Why?

Drew Brees is not a bad guy. He apologized, and I believe his apology is sincere. But this is an opportunity for all of us to turn the microscope inward.

Drew Brees is a wealthy, white, male, conservative christian, who plays the most revered position in American sports, a combination that lends itself to deeply indