The View from Here.........Again

The View From Here

My pen. err I mean keyboard has been quiet for a while as I tried to figure out where summer went but in the meantime I did have some good times and conversations on this crazy world we live in. I decided to bring you up to date on how I see things….. The View from Here

I have absolutely enjoyed the 2017 Major League Baseball season as the New York Yankees have redden on the backs of Aaron, Judge and Hicks to have a magnificent season punctuated by a return to the post season assured of either a wild card host or division champion seeding. We also had a great family gathering as we met Cousin Dylan’s fiancé as they head down the aisle in May of 2018. Good Luck Cousin!!!! I also had a glorious time celebrating my culture and history at the Ramapough Lenape Nation pow wow as summer began to turn to fall. It has been a quick, quiet and simple summer in the view from here

As summer turns to fall much concern and public outcry has been made over the racial condition in our country that has come to prominence with the protests of NFL players kneeling or otherwise disrespecting our national anthem, here is my view of the situation:

In all of my lifetime when I entered this world as a child with epilepsy until this moment there has been and will always be racism in our country. Believe me it still exists today, I experience it. The whole issue of race has been exacerbated by the previous administration clearly advocating disobedience whether warranted or not. Our current president did not quench any flames with his recent comments and I must say it has been some time since the discussion of racism has been this heated and I’m not sure that is a good thing.

Private Citizens that have been discriminated against because of race have every right to protest and seek protection under our constitution. Private Citizens employed by public employers do not have a right to protest while at work, they do risk losing their jobs. For example while we are working all of us are aware that we cannot promote Fed EX while working for UPS during working hours. Once our work day is over we are indeed free to do whatever---even protest as we see fit. Recently the NFL refused to allow players to wear special shoes in honor of the 5 policemen killed in Dallas last year, remember? My point is that while working we need to obey work laws as directed by our employer and athletes are no exception.. Commissioner Roger Goodell and all the NFL owners have every right to demand policies be adhered, and matter of fact the NFL and Players Union have agreed to rules demanding that players stand at attention for the playing of our national anthem

If any of today’s millionaires that play games for a living wish to protest anything they have more than ample opportunity and finances to do so. I don’t recall seeing any football players’ protest throughout the offseason, do you? I would strongly suggest that some protests be held in Chicago for it seems this is one area that apparently Black Lives Don’t even Matter to other African Americans. Now that is a cause for protest, don’t you think?