Son of a Bitch? Really? Mr. President Have You No Shame?

We all know that the President of the United States can be counted on to say anything that comes to his feeble mind - no matter how vulgar or inappropriate. So when he called protesting NFL athletes (nearly all African Americans) sons of bitches no one protested the remark itself. For the record a bitch is a female dog. Translation: Your mother is a dog and you are sons of dogs. Where I come from (Bed-Stuy) that is the height of insult. Were he not the President of the United States and had the courage to say that to any of the NFL athletes to their faces he would have been knocked out - on the spot. Remember the remark was made as he stood behind the Seal of the President of the United States making his remark a new low in presidential oratory. Mr. President have you no shame?

I am not a sports fan. I personally do not care whether professional athletes who make more in one year than most of us make in a lifetime have a grievance about their salaries or their playing conditions. I do not care about the National Anthem. I do not care about the American flag. But I damn sure care about the escalating unfair, unjust, unconstitutional treatment of African Americans.

Let me be clear here - I support without reservation - all actions, and all protests that bring attention to rampant police brutality, massive growing economic inequality, mass incarceration, substandard education, underemployment, extra judicial executions that comprise the undeclared white supremacist war on African Americans. I believe Colin Kaepernick is a genuine hero. Michael Bennett and all the NFL athletes, coaches and owners who took the knee either early or lately are to be applauded and supported.

As for the National Anthem again, let me be crystal clear. I am not legally obligated to stand for it or sing it nor is anyone else. There is a statute that sets forth what we should do when the National Anthem is played. The statute provides no penalty for failure to comply and is therefore merely a suggestion.

As far as the flag is concerned don't get me started. In my own quiet way I have not saluted the flag or pledged allegiance to the flag since the early sixties. I will not and cannot honor the flag of a country that has enslaved, segregated and discriminated against African Americans for the entire period of its existence much less call it my flag.

More germane to the issue is the fact that I have the right to burn the flag in protest; and I cannot be forced to salute the flag; It is, therefore, as a matter of law, no more than a symbol that I am free to completely . To this African American the American flag is living symbol of a country that has shafted us from day one. Its thirteen bars represent the original thirteen colonies in all of which slavery was legal and practiced. In fairness, I can understand why white folks salute it given the fact that it has always stood for the protection of their white privilege. But do not ask me to join you in a salute to the enslavement of my ancestors.

So to President Trump - get over it. To the United States Government pay what you owe and set the record straight. Otherwise this will never go away and the calls for justice will grow louder with each passing day. WE SHALL HAVE JUSTICE AND POWER PROPORTIONALITY IN AMERICA BY WHATEVER MEANS WE (NOT YOU) DEEM NECESSARY.

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Johnnie Cordero holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and a Doctorate in Jurisprudence. He is the author of Total Black Empowerment: A Guide to Critical Thinking in the Age of Trump. His new book Theodicy and The Power of the African Will is sheduled for release in October 2017.