Category: Politics

The Other Men and Women Who Fought and Died for Freedom

The big national debate this past week centered around professional football players taking a knee during the National Anthem in order to protest what they view as systemic inequality in America’s criminal justice system. Many Americans, spurred on by a campaign speech by President Trump and several subsequent presidential “tweets,” expressed outrage at the protest, claiming, among other things, that it disrespects the flag and the men and women of our military who fight and die for our freedom.

Let me be clear up front: I have tremendous respect for members of our military and the sacrifices they and their families routinely make in service to our country. I believe that we, as a nation, owe them both respect and gratitude.

But the respect we rightfully owe members of our military should not be used to conflate all issues surrounding notions of liberty and freedom in this country, particularly when it comes to our civil liberties. To do so does a disservice both to history, as well as a great many everyday people who fought and died in pursuit of liberty.

Lost in the conflation of these issues is an important fact: that the greatest threats to our basic civil liberties have almost always come from within our own borders, not some foreign power or regime. While wars have been fought across the globe, the battle for civil liberties has largely been waged in our streets, along docks, on busses, at lunch counters, and in courtrooms — not distant battlefields. The people who fought and sometimes died in these struggles most often wore everyday clothes, not uniforms, and were seldom buried with honor or distinction. And in fact, in many cases, it was men wearing uniforms who assisted in putting them down. This is far from a uniquely American problem.

[T]he greatest threats to our basic civil liberties have almost always come from within our own borders, not some foreign power or regime.

March 29, 1968, Memphis, Tennessee, USA — Civil Rights activists, flanked by tanks, are blocked by National Guardsmen brandishing bayonets while trying to stage a protest on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee. Image by Bettmann/CORBIS

I know a lot of people don’t like to hear this. We like our history whitewashed, scrubbed clean of unpleasant truths, complex realities, and above all, culpability. We prefer an oversimplified mythology, with clearly-defined enemies and heroes in white hats. But such a worldview simply doesn’t reflect reality, and pretending otherwise doesn’t truly honor anyone, including the men and women in our military. Mostly, it does a tremendous disservice to many others who fought and sacrificed in the long and seemingly endless struggle for civil rights here at home.

As always, thanks for reading, and my best to both those who put on a uniform in order to serve and protect, and those willing to take a stand for injustice and inequality.

– T

Let’s Have a Conversation About Race

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My best friend’s dad growing up was a cop. He was (and is) a good man, who spent his entire life in public service — first as a soldier, then a police officer. His wife was (and is) a saint, who treated me like part of her own family when I was a kid. I owe both of them a lot.  Continue reading Let’s Have a Conversation About Race

Hey Idaho GOP: Stop Campaigning With Our Tax Dollars

In Idaho, elected officials are not permitted to use public tax dollars to campaign for office. Yet, this is precisely what they do when they pass laws they know are unconstitutional and are certain to be overturned by the courts. Unfortunately, it’s not a rare occurrence.  Continue reading Hey Idaho GOP: Stop Campaigning With Our Tax Dollars

Starbucked: Lessons From the Imaginary War on the Imaginary War on Christmas

It was a strange week in social media land. If you somehow missed it, here’s the twenty second version: a controversy erupted after the coffee chain “Starbucks” unveiled its 2015 “holiday” cup. Unlike past years, when the cup was adorned with snowflakes or reindeer, etc., this year’s cup is simply solid red, and devoid of graphics other than Starbucks’ normal logo. A self-professed “social media evangelist” publicly criticized Starbucks in a video, asserting, among other things, that Starbucks changed its cups because it “hates Jesus.” The video went viral, sparking countless others to react to the backlash by mocking those purportedly “outraged” by the cups. So it has gone all week.  Continue reading Starbucked: Lessons From the Imaginary War on the Imaginary War on Christmas

Refugees Welcome

 

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I’ve tried writing this post for several weeks now—since attending a rally at the Idaho Statehouse dubbed “Refugees Welcome in Idaho.” It was a nice event. Nothing fancy — just a bunch of people gathering on the Capitol steps for a photo, in an attempt to show support for refugees in Idaho — both those who are already here, and those who will likely be heading here in the wake of the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis. This seemed like a simple enough story to write—a humanitarian “feel good” piece, if you will—although as I thought and read more about it, it proved to be anything but simple. First, a little context:  Continue reading Refugees Welcome

On Religious Freedom

Well, I swore I wasn’t going to do this. After taking on marriage equality in my first-ever blog post, and somehow coming out with most of my skin intact, I told myself the safest thing to do next would be to write a nice feel-good piece—something everybody could relate to and agree on, that wouldn’t offend anyone. Something involving a golden retriever puppy, perhaps, who teaches a crotchety but decent-hearted old widower how to live and love again—something that could be easily adapted into a one-hour Hallmark Channel special.  Continue reading On Religious Freedom

On Rainbows And Shadows

As everyone now knows, last Friday, the Supreme Court issued a landmark decision effectively prohibiting states from denying same sex partners the right to marry. It was the culmination of a long series of legal battles, and a key moment in a much longer civil rights struggle dating back several decades. Since the decision was released, the world of social media has predictably erupted – with reactions ranging from celebratory cries of joy and support, to angry shouts of derision and disgust. I’ve watched as people I know, or once knew, weighed in on both sides of the issue–from actions as simple as changing their facebook profile pictures the colors of the rainbow, to posting dire, end-of-the world prophecies. Until now, I’ve mostly kept quiet.  Continue reading On Rainbows And Shadows