A coalition for doing good
A modest proposal (although if it’s so modest, why the big headline?), inspired by Colin Kaepernick:
Athletes should get together and create an action organization.
Call it Athletes’ Rainbow Coalition (ARC).
The premise: If you walk into a restaurant that doesn’t have a menu, ordering your meal will be a challenge.
If you’re an athlete with a vague sense of wanting to do something that will have a positive impact on the world, it might help if you have a menu.
Recently LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul stood up at the ESPYs to issue a call to action among athletes. Do more! Do something!
But what? ARC would provide athletes with a menu, a list of options and suggestions to guide them in channeling their money, time and passion to a cause.
Some guys are self-starters. DeMarcus Cousins put together a panel discussion on violence, with police and community leaders, in Mobile, Ala. Many athletes, though, would benefit from a menu and a support system.
ARC would provide resources, encouragement, information and inspiration to would-be do-gooders and difference-makers, especially those who want to do more than just write a check. Although check-writing is good.
This would be a grassroots organization, formed, funded and run by athletes.
It would not be a political bloc. All or most of its members could support a given cause, but would do so as a group of athletes, not as ARC.
Why the Rainbow part of ARC? To make it clear that the problems and challenges we face, and the solutions, cut across racial/ethnic lines. When the ESPY Four were urging athletes to get busy, I hope and assume they weren’t appealing only to black athletes, and I hope and assume athletes of every color heed the call.
Misery comes in all colors. The help should, too.