Trump's latest insightful comments to an adoring crowd in Alabama, he called out to "unpatriotic sportstars protesting racial injustice by not standing for the national anthem" by urging NFL owners to "fire the players who don't stand for the national anthem."
In a series of follow-up tweets, Trump encouraged "us" to boycott NFL games, products and endorsers, which is a confounding irony from the mouth of America's most ardent capitalist.
In a rally intended to endorse a Republican senatorial candidate, typical of Trump's ADHD behavior, his statement came out of nowhere. And like so many of his ignorant tweets, his intention to rally the Trump troops, backfired in magnitudes beyond his limited scope to anticipate.
In a stunning display of spontaneous unity, NFL teams responded to Trump's derisive tirade in various but like-motivated ways: The Steelers, Seahawks and Titans teams simply, defiantly stayed in their locker rooms during the anthem. Other teams like the Vikings, locked arms in unity or they knelt with hands over hearts. There were empty sidelines in Miami and Chicago. Jacksonville owner Shahid Kahn succinctly stated: "Our team and the NFL reflects our nation, with diversity coming in many forms-race, faith, our view and goals... We still have a lot to do, but comments like this from the President, it makes it harder to do."
Trump, the divider. Trump, the the disciple of derision. Trump the man without vision, incapable of understanding the basic human condition, is currently occupying the world's largest stage and continues to alienate himself from the masses by his ignorance.
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In the aftermath of Sunday's NFL defiant display, Trump has refused to accept that his comments were motivated by his racial illiteracy. He continues to be oblivious in his understanding our most sacred of rights, Freedom of Speech.
And more disturbing is his lack of insight in how his rants are perceived by those steeped in the philosophy of unification. The most succinct comment Sunday came from Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen who said: "If America was like what's going on in our locker room, then they'll see what a united front is. That's what we do on a daily basis - love one another, no matter the situation."
Inspiring words that our president will never understand.
Ferragut lives in Fargo.
