American Sniper Widow Socks It To the NFL Over Protests

Many people may not be thoroughly familiar with Taya Kyle.  She is a Fox News Channel contributor and the widow of the American sniper, Chris Kyle, who was killed by a man suffering from PTSD that Kyle was attempting to help.  His widow has written a book entitled, “American Wife: A Memoir of Love, War, Faith and Renewal.”

Yesterday, Taya posted a Facebook column regarding the NFL and the controversy subject of “taking the knee” protests.

Though, at times, admittedly, the writing is aloof in that it tends to use some metaphorical speech in places that don’t seem to be appropriate, it nevertheless delivers a pretty compelling message about the state of the NFL yesterday and today.  Her NFL assessment of yesterday is spot on where it talks about the great value that the game held for all people, from many different backgrounds, races, religions, etc.  It talks about how the game brought America together across racial and political lines.  As one political analyst noted last night, “When you used to go to a game, there wasn’t one section for Democrats and another section for Republicans.”

Her assessment of the NFL today delves into this protest movement that appears to be gaining momentum, much to the chagrin of the owners and sponsors, but which is sure to spell the final demise of the dominance of the League.  Already, their ticket sales and television ratings have been negatively impacted and their reputation is now that they are advocating anti-American rhetoric for political purposes, and assigning blame to Trump and his supporters for all their players’ grievances and troubles.

They’ve not come out directly and said this, but the perception and assumption is that the League is 100% behind this sort of behavior, no matter how disrespectful it becomes to the majority of its fanbase.  Even Rush Limbaugh, a noted American football fan for decades who has devoted whole segments (and at times, whole programs) to the subject of the sport, announced in a very sullen tone two days ago that for the first time in 45 years, he opted NOT to watch Monday Night Football!

When you’ve got that kind of backlash, on top of the fact that the Leftists on the sidelines are going to continue to attempt to drain this sport of every bit of its machismo and strength until it is a pale imitation of its former self, there is no place to go but down.  And that’s exactly their current trajectory since they have decided to stand with these protesters in opposition and violation of their very own rules to the contrary.

Dear NFL,

You were doing your part to bring people together and heal the world. That’s really how healing works. We heal by loving each other and leading by example; showing people what is possible when we love each other just as we are and not only recognize our differences but celebrate them and look at how we can use them together to make us jointly better than our separate parts. You were doing your part celebrating each other based on skills, talent and a joint vision without regard to color and religion.

You were doing your part and we were doing ours. We showed up cheering and groaning together to as one. We talked in the concession lines and commiserated and celebrated our team together. Did it ever occur to you that you and we were already a mix of backgrounds, races and religions? We were already living the dream you want, right in front of you.

Your desire to focus on division and anger has shattered what many people loved most about the sport. Football was really a metaphor for our ideal world — different backgrounds, talents, political beliefs and histories as one big team with one big goal — to do well, to win, TOGETHER.

Your desire to focus on division and anger has shattered what many people loved most about the sport. Football was really a metaphor for our ideal world — different backgrounds, talents, political beliefs and histories as one big team with one big goal — to do well, to win, TOGETHER.

You are asking us to abandon what we loved about togetherness and make choices of division. Will we stand with you? Will we stand with our flag? What does it mean? What does it mean if we buy a ticket or NFL gear? What does it mean if we don’t? It is the polar opposite of the easy togetherness we once loved in football.

It was simple – we loved you and you loved us – with all of our races, religions, different backgrounds and politics. Simplicity in a crazy world was pretty awesome.

You dear NFL, have taken that. You have lost me here.

If you ever want to get off your knees and get to work on building bridges, let me know. I have found screaming about the problems in service marriages or even standing in silence in front of them, hasn’t healed even one of them.

On the other hand, funding the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation, building a team and rolling up my sleeves to get in the trenches during my “off time” — volunteering there outside of my paying jobs — has proven to make real change.

You have a lot of strong guys, I am sure in the off season a lot of them could build some pretty big bridges if they care enough to do the hard work. That would involve getting off their knees and getting to work though. If I can do it while I raise two kids as their only parent and work through the greatest pain of my life, let’s see if they can do it for the issues they say they care so much about.

Go Longhorns and Sic ‘Em …

Sincerely,

Taya

She’s right in a lot of aspects.  What will happen (eventually) when the fans who refuse to sit during the National Anthem?  Will they be beaten into submission and forced to their knees because they are disrespecting the players on the field who are making the “ultimate sacrifice?”

What happens if the children in the stands with their mothers and fathers fail to sit or take a knee?  Will insults and beer bottles be hurled at these families who won’t teach their children to respect and honor the players who are not honoring and respecting the country?

And what of the singers of the National Anthem?  Will there now be a requirement on the part of the singers to do what Jordan Sparks just did while singing, when she, too, in solidarity with her brothers, took a knee?

The questions that can be asked are endless.  However, one thing is clear.  With another sport, NASCAR, deciding to mandate that its drivers stand for the National Anthem or be removed from the competition, it’s clear that this is dividing America down both racial lines and political lines.  Perhaps there should be sections for Democrats and Republicans at the NFL stadiums.

Of course, it might get a little weird when one half of the stadium is full and on their knees, while the other half is empty and enjoying hockey.

Source:  Fox News

Image: Chriskylefrogfoundation.org