Posted on 11/27/2014 7:22:22 AM PST by Impala64ssa
While Saints tight end Benjamin Watson may not always be the spotlight during a football game, his presence is well known -- even more so after the tight end took to social media to weigh in on the conflict happening in Ferguson, Missouri.
Watson, 33, wrote a passionate post following Monday night's prime-time game against the Baltimore Ravens about the emotions he is feeling in light of the St. Louis County grand jury's decision to not indict Officer Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown. "At some point while I was playing or preparing to play Monday Night Football, the news broke about the Ferguson Decision. After trying to figure out how I felt, I decided to write it down," he said in the post made to his verified Facebook page.
Watson continues to write about his anger, frustration, embarrassment, sadness and fear, among other feelings.
"I'M ANGRY because the stories of injustice that have been passed down for generations seem to be continuing before our very eyes.
"I'M FRUSTRATED, because pop culture, music and movies glorify these types of police citizen altercations and promote an invincible attitude that continues to get young men killed in real life, away from safety movie sets and music studios.
"I'M FEARFUL because in the back of my mind I know that although I'm a law abiding citizen I could still be looked upon as a 'threat' to those who don't know me. So I will continue to have to go the extra mile to earn the benefit of the doubt.
"I'M EMBARRASSED because the looting, violent protests, and law breaking only confirm, and in the minds of many, validate, the stereotypes and thus the inferior treatment," the post read in part.
His words, posted Tuesday night, have garnered more than 310,000 likes, more than 161,700 shares and tens of thousands of comments as of noon Wednesday.
At the end of his 650-word post, Watson said that while he is offended, confused and sad, he is also encouraged and hopeful.
"I'M HOPEFUL, because I know that while we still have race issues in America, we enjoy a much different normal than those of our parents and grandparents. I see it in my personal relationships with teammates, friends and mentors. And it's a beautiful thing.
"I'M ENCOURAGED, because ultimately the problem is not a SKIN problem, it is a SIN problem. SIN is the reason we rebel against authority. SIN is the reason we abuse our authority. SIN is the reason we are racist, prejudiced and lie to cover for our own. SIN is the reason we riot, loot and burn. BUT I'M ENCOURAGED because God has provided a solution for sin through the his son Jesus and with it, a transformed heart and mind. One that's capable of looking past the outward and seeing what's truly important in every human being. The cure for the Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice and Eric Garner tragedies is not education or exposure. It's the Gospel. So, finally, I'M ENCOURAGED because the Gospel gives mankind hope."
Good words.
TOUCHDOWN ! .. Ben.
“...ultimately the problem is not a SKIN problem, it is a SIN problem.”
Jesse Jackson may NOT LIKE anyone trespassing on his SOLE RIGHT to Make RHymes about race!
Watson’s statement...IS the perfect rebuttal to all the JIVE Jacksome and his cohort Al Sharpton spew.
Thank you!
This fully deserves an AMEN and a “So let it be written, so let it be DONE!”
Amen to that.
Amen Ben Watson! Amen
The biggest injustice in this case is that black "leaders" won't accept the truth. Michael Brown made the same mistake that Trevon Martin made, i.e., he attacked a guy with a gun.
AMEN
I didn’t like the start: “I’m Angry” - because it showed he swallowed the Media lies without a blink. But his close hit the nail on the head - so well done, Benjamin.
Amen.
> A sin problem, not a skin problem. Indeed.
When blacks wake up and realize these words are true and change the thug culture and act responsibly they will see a huge difference in the way they are treated by other races. I know it’s corny to say you have black friends that you love when you’re white but I really do. It’s just the facts. They’re either my neighbors or attend my church. They’re welcome in my home and have been in my home for parties. I also play music with many of them because I like R & B and the Blues. I think many of them think we don’t like them because of the implications made by the MSM on a daily basis. We know why they do it; polarization for votes come election time.
There's that word again. While I applaud a lot of Ben's statements, I am tiring of the word 'injustice' used in association with this mess. It creates a vague rationalization for these criminals. There was NO injustice in Wilson's actions. Brown was a no good thug that charged a police officer with intent to do harm. He was justifiably shot.
Amen.
That is also the cure for the Jimmie Norman, Terry Taylor, Cindy Raygoza, Luis Aguilar, Brittany Simpson, Sarah Goode, Jeffrey Westerfield, Perry Renn, Laurey Kennedy, Eric Mollet, Rupert Anderson, Jennifer Kingeter, Jim Brennan, Paul Shephard, Shirley Barone, Penelope Spencer, Inga Evans, white female, Jake Rameau, Gina Burger, Nathan Dasher, Jonathan Price, John Whitmore, John Yingling, Allyn Reeves, Michael Beaver, Angela Cook, Nathan Hall, Harry Briggs, Laura Bachman, Robert Mohler, William Headley tragedies.
All of them white citizens murdered by blacks. But then, no one here probably ever heard their names in any of the usual media outlets. So, I guess then there isn't a problem. Nothing to see, move along.
As a Christian man, if he listens to the prosecutor's explanation (since he was prepping for a game he likely did not hear it) he will probably be willing to acknowledge that they were indeed lies. There was no "hands up", no surrender, no "shot in the back", no "summary execution".
Lousy FReeper Tea Party troll, no doubt.
I couldn’t recall where I had seen/heard the “summary execution” part, so I BINGed it. It was on a site called Americans Against the Tea Party, by an Elisabeth Parker.
“CNN got hold of a new video that captures the two workers — who recollected some, but not all, of the events leading to Brown’s summary execution...”
I responded to sweet Elisabeth’s screed by asking politely if she would now admit that her “video witnesses” were liars. I won’t hold my breath awaiting a response.
A SIN problem??? So when does this guy report to PC re-education camp?
Really? Watson is buying into the "blacks as victims" mentality. Who views him as a threat? On what basis?
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