Max Kepler and the Cost of Silence

[shimrod]

"To shy away from this conversation is to contribute to the widespread apathy and complacency that has brought us to this tragic state."

 

I was going to let this whole topic slide but this sentence from your post says if I don't comment I'm responsible. So here goes...

 

Screw you and your moral preening. As the previous poster said, what am I specifically asked to do? Vote democrat? Minneapolis has been doing that for over 50 years, how's that working out for you? 

 

Am I supposed to quit my job so a minority can have it? Stroke a check to my black neighbor? Hold my kids out of college to open up a spot for some deserving young person of color? More to the point, exactly what are you doing besides running your mouth? 

 

A member of my family, an elderly woman, was murdered last month. Found beat to death in her looted home, car and cards missing. Two suspects in custody, with a DNA match, and they look a lot more like the Minneapolis victim than the murdering cop. 

 

You going to hold society responsible for that one too? Shall we have a conversation? I can assure you of one thing - I understand the race of two murdering thugs says nothing about anyone else I'll meet today, or tomorrow, or ever. I'm not holding a race, or a society, responsible for the actions of two individuals. It's a despicable act to say the actions of one depraved individual reflect on anyone who resembles him. 

 

Racism is alive and well, and you are a fine example.

 

You want people to take a look in the mirror? You first. 

[drivlikejehu]

 

Where did I insult anyone in the post? Every perceived slight is based on some ridiculous inference. I am urging people to speak up and advocate because their voices matter. It's as simple as that. 

 

Ridiculous inference?

 

"To not speak up is to be complicit."

 

You straight up started your article by saying anyone who does not speak up (like your morally superior self) is complicit with the murder of innocent people. There is no inference of any kind involved. Did you already forget your own article?

[TopGunn#22]

Nick, everything you've stated you didn't want to do...YOU DID !!!  Brock B may think you're a hero but I don't.  You walked into a room, ripped the stinkiest fart you could, and then walked out and said "But I didn't want to make anyone uncomfortable."  You tried to make a point.  And you did a TERRIBLE job.  You attacked Max Kepler's character.  you virtue signaled that YOU thinks HE's a RACIST.  

[pierre75275]

1. I love baseball. I go to baseball sites to get opinions on baseball because the the people that run these sites generally have outside the box non cookie cutter BASEBALL OPINIONS and I'm entertained by them.

 

2. If I want to read about world news or the stock market I don't go to ESPN. That would be silly and I would be disappointed and broke.

 

3. Last time I checked, this is a free country. Nick can write what he wants, its good to be the king. I'm sure he was aware the fallout would be nuclear but thought it was worth it.

 

4. Last time I checked it was a free country. If Kep doesnt want to be a role model and doesnt want to follow politics and just wants to play baseball and live his life thats his right. No reason to call him out for it because you feel jilted or disappointed your heros arent what you want them to be.

 

5. Lastly the comments here by some of the moderators saying the people commenting show why the article needed to be written....please. Just stop. Its a free country. People are going to be and do what they are. You cant control everything. I for one, am sick and tired of Hollywood know it alls and condescending news casters telling me how I should think and believe simply because they think and believe a certain way.

[Craig Arko]

Again, it is fascinating and baffling that the people who just want to talk about baseball are ignoring the several thousand baseball threads available here and jumping on this one.

 

Almost as if they cared about something other than baseball.

[Kelly Vance]

The "easily offended " crowd seek to find fault with others, except those who share their ideology. They just like to stir up trouble. And they seek to silence those who disagree with intimidation tactics.

 

I say get off Max's back. He did nothing wrong (except for possibly when he apologized for something that required no apology).

 

Free speech hurts sometimes And we should not bow to the tyrants that seek to stifle our right to our own  speech, whatever it is. 

 

My teachers taught me to believe that "I may disagree whole heartedly with what you say, but I will defend to my death your right to say it.?

 

Censorship and intimidation tactics have no place in America, not in the streets or on the TD board.  When you start a thread, you need to let everybody say what they want to say. In law we call that "opening the door."  If you open the door by stating a position, you need to let others walk in that door with a different opinion. 

[TFRazor]

Well on the bright side, at least this means Covid-19 isn’t a thing anymore. Haven’t heard a single complaint that these riots could lead to a second wave outbreak. That a relief.

[Kelly Vance]

 

To say I’m disappointed by these comments is a massive understatement.

Many of you are showing why Nick needed to write this article.

Brock, not only did Nick not need to write this article, but many of us disagree completely with what he said. And I found it condescending and a little arrogant and preachy. . You are a lefty too, I get it. But stop acting like there is only 1 viewpoint. That is narrow minded. 

[scottz]

 

Again, it is fascinating and baffling that the people who just want to talk about baseball are ignoring the several thousand baseball threads available here and jumping on this one.

 

Almost as if they cared about something other than baseball.

 

Tell me what I care about.

 

Tell me what I do in my daily life.

 

Tell me about how I've responded to this wretched event.

 

Tell me what I should do tomorrow to appease you, or Nick, or others, to convince you that I care as much as you do or as much as Nick does.

 

Tell me how I can show that I am properly educated on the right way forward to get us out of this mess we are in.

 

It is certainly baffling.

[TFRazor]

Again, it is fascinating and baffling that the people who just want to talk about baseball are ignoring the several thousand baseball threads available here and jumping on this one.

 

Almost as if they cared about something other than baseball.

It’s almost like people don’t like being blamed for something they had no part in. Weird.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

The "easily offended " crowd seek to find fault with others, except those who share their ideology. They just like to stir up trouble. And they seek to silence those who disagree with intimidation tactics.

 

I say get off Max's back. He did nothing wrong (except for possibly when he apologized for something that required no apology).

 

Free speech hurts sometimes And we should not bow to the tyrants that seek to stifle our right to our own speech, whatever it is.

 

My teachers taught me to believe that "I may disagree whole heartedly with what you say, but I will defend to my death your right to say it.?

 

Censorship and intimidation tactics have no place in America, not in the streets or on the TD board. When you start a thread, you need to let everybody say what they want to say. In law we call that "opening the door." If you open the door by stating a position, you need to let others walk in that door with a different opinion.

Moderator note: this is a moderated website. All posts will abide by the comment policy, or will be moderated.

 

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/8228-twins-daily-comment-policy/

 

The mod team has been a bit more hands off in this thread, as voices need to be heard, but we will abide by the comment policy.

[TheLeviathan]

 

Of course, you are insulting a bunch of users you know nothing about, which is incredibly hypocritical and downright pathetic given your whining above. 

 

Seems to me your posts have provided significant evidence for character assessment, were that the actual issue.  Instead, you've chosen to feel slighted by the mere call for humanity.

 

Perhaps some introspection is overdue before the conversation can begin for you.

[DocBauer]

I have chosen to stay out of the conversation, thus far, for a variety of reasons that are mine, and not because I am apathetic in any way. And I may or may not respond again, as that is also my choice, and again, not because I am apathetic. Any my own political beliefs will also be left out as they are personal, varied and really not important to this discussion.

 

Honestly, not quite sure how politics were brought in to a human condition and society OP to begin with, but I guess these things happen.

 

Nick, love you man. Love your courage to put yourself out there like this. It isn't easy to do things like this. I'm sure you knew that beforehand but betting you underestimated some of the backlash. I don't always agree on everything you say about baseball, or the Twins, but I always respect you, as I do now.

 

As to MY $.02:

 

1] While I appreciate your reference to Kepler's picture and subsequent posts, referencing was probably appropriate. And while I think you were pretty clear on your Kepler stance, naming him in the headline and using him as an example, may have been a mistake. I believe he should have been left out of the lead as he ends up looking like a target, unintentional though I'm sure it was. REFERENCING the recent, unfortunate events surrounding him would have been more appropriate. I don't have to tell you that sometimes what you write and intend may not come across exactly the way you intended it to.

