Kansas City Chiefs: Marcus Peters Takes A Stand

Just Not That Simple

Ultimately, I respect Marcus Peters for his stance and the Kansas City Chiefs for standing behind him.  What Peters is doing isn’t easy.  He has made himself a target for anger, and he knows it.  Peters, like everyone else, has seen what Colin Kaepernick went through.  This was not a decision made in ignorance.

Do I think that Marcus Peters could have made a statement in a better way?  Absolutely.  Ultimately, the biggest statement Peters could make is to walk away from football and get involved.  Short of that, he could hold a press conference or even sit out the season.  Those actions would have brought more attention to the issues and not the individual.

Do I think Marcus Peters and others are right?  Honestly, I don’t know.  How can I?  I’m not a black man in a country that has a terrible history regarding black people.  Conversely, how can I know what a police officer goes through on a daily basis in a dangerous job?  My job doesn’t put me in harms way on a regular basis.  So what reference do I have to judge those in that position?

I have some context though.  I have been a racial minority in a country where it wasn’t good to be a minority.  I assure you that Bahrain and Jordan are not ideal locations for white Americans to walk around.  I have worked a job where every day presented danger to life and limb.  Iraq is not a fun place to earn a paycheck.  I have that context, but I still don’t know.