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{"id":687,"date":"2012-07-04T11:23:24","date_gmt":"2012-07-04T15:23:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/theworthingtonpost\/?p=687"},"modified":"2014-01-27T14:01:30","modified_gmt":"2014-01-27T19:01:30","slug":"dear-ray-rice-a-message-on-july-4th","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/theworthingtonpost\/2012\/07\/dear-ray-rice-a-message-on-july-4th\/","title":{"rendered":"Dear Ray Rice, (A message on July 4th)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

The first (and only) time I was ever in a room with you, I was unimpressed. \u00a0It was at Lardarius Webb<\/a>\u2018s 1st Annual Bowling Classic. \u00a0This was an event he held to raise money for disadvantaged youth. \u00a0I was there because I bid on and won tickets at Casey Cares\u2019 silent auction. \u00a0(Casey Cares<\/a> is a wonderful local organization that does the little things that mean so much to children with chronic and critical illness and their families.) \u00a0I brought my two boys and three of their friends, and they were absolutely beyond thrilled to be in the room with so many Ravens players. \u00a0Including you.<\/p>\n

Sadly, but understandably, you had layers upon layers of protection between you and any of the child fans who wanted to meet you. \u00a0As soon as you were spotted on one lane, bowling, it seemed like people swarmed and you practically sprinted to another lane to get away. \u00a0Yes, I know you did sign autographs and talk to some fans, but suffice it to say, the other Ravens players were much more\u2026um\u2026approachable and friendly. \u00a0I tried to steer the kids towards them, and their disappointment at not getting a chance to say hi to you was really assuaged by sweetness and warmth so many of the other players offered the kids. \u00a0I\u2019m sure, though, that the people you actually did meet and interact with came away with amazing memories, which is awesome. \u00a0So, we shrugged the distance off to the difficulties of superstardom, and continued to root for you like crazy on the field.<\/p>\n

I gave you a second look, however, when I started seeing people reposting your Facebook statuses taking a stand against bullying. \u00a0It\u2019s something I consider pervasive and corrosive in humanity, and I was thrilled to see someone of your star power and talent taking the issue on. \u00a0 My sister and I were bullied<\/a> as kids, and I have many friends whose kids are dealing with it as well. \u00a0There is even one amazing girl in my neighborhood taking her own stand. \u00a0She was featured on local news here<\/a>, and she\u2019s using the power of social media to spread her message here<\/a>. \u00a0My opinion of you did an about-face, and I immediately began following your fb page, and made sure to thank you there for all you\u2019re doing \u2013 which is considerable and amazing.<\/p>\n

Today, though \u2013 on July 4th \u2013 you make me sad again. \u00a0Here is what you said in your FB status:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s sad that many Americans don\u2019t even know the Pledge anymore. \u201cOne nation, UNDER GOD\u2026\u201d And if you have an issue with me posting this and capitalizing UNDER GOD, remember, because of today, you are FREE and have the absolute right to remove yourself from my page! Happy Birthday America!\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not your devotion to the wording of the Pledge that\u2019s problematic. \u00a0It doesn\u2019t bother me that you capitalize \u201cunder God.\u201d \u00a0I respect your feelings about that, despite the fact that those words weren\u2019t even in the Pledge until the 1950s. \u00a0Sometimes even I include those words when I say the pledge, and sometimes I don\u2019t. \u00a0My right.<\/p>\n

What bothers me is your invitation, which really borders on a challenge, to remove myself from your page if I disagree with your message. \u00a0Why this attitude? \u00a0We see it everywhere. \u00a0\u201cLearn the language or leave.\u201d \u00a0\u201cIf you don\u2019t like the government, move to another country.\u201d \u00a0\u201cDisagree with me? \u00a0Feel free to stop being my fan\/friend.\u201d \u00a0\u201cDon\u2019t like what I\u2019m saying? \u00a0There\u2019s the door.\u201d<\/p>\n

Are you that threatened by people who don\u2019t agree with you? \u00a0Do you think it\u2019s that threatening to me that you say something with which I disagree? \u00a0Do you really believe that differing opinions automatically become a wall between people? \u00a0I\u2019m more optimistic than that. \u00a0I have more faith in myself and my fellow citizens than that. \u00a0I give us ALL more credit than that. \u00a0I see time and time again examples of people making agreements, staying friends, moving forward, and continuing to respect and love one another despite divergent or opposing opinions.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not naive. \u00a0I know divisiveness rules. \u00a0I realize mixed marriages, political foes who are friends, hearts softened by having witnessed suffering may not be what makes the news headlines, but I see it every day, in all levels of humanity. \u00a0It\u2019s not sexy enough to be splashed across the headlines, but it\u2019s there. \u00a0There are even ways in which you, Ray Rice, are evidence of it.<\/p>\n

So, no. \u00a0I don\u2019t feel the way you do about the words of the Pledge of Allegiance. \u00a0I disagree with you about the importance of the words \u201cunder God\u201d in the Pledge. \u00a0But neither is our diverging opinions a basis for which I would dissolve a friendship, however many degrees of separation there are between you and me. \u00a0So thanks for the invitation to leave, but I\u2019m staying in the room. \u00a0Because it\u2019s my room, too. \u00a0And because frankly, to me,\u00a0THAT, \u00a0is what makes me beyond grateful and proud to be a citizen of this country.<\/p>\n

Go Ravens!<\/p>\n

And, Happy Birthday, America!<\/p>\n

$\"\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"