Super Bowl Sunday is one of America’s most united days.  Through the season, we support our specific teams and then come together one day of the year to cheer on one of two teams, even if our home team is not playing for the highest honor. But in some crazy theory, the 45th president of the United States has managed to do it again.   One year ago, on Sunday, October 2, 2016, Joseph Bauer, a former U.S. Marine and Ravens fan, was struck in the head at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore by one of two New York football fans.  Being a Navy retiree, the fact that he had served our country hit home for me.  When it happened, I thought about then-candidate Trump.

“I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose voters.” Also,  recalling an African American was caught on camera being sucker punched in the head at one of your rallies.

Mr. President, fifty-six years ago, I was seventeen, systematically trained from birth to swallow the bitter pill of racism.  In other words, trained to remember my place.  Although programmed to feel like a second-class citizen,  I joined the U.S. Navy.  The oath I took was as follows:

“I, Henry Lee Faulkner, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.” 

You took an oath to support, protect, and defend the Constitution of The United States with your right hand on the Bible, saying, “So help me, God.”  

“So help me God” was the keyword for me.  As a child, I was taught never to use the Lord’s name in vain and never swear to God unless I meant it.   Your latest tirade, calling fellow citizens SOB, demonstrates even more your continued efforts of divisiveness while the nation’s youth take note.

I have high regard for the office of the presidency, in keeping with the oath I took and re-took four times for a total of 22 years. But, in the words of Denzel Washington, “Anything you practice, you can get good at, including BS,” and you are superb, a master at manipulator. 

I’ve learned forgiveness through the word of God, as did the families of the Charleston Church shootings.  It’s something only people in the spirit can understand.  Vindictive personalities stick out like a whale out of the water.

Therefore, I will pledge as long as you are in office, I will never question your birth, make fun of your hair, or call you an SOB.  I will not ask about your tax returns because I want you to succeed. You are supposed to be the president of all the people.   If you succeed in creating jobs while keeping America safe, improve the quality of life for all, especially the poor and the declining middle class, and claim the fears and the hatred, then and only then will America succeed.   But let me be clear,  respecting the position does not mean I respect the person.    As a veteran, I was saddened to hear a potential Commander in Chief make a statement considered beyond the pale about a slain Muslim American soldier and a disparaging statement about a prisoner of war, Senator John McCain. Men who took the same oath as I.      You, Mr. President, are on the far end of the spectrum, falling into the category of not having a clue if you believe what you say.  You are making it about the flag.  It’s about black lives, and you know it.   Running a business requires investing money for a potential return.  To keep “America Great,” you’ve got to invest in people.  People, then, by human nature, will respond positively.  Don’t call me an expletive, criticizing my right to free speech, and then expect me to serve you breakfast in bed.  Our country is not an Empire, and you, you are not an Emperor.  

 I wrote a book, not about being poor, but a self-portrait about navigating the minefields of racism from childhood.   I’ve made over two hundred peaceful tweets.  Rosa Parks sat down peacefully and got locked up.  It took courage for Colin Kaepernick to take a knee.  The only opposition claiming it is a problem rather than bringing attention to a serious issue is supremacy.   Step out of the clouds, Mr. 45th, and into reality; everyone was not as fortunate as you. 

There is An old African proverb: “The enemy outside cannot hurt you if there’s no enemy within.”