When Jerry Jones and his Dallas Cowboys took a knee in unity before -- not during -- the National Anthem last Monday night, boos arose from some in the Arizona Cardinals' stadium.
Jones and his team did what needed to be done, separating the protests over racial injustices from the deafening outrage over alleged disrespect to the nation, its anthem and its glorious flag. Those boos provide strong evidence those hating on NFL players who dare to express their views on racial injustices aren't just mad about the perceived insults to our national symbols.
Jones and Co. took a significant step in separating the issues, as they truly need to be.
"I think it's always appropriate for the president of the United States to defend our flag, to defend our national anthem and to defend the men and women who fought and died to defend it," said President Trump's Secretary of Redundancy, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, when reporters asked about the president's suggestion NFL players who protest should be fired.
Except this: These players aren't attacking the nation, U.S. servicemen and women, apple pie or motherhood. They're embracing the very American tradition of speaking their minds, using a venue that helps their voices to be heard. Trump, in effect, pulled the trigger on his criticisms as though the players were kneeling on top of a disabled veteran.
Fire now, ask questions later.
Isn't that one of the problems these NFL players want to see stopped?
Commentary on 10/01/2017