 

To everyone, not directed to you, the TIMING of Max wearing that mask is seen as poor. But is it really? What happened is so abhorant and disgusting that I can't even find words. But something wonderful has happened in our country over the past couple of decades where we, as a society, have begun to pay real tribute, and show deserved respect, to our military forces abroad and our fire/rescue and police force in this country and to the men and women who make up these branches. Despite all the flaws that social media presents, one of the great positives is the sharing of good and profound opinions, actions and thoughts. Police officers across the country, of ALL races, have spoken out VERY directly and deliberately about what took place. They have been STAUNCH in their opinions and beliefs! And THEY ARE that blue line. T-shirts, posters, bumper stickers, hats, flags, rings, and so much more has inundated our society the past couple of decades for good reason. We should NEVER forget what that blue line means and represents to us as a society.

 

If Max is guilty of anything, besides bad timing, it's having a bad PR campaign where he could have eased out of this uncomfortable situation with more grace.

 

2] Not sure how politics got brought in to this except for the reference to someone who is in politics. Which really shouldn't be an issue considering the quote you used was about life, rights and basic humanity and the quote ITSELF stated it wasn't about politics. Does the nature of the quote source just bring out angst from some that shouldn't be applied in this context?

 

3] I don't agree with the generalised comment that our community and country are "broken". Perhaps a poor choice of words? There are REAL ISSUES in our country that need to be addressed, INCLUDING race issues. And while it is so easy for me as a midwestern white person who is NOT affluent to state such things, I think the American society HAS changed and GROWN very much over my lifetime. MORE CHANGE is clearly needed. I don't think any of us could argue differently. As a society of quality human beings, we should all support additional growth and change. And none of should want anything more than that of hurry our heads in the sand.

 

4] Despite my "critique" of your post, GROWTH and UNDERSTANDING is what is most important. Whether you like Nicks post or not, whether you feel he espoused any political agenda or not...(go back and re-read calmly)...change for the better is something we should all want.

 

I LOVE this site, what it is all about, and the WONDERFUL community that it is. And while all of this is an absentee community for most of us, I honestly feel there is a connection and friendship and sort of "familia" brought to all of us. But i am rather disappointed by some of the attacking comments I've read. It's OK to disagree. I've disagreed with Nick on a few things here without being nasty. And I know the whole world is in a weird, mixed up pandemic mess right now and this is a hot social topic. I just wish it could have been handled with a little more decorum.

 

And I'm OUT!

[diehardtwinsfan]

Is it so unreasonable to ask people to stop generalizing each other and slapping a label/stereotype on them when hard conversations are being had? I've seen way too much of that in this thread on both sides. It's nauseating. 

 

A terrible thing happened. Let's not forget that first and foremost. People are going to disagree on the way forward. That's not going to change either. So please, let's listen to each other, drop the snide comments and snark, stop putting words in people's mouths, and stop making accusations. None of it is beneficial.  None.

 

[Tom Froemming]

Howdy friends! Even though this is a much more difficult discussion to navigate than our typical articles, I'm happy to see the conversation.

 

Anyway, a fellow Twins fan named Kristy shared a really helpful document that includes links to 40+ local organizations, businesses and community efforts I wanted to pass along. Here's the link. 

 

Some problems can't be fixed by just throwing money them, but I'm sure these organizations and businesses appreciate any help they can get at this time.

[Nick Nelson]

 

1. I love baseball. I go to baseball sites to get opinions on baseball because the the people that run these sites generally have outside the box non cookie cutter BASEBALL OPINIONS and I'm entertained by them.

2. If I want to read about world news or the stock market I don't go to ESPN. That would be silly and I would be disappointed and broke.

3. Last time I checked, this is a free country. Nick can write what he wants, its good to be the king. I'm sure he was aware the fallout would be nuclear but thought it was worth it.

4. Last time I checked it was a free country. If Kep doesnt want to be a role model and doesnt want to follow politics and just wants to play baseball and live his life thats his right. No reason to call him out for it because you feel jilted or disappointed your heros arent what you want them to be.

5. Lastly the comments here by some of the moderators saying the people commenting show why the article needed to be written....please. Just stop. Its a free country. People are going to be and do what they are. You cant control everything. I for one, am sick and tired of Hollywood know it alls and condescending news casters telling me how I should think and believe simply because they think and believe a certain way.

