Dear Reggie,
I’m not even sure how to start this letter. Congratulations. You’ve now entered the world of Roger Waters, Bryan Adams and George Clooney. You are a high-profile celebrity I will no longer support in any way, shape or form. You’ve never had the ability or skill to stay healthy long enough to perform consistently as a professional, but you somehow had the intestinal fortitude to dig down deep and facilitate a comparison so dumb that you managed to insult the police, the Jews and the black people of Ferguson all in one shot. If only you were this good at football.
I do not like the fact that an unarmed man got shot. I recognize the tragedy of the situation and although I believe the grey areas in this case may very well have given credence to the Grand Jury’s verdict, this is indicative of some very serious problems that still exist in this country. There are problems of race relations that can not be ignored as well as problems in the training of police officers that must be addressed. If I am to be as objective as possible I may very well say that it is wrong that Michael Brown is dead and right that Darren Wilson was not indicted. That’s a difficult statement to make, especially since it can bring on the wrath of both sides, but I am no coward and if, as I learn more facts I feel that way, I will be willing to make that difficult statement. I don’t make simple divisive statements like: “The Palestinian people know what mean to be shot while unarmed because of your ethnicity. #ferguson #justice.”
Seriously Reggie? Do you realize how incredibly stupid that comment is? Apparently not because you posted a picture of a man holding that sign on your Instagram and followed with your own statement that read, “No matter who you are, what color skin you have, where you live, we are all in this together! This isn’t a Ferguson problem it’s a Global Problem! We need change NOW! What happened to humanity? #JusticeForMikeBrown.”
Well Reggie, you ask a good question. What happened to humanity? These Palestinians you seem to feel comfortable comparing to the black people of Ferguson have thousands upon thousands of people looking to die in the process of murdering as many Jews and Americans as possible. Two Palestinians stormed a synagogue in Jerusalem last week and brutally murdered 4 Rabbis. Palestinians have in their ranks people who blow themselves up with the hope, yes the hope of killing dozens of people. They have people who drive into bus stops and murder a 4 month old baby girl. Let’s not forget how they celebrate in the streets after these murders. Palestinian demonstrators throw rocks and Molotov Cocktails in the hope that they will injure or kill as many people as possible. And of course let us not forget the additional Palestinian celebrations in the street after 3,000 Americans got murdered on 9/11. Putting aside for one second how offensive your approach is to me as a Jewish man, if I was a black man in Ferguson who had knowledge of current affairs, I think I would be even more offended. To even hint that there is a similarity between the people of Ferguson and the Palestinians may be the worst part of the message you are sending.
As a Jew I can not say I am surprised. After all, it seems to be fashionable to criticize Israel and the Jewish people even when done by those who are clearly ignorant to the facts. Abraham Lincoln once said, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” Thank you Reggie for removing all doubt.
Incidentally, I was such a fan I once had your picture as my icon during an entire Fantasy Football season. All I can say now is that I am happy I didn’t trade for you this year when it was proposed to me. Of course I didn’t because you are hardly on the field anyway. I guess that is why you found the time to use social media to show the world your ignorance.
If you had merely made the comment you made I am certain no one would have had an issue with its intent. Being someone who sees all Americans as being equal regardless of color or race, something everyone who knows me would corroborate, I might even have liked you more for the comment. After all, there is nothing wrong with expecting better of humanity. But by showing the picture with that comment you went from portraying yourself as a man who cares to just another idiot with no clue.
Sincerely,
David Groen
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