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On Tuesday night, the President of the United States delivered his first joint session address. Most media critics lauded the effort as some sort of pivot to normalcy. Some called the speech a turning point to a more presidential figure.
In actuality, our President’s actions and words have set the bar so low that anything short of setting the TelePrompTers on fire and shouting MAGA over and over again into the microphone would have been considered a success.
Keep this in mind when judging his speech.
Civil Rights is the civil rights issue of our time and it will be until there is equality for all.
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He said, “Education is the civil rights issue of our time,” which is unequivocally false, especially when you consider that many in this country still are fighting for the basic human rights many of us take for granted. The constant fight many LGBTQ engage in every day just to be treated the same on a human level. Consider the Black Lives Matter movement and its cry to be served and protected by the police in the same fashion that whites receive. Or, the millions of Muslims who are discriminated against daily due to their faith. Civil Rights is the civil rights issue of our time and it will be until there is equality for all.
He said, “I have ordered the Department of Homeland Security to create an office to serve American victims. The office is called VOICE, “Victims Of Immigration Crime Engagement.” If you want an idea of how dangerous this is, consider Hitler also published lists of crimes committed by immigrants. Hitler’s list helped stoke fear and distrust in immigrants, which emboldened his cause for genocide. By no means am I saying the two men are equal. That would be ridiculous.
Never would we look at a quarterback and think “His record is 0-10, but he threw a perfect spiral on that one interception. I’m going to give him a chance to see if he can get it together.”
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He is, however legitimizing government targeting of immigrants, legal or illegal. One only has to look at the recent attacks against Indians in Kansas, or the hundreds of bomb threats and Jewish grave desecrations to realize that an anti-other sentiment has already found its voice.
In total, the President told 51 lies in his 61-minute address to the nation. Which is to say nothing has changed about the man elected to lead the country.
We need to stay steady in our beliefs that those we elect to the highest office in the land will present themselves in a manner befitting that position. They need to be a voice for all and live up to a higher standard. The standard should not move up and down based on the moment, nor should we expect anything less than the best from a person who represents us globally. In sports, we would never allow this. Never would we look at a quarterback and think ”His record is 0-10, but he threw a perfect spiral on that one interception so I’m going to give him a chance to see if he can get it together.”
Hell no.
When it comes to sports, we hold the shortest leashes and are the harshest critics. To take a page out of the President’s book, we expect to in sports and when we come to the realization that it won’t happen we hold those accountable.
Relationships are no different. For one to work you need mutual respect, love, and care. If one continues to lie to the other, it’s up to you gather the strength to walk away from an unhealthy union. A misrepresentation of themselves is a fraudulent statement against you. We must always stand up to people who try and take us for granted, especially in relationships when we are most vulnerable selves.
That sometimes can be the hardest thing. In politics, sports or love, there comes a point when you realize this is who this person is, and it’s time to move on.
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On to this week’s questions:
Dear Relationship Quarterback,
My boyfriend is going out a lot with friends to watch games at the bar and I’m worried it’s creating a gap between us. I don’t feel like I should have to go watch sports in just to make this relationship work.
Sincerely,
Alone in Amarillo
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Dear Amarillo,
It’s important to note that being in a relationship doesn’t mean the death to you as your own unique self. We must remember that to be the best version of ourselves we can’t forget what makes us tick. While for your boyfriend it might be going to the games, what is it for you?
What is your version of your boyfriend going to watch the game with friends? Once you are able to realize that you guys can start to play the game of whose turn is it. It’s good for him to go out with his friends every now and again, as it is for you to take part in what you enjoy most. Then make sure to join him when he wants to do what he loves and be an active participant. Don’t sit there with a frown on your face through two hours of basketball.
Turn your two individual pastimes in to relatable events. You love going to the gym? Ask your boyfriend who are some players on his favorite team that he thinks are the strongest and engage in conversation. You’re into fashion? Ask him about Russell Westbrook who treats every walk to the locker room like his own personal catwalk with a style all his own.
Finally, remember you both are peacocks. Spread your wings and strut your stuff, and remind the other why they fell in love with you in the first place.
Sincerely,
The Relationship Quarterback
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Dear Relationship Quarterback,
I’ve been dating my girlfriend for 3 months and now that we’re in March and close to the NCAA tournament I just found out she and her family are Duke fans. How did I not see this before? Is this grounds for breaking up?
Torn Tar Heel in Toronto
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Dear Torn,
Yes.
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Submit your questions via email to [email protected] or in the comments, below. Watch this column weekly for answers.
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