusing to visit the White House post-playoff championship.
Nope! Basketball great Michael Jordan stated that free speech is a founding principle of this country. Here’s how President Clownshoes Asshat responded, at a rally in Alabama:
"If a player wants the privilege of making millions of dollars in the NFL, or other leagues, he or she should not be allowed to disrespect...our Great American Flag (or Country) and should stand for the National Anthem. If not, YOU'RE FIRED. Find something else to do!"
AND
"Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now, out, he's fired. He's fired!"
AND
Fuck No! I would not “love” to see a fellow citizen lose his livelihood when he steps up and proclaims that there is something very, very wrong in America. And how fucking wrong it this: a sitting American President— the man who swore, before the Nation and God, to “uphold and defend” the U.S. Constitution— suggesting the government should PUNISH U.S. citizens for taking actions LEGALLY PROTECTED UNDER THE U.S. CONSITUTION!
In exchange for the right to govern on our behalf, the government agrees that it is subject to the will of the people and that the people have the “certain unalienable right” to point out when our elected officials are fucking up our country!
We should all be very, very concerned (or at least seriously uncomfortable) that the President thinks the Constitution only applies to people who agree with the government. Worse yet, this president believes he should have the power and authority to dictate WHAT speech the Constitution protects. Um, no, sorry. Spazzie’s got to call “Bullshit” on that! Our governing officials don’t get to choose how to apply the Constitution.
The Founders understood that one of the best prophylactics against tyranny is the citizenry’s ability to demonstrate against acts of oppression. Rather than punish dissent, the government should PROTECT such actions at all costs; even when some preceive these actions as distasteful or undesirable. Flag burning and effigy burning are two of my go-to examples. Try not to read too much into both examples involving fire.
The Constitution protects our right to burn the flag or burn a paper machete bust of the President, and the Supreme Court has upheld this right (read about Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989) here). If these are protected acts of “symbolic speech,” it’s a no brainer that athletes choosing to kneel or lock arms during the National Anthem is an act of protected symbolic speech.
Once again, this president speaks to the horrifying truth underlying his (and his supproters) agenda: total disenfranchisement of anyone not wealthy, white, male and Christian. If you are black, brown or a woman; if you practice a religion other than Christianity, or practice no religion at all; if you identify as anything other than heterosexual and cis-gendered, then your systemic disenfranchisement, the separation of you from your Constitutional protections, is just.
Eventually, only those in the top one percent will be powerful enough, and wealthy enough, to combat government (and corporate) tyranny. And those who refuse to behave like we ‘know our place’ should look out.
So, if you happen to agree with President Clownshoes Asshat, that people who earn impressive amounts of money, for entertaining the masses, should just shut up and play, or “shut up and sing” (“Not Ready to Make Nice,” Dixie Chicks), WAKE.THE.FUCK.UP!! If this President is willing to deprive one group (i.e., athletes, musicians) of their rights, he’s prepared to deny ALL of us our rights.
This morning, President Asshat tweeted:
Yeah, no, sorry. I fully believe “the issue” has everything to do with race, but this isn’t exclusively about race; it’s also about distraction and redirection. While we’re all focused on the President’s Twitter feud with the NFL, we lose sight of the Russia Probe and the worsening situation with North Korea.
North Korea’s Foreign Minister, Ri Yong Ho, says President Asshat declared war on North Korea when the President warned, in his United Nations speech, they "won't be around much longer" if they acted on their threats.
Minister Ri Yong Ho statement:
"The whole world should remember it was the U.S. who first declared war on our country. Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to make countermeasures, including the right to shoot down United States strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country. The question of who won't be around much longer will be answered then."
Editors Note: As Bubba was reading this post, he says "And he hasn't mentioned ANYTHING about Puerto Rico! Of course, he may not know that Puerto Rico is part of the U.S." Nope, not one word mentioned directly from him; not one single character on Twitter.