Stand Up For Kyrie

Throughout history, for one purpose or the other, various groups have considered themselves to be "blessed and highly favored" by the deity associated with Judaism. The hubris of any sect or cult to refer to themselves as the "Chosen People" has been bandied about primarily amongst Israelites, Jews, and Black Hebrew Israelites for a couple millennia. 

Some claims of chosenness (belief that the Jews, via descent from the ancient Israelites, are the chosen people) are based on parallel claims of Israelite ancestry, as is the case for Christian and Black Hebrew sects—both claim to be the "true Israel". 

Others assert that the concept is spiritual, where individuals who genuinely believe in God are considered to be the authentic chosen people. This view is common among most Christian denominations, who historically and literally believe the Church replaced Israel as the people of God.

In Judaism, the concept of the Jews as chosen is because they believe they were handpicked to be in a covenant with God. Essentially, this implies that the Jewish people have been chosen by God to worship only him and to fulfill the mission of proclaiming his truth among all the nations of the world.

 

NBA basketball star Kyrie Irving has been under scrutiny because of a social media post - October 2022 - in which he offered a link to a 2018 film entitled: Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America. 

"Offered a link" ... seriously? 

America, whether we agree or disagree with Kyrie, this is taking censorship to an entirely new level. 

You had a bunch of idiots sitting courtside wearing tee-shirts criticizing Mr. Irving and everyone was OK with that. Any other African-American athlete who dares to support the Brooklyn Nets basketball player (who was suspended by the NBA) would be ostracized and possibly suspended as well.

The reason for the backlash against Kyrie and why he was labeled anti-semitic is because the film suggest that Black Hebrews and not Jews are God's Chosen People.

Newsflash: THERE ARE NO CHOSEN PEOPLE !

We are all branches of the same tree; cut from the same cloth. 

Here's an analogy:

The deity referred to as God would be the ocean and humankind would be the waves in this universal ocean. To suggest that a certain group is chosen over another would be tantamount to saying one set of waves are more special or chosen over another. 

The historical argument of Chosenness is pure and unadulterated pious balderdash!

This is why the NBA has suspended Kyrie Irving and the Jewish community labelled him anti-semetic. We need to stand up and stand strong in our support of him. 

In 1967 Muhammad Ali defied the Vietnam Draft.

The champ stated:

“No, I will not go 10,000 miles from here to help murder and kill another poor people simply to continue the domination of white slave masters over the darker people of the Earth... The real enemies of my people are right here—not in Vietnam.” 

“Man, I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong,” Ali said. “No Viet Cong ever called me ‘n*gg*r.’ ”

Ali was 25 years old then and would miss more than three years in the prime of his career. Less than a year later, Dr. King would be murdered. It was an angry, violent time with Ali being a major player, blending race, religion, sports and politics. 

That blend still exist today except the athletes are AFRAID to take on the challenge. You have to do more than wear matching tee-shirts.

If your idea of a politicized athlete is former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick refusing to stand for the national anthem, consider what occurred after Ali took his stand.

Five weeks later in Cleveland, an extraordinary group of black athletes gathered alongside Ali in support.

June 4, 1967, the Cleveland Summit included Cleveland Browns Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown (he presided over the meeting of top African-American athletes), Bill Russell, Muhammad Ali, Lew Alcindor (aka Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) Carl Stokes, Walter Beach, Bobby Mitchell, Sid Williams, Curtis McClinton, Willie Davis, Jim Shorter, and John Wooten.

Ali’s defiance inspired other black athletes as well. A year later, American Olympic track medalists Tommie Smith and John Carlos thrust black-gloved fists upward in a Black Power gesture during the playing of The Star-Spangled Banner in Mexico City (their careers were destroyed but they took a legendary stance nonetheless).

In Clay v. the United States, Ali's conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court in 1971. He won back the title in 1974, a year after the draft was abolished.

Kaepernick was the catalyst of the 21st Century revolution and we severely let him down. Ironically, his taking a knee was symbolic to the horrific, public murder of George Floyd. The murders of unarmed African-American men, women, and children continues to this very day.

Jews are NOT the chosen people!

Hebrews are NOT the chosen people!

WE ARE ONE... 

"Never send to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee."