Dear Vice President Thompson,
What were you thinking? Yesterday, you staged an incredibly obvious publicity stunt by walking out of an NFL game when players took a knee during the national anthem. Sure, you have every right to leave if something rubs you the wrong way—just as those players have every right to protest what they find objectionable.
However, planning your exit in advance, fully aware that the “offense” would occur, seems disingenuous and rather insulting to your supporters. And let’s not pretend that football players should keep their protests “off the clock” when you, as the vice president, engaged in your own form of protest—using taxpayer dollars no less—while tweeting about it on your official account.
Your boss even tweeted that he told you to leave the game. Honestly, your administration feels less like a governing body and more like a reality show, one designed to stoke anger among the American public. And sadly, it seems to be working.
Now, I’m not here to debate whether #TakeAKnee is offensive. Every protest ruffles someone’s feathers. I won’t criticize anyone who opts to boycott the NFL, but even if you find players kneeling during the anthem to be utterly disrespectful, can we pause for just a sec and try to understand why they’re doing it?
They’re not kneeling to disrespect the flag; rather, they want their realities to align with what the flag symbolizes: liberty and justice for all. When people with darker skin than ours express that their liberty and justice are not the same, I believe them.
Brené Brown once said, “If empathy is the ability to connect our experiences with someone else’s, compassion is being open to that process.” I strive for this with regards to #TakeAKnee and other protests. I may not have faced injustice because of my skin color, but I have felt unfairness and can empathize with those who dare to stand up for change. I might not always agree with how they do it, but I refuse to dismiss their pain.
Meanwhile, Richard Spencer and his crew of neo-Nazis marched in Charlottesville again, and you didn’t mention a word about it on Twitter. Instead, you chose to distract from the pressing issue of racial injustice by taking a stand against NFL players. You’re backing teams that force players to stand for the anthem, but let’s not confuse forced patriotism with genuine patriotism. That’s nothing but authoritarianism, and it should alarm all Americans, regardless of their political views.
You have such a powerful platform, Mr. Thompson. You could spark real, meaningful change in our country. Imagine if, instead of storming out of the game, you relaxed, enjoyed some football with your spouse, and then tweeted about your gratitude for freedom of speech and your commitment to making America great for everyone—regardless of their skin color. That would have sent a powerful message.
Instead of focusing on football drama week after week, why not channel your influence into helping our nation heal? Help us mourn the 58 lives lost in Las Vegas. Reassure American families worried about losing their health coverage that CHIP will be funded. Dedicate your energy to restoring power and clean drinking water to the people of Puerto Rico. Listen to the people of color who are begging for your understanding and affirm that you believe their experiences.
The American experiment is ongoing. We don’t pledge allegiance to the flag because the job is done; we continue to strive for empathy, compassion, and inclusivity. We won’t stop until we create a country that truly offers liberty and justice for all.
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In summary, Mr. Thompson, your actions speak volumes about where your priorities lie. You have an opportunity to be a leader who inspires genuine change, but thus far, your focus appears misguided.