I just want to say that while clearly this person disagrees with me, and the premise of this article, on every level ... they stated their disagreement and differing viewpoints in civil terms without crossing over to disrespect. Thank you for that.

I know everyone would rather be reading about baseball. Believe me, I'd rather be writing about it. Right now I don't feel up to it. Saying my piece on this felt important.

 

I appreciate everyone who has taken the time to read it with an open mind. I appreciate the majority of comments, including the one above. 

[Squirrel]

Howdy friends! Even though this is a much more difficult discussion to navigate than our typical articles, I'm happy to see the conversation.

 

Anyway, a fellow Twins fan named Kristy shared a really helpful document that includes links to 40+ local organizations, businesses and community efforts I wanted to pass along. Here's the link. 

 

Some problems can't be fixed by just throwing money them, but I'm sure these organizations and businesses appreciate any help they can get at this time.

Thanks, Tom. I had asked for such a list in the thread in the Sports Bar. Some of us are from out of town, but still want to help our ‘home’ even though we can’t be there to do so.

[pierre75275]

Thanks Nick

[AZTwin]

Good grief. What a bad take for an article. Supporting police officers should not be confrontational

[ToriiRules!!]

I will no longer be a member of TwinsDaily because of this post how dare you condemn this young man because he chooses to believe in what he believes in and if you don’t believe blue lives matter too then you yourself are also part of the problem what a joke of an article!!!!!

[HrbieFan]

For some reason I cannot like posts. But there are many posters on here that get it. Stick to your platform boys! You are not race baters, you are baseball and Twins reporters. Is there crap wrong in this country, hell yes! Is this the place for a liberal to blast on hose that don't trust law breakers? Hell no!

Now give me some in depth stories about Twins minor leaguers and draft targets

[h2oface]

 

I am into politics, a veritable news junkie, but I didn't have a clue that was a Blue Lives Matter mask.  As much as it can be fun to level potshots at millionaire baseball players, I think we cut Max some slack on this one.   Gutentag (is that how you spell it?)

 

Same here! I pay way too much attention and probably shouldn't. I would probably have lower blood pressure and like people more. When I had several different radio shows, each with a niche (Folk & Beyond, Zydecajun Conspiracy, Acoustic Windows, and Jazz Songlines), people would come up to me all the time and say "hey, do you know so and so? No? Oh you gotta hear them!" I always felt like I should, like wtf is wrong with me..... until I realized it is OK to not know everything. One just can't know everything, no matter how hard they try. I had no idea there was a blue lives matter flag/symbol/emblem or mask. And I am not going to punish myself for being ignorant in that regard. I am certainly not going assume Kepler did, or should if he didn't. Nor am I going to assign "leader" to baseball players or any athlete just because more people might know them because the are a professional athlete. I fear for the world being left to our grandchildren and children. Nothing will be solved on this thread, that is for sure. I am grateful for the post, though, for now I know so much more about those that post here. Made some good notes. Thanks for the post.

 

"Today I’m sad.

Sad that conditions were such that such events as happened in the last week were inevitable.

Sad that people who love and are loved by others hate some on sight.

Sad that sometimes that hate is perhaps justified.

Sad that an expression of a righteous message is tinged by, conflated with and justifies acts of violence, destruction and theft in so many beautiful cities and on the eve of the reopening of some of the businesses now destroyed.

Sad that some of this destruction has nothing to do with the dynamic and is being brought by other factions trying to stir things up.

Sad that I’m told I “dont get to have an opinion on this” because I’m white.

Sad that I can’t quite agree with this when so many whom I respect do.

Sad that my perspective is so incomplete.

Sad that I am part of the problem,

Sad that I don’t know the solution.

Sad that knowing the solution would not make it so.

Sad that I believe that."

[etwink]

Well I guess Nick and the rest of the TD leadership got what they wanted; a heated debate on a subject to give the viewership a bit of a boost.  Baseball is not on and clearly the TD folks saw that they needed to dream up a controversy to get people aggravated about, so they decided to pick on a guy who PULLED HIS POST after making a mistake.  Kepler is from from a military family.  Folks in the military generally also support the police.  Unless I’m mistaken, we’re not saying that ALL COPS are murderers right?
 

I’m originally from Minneapolis and I hate all of this.  It’s horrible.  None of this ever should have happened.

 

But this article was a hit job on Kepler and a convenient podium for a white guy to make a rant about a subject he has no idea about; both of which should have no place here.....unless this has suddenly turned into the worst of the left/right political sites?

[glunn]

I am not going to express any opinion about the article or Kepler. I believe that worthwhile arguments have been made on opposing sides of this. 

 

Instead, I would like to offer a suggestion that might unify many of us -- I believe that it would be a great thing if the Twins and all other Minnesota sports teams decided to wear patches on their uniforms with the logo "GF" or some other logo that evidences a commitment to justice and positive change.

 

This would be a small response to a huge problem, and there are much larger solutions that will have more impact. But I like the idea of sports teams unifying on the issue of racial injustice, and the patches would remind fans of a problem that have been ignored by too many people for too long. Would it not be beyond cool for the Twins to win the World Series wearing those patches?

 

[cardsfan]

I was surprised what happened in Minnesota. Down here in St. Louis we had a white officer kill a black man after other officers alerted him that he had the officer's son's stolen credit cards in the black man's possession.

 

Then the police got a retired judge who found the officer not guilty on the judge's last case on the bench. The Black police officers association opposed this miscarriage of justice, but, not the white mafia-like officers association.

 

Then we had protest and our St. Louis officers' beat an undercover agent and injured him I believe damaging his hearing sent to observe the peaceful protests. That has been sent to a Grand jury, but, look who is in the White House and who heads the Civil Rights division.

 

All of our white officers are complicit in this travesty. Some who would speak up would be in jeopardy from the union. It is like we can't do anything about it as if the police force is above the law.

 

I am still shocked about Minneapolis. And just a third degree murder charge. Civilians would get charged with a first degree murder for intent. This behaviour undermines the rule of law.

[Nine of twelve]

 

On another similar thread there was a moderator's note stating that there exists another forum for discussion of non-baseball-related topics. I humbly suggest that this thread should be moved to that forum.

 

 

Yeah, God forbid you think about the rest of the world for a second. Grow up.

I didn't say that I wasn't thinking about the rest of the world, and I didn't say I wasn't going to read the comments. I was just making the observation that one moderator recommended this conversation to take place in another forum while another posted essentially the same conversation here. This seems inconsistent.

And I object to your insult, but I accept your apology.

[Brock Beauchamp]

For all of those accusing Nick of virtue signaling, unfairly "attacking" Max (which he didn't do at all), or any other myriad of strawmen, Nick Nelson did not develop the idea of complicity and how it enables racial injustice to exist. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a few things to say about this topic and they don't shine a very pretty light on white America. 

 

I don't know the dates of any of the quotes, except the last because it was written while he sat in an Alabama jail 57 (I think) years ago. What has really changed here? In my eyes, based on this thread, very little. Even the slightest pushback about race and how we need to actively, not passively, approach the problem and people lose their minds. As a parent of black children, I fear for their future and I'm mad as hell at a lot of you from preventing change from happening because change can't happen until we acknowledge the problem exists and actively work against it.

 

"He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it."

 

“Why is equality so assiduously avoided? Why does white America delude itself, and how does it rationalize the evil it retains?

 

The majority of white Americans consider themselves sincerely committed to justice for the Negro. They believe that American society is essentially hospitable to fair play and to steady growth toward a middle-class Utopia embodying racial harmony. But unfortunately this is a fantasy of self-deception and comfortable vanity.”

 

“But it is not enough for me to stand before you tonight and condemn riots. It would be morally irresponsible for me to do that without, at the same time, condemning the contingent, intolerable conditions that exist in our society. These conditions are the things that cause individuals to feel that they have no other alternative than to engage in violent rebellions to get attention. And I must say tonight that a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it America has failed to hear?… It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice and humanity.”

