The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
An open letter to Drew Brees: Your words hurt
His referencing WWII brings to mind my family’s experience.
Editor’s note: Earlier this week, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees made comments regarding the protests by some NFL players in which they knelt during the national anthem as a protest of social injustice and police brutality. He stated he would never agree with anyone disrespecting the flag of the United States. Brees drew heavy criticism for his comments and issued an apology.
In the apology, Brees wrote: “In an attempt to talk about respect, unity, and solidarity centered around the American flag and the national anthem, I made comments that were insensitive and completely missed the mark on the issues we are facing right now as a country.” C. David Moody Jr., owner of Moody Construction and president of the Atlanta Rotary Club, wrote an open letter to Brees on why his words were hurtful. His opinion appears in The Atlanta JournalConstitution with his permission.
Dear Drew,
As I read your insensitive words about players kneeling and you could never respect them because of your grandfathers serving in World War II. The kneeling was not a bout disrespecti ng t he flag, it was to bring awareness to injustice and police brutality.
Your words brought to mind a story my dad didn’t tell me until I was about 40 years old. I am now 64, and the story he told me still breaks my heart to this day.
My dad was born in 1932 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was the youngest of eight children.
During World War II, his older brothers were serving in the Army and stationed in Europe, driving in what was called “The Red Ball Express.”
During the war, some of the (white) German prisoners of war were imprisoned in an Army base in Baton Rouge. However, German POWs were allowed to go to local all white-movie theaters while under guard — something that black officers and enlisted men could never do in the segregated South.
German POWs during and