Allow that to sink in.
Donald Trump, President Donald Trump, used the flag to divide
the nation.
In a flagrant display of false, misguided patriotism, he has
attacked athletes who are trying to draw attention to a debate effecting
millions of Americans—how police and law enforcement treat Blacks.
These athletes have taken the patriotic stance that while
America may be a great nation, in many instances, it acts badly. These athletes
see America’s greatness in her ability to right wrongs, if only those wrongs can
be brought to the forefront for a national debate. This is what our founders
fought for. The right of representation, the right to confront unfair treatment
and fix it.
Alexis de Tocqueville recognized this quality almost
200-years ago when he wrote in, Democracy
in America, “The greatness of America lies not in her being more
enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her
faults.”
Trump does not understand this. He has used patriotism as his own personal weapon of choice, pulling it out to get his way, whenever debate and mutual understanding would have been more effective weapons.