 

“First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: “I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action”; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a “more convenient season.” Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.”

[Diesel]

I think for everybody, three things should be pretty obvious.

 

1. George Floyd was murdered.

2. Police brutality is an issue in this country that should be addressed.

3. A few violent looters and rioters are destroying the image and the communities of thousands of peaceful protesters doing the right thing.

 

I don’t understand how people can support violence of any kind, whether to business owners (some who are POC) currently in America, to the police officers tear gassing peaceful protesters, to the violent oppression of women and LGBT people in the Middle East, to the disgusting regimes of China and North Korea.

 

Siding with a certain political party with absolutely everything shows you are a sheep. We all have to figure out our own political viewpoints and have discussions with one another. That isn’t happening in our America nowadays, and I place blame on both sides of the political spectrum. The refusal to have civil discussions by both the moderators/owners and the commenters is just another example of this.

[rdehring]

 

For all of those accusing Nick of virtue signaling, unfairly "attacking" Max (which he didn't do at all), or any other myriad of strawmen, Nick Nelson did not develop the idea of complicity and how it enables racial injustice to exist. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a few things to say about this topic and they don't shine a very pretty light on white America. 

 

I don't know the dates of any of the quotes, except the last because it was written while he sat in an Alabama jail 57 (I think) years ago. What has really changed here? In my eyes, based on this thread, very little. Even the slightest pushback about race and how we need to actively, not passively, approach the problem and people lose their minds. As a parent of black children, I fear for their future and I'm mad as hell at a lot of you from preventing change from happening because change can't happen until we acknowledge the problem exists and actively work against it.

 

"He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it."

 

“Why is equality so assiduously avoided? Why does white America delude itself, and how does it rationalize the evil it retains?

 

The majority of white Americans consider themselves sincerely committed to justice for the Negro. They believe that American society is essentially hospitable to fair play and to steady growth toward a middle-class Utopia embodying racial harmony. But unfortunately this is a fantasy of self-deception and comfortable vanity.”

 

“But it is not enough for me to stand before you tonight and condemn riots. It would be morally irresponsible for me to do that without, at the same time, condemning the contingent, intolerable conditions that exist in our society. These conditions are the things that cause individuals to feel that they have no other alternative than to engage in violent rebellions to get attention. And I must say tonight that a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it America has failed to hear?… It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice and humanity.”

 

“First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: “I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action”; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a “more convenient season.” Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.”

Fortunately, I have been able to edit/remove my comment that was posted after reading the above.

 

 

[Major League Ready]

If I were to make a list of people who reacted poorly to this tragedy, Max Kepler’s actions are too far down that list to be given a second thought. My first disappointment is that the MPD did not review the video and make an arrest within a few hours. That just might have defused this, at least a little. I recognize that it takes time for the proper review. However, I just can’t imagine it too long to verify this was a criminal act. The explosiveness of this situation should have been recognized. Every hour that went by without an announcement to arrest / prosecute fueled the rage.

 

In the grand scheme of things, Max Kepler’s unwillingness to take a stand is not even on the radar for me. I find it far more disconcerting that anyone could assess the actions of various people in this tragedy and conclude Max’s failure to take a stand worthy of concern. The actions of thousands of people were nothing short of criminal and barbaric. People were literally burning down the city and some of you want to defend singling out Max Kepler for not taking a stronger position. God help us!

 

I have not spoken to a single person who did not find the actions of office Chauvin reprehensible. Of course, there are still plenty of people who hate based on some form of ethnocentrism. That’s a problem. The thinking that leads to singling out Max Kepler while ignoring thousands of people performing criminal acts is also a problem. 

 

I suggest we call out those who advocated violence and those who reacted with violence. Where is the outrage for not dealing with this tragedy in a civil manner? We should be much more concerned with a society that reacts this way than Max Kepler’s unwillingness to take a stance. We should also be concerned that there are those who find moral superiority in attacking Max Kepler while somehow ignoring the thousands of people whose actions were not consistent with a civil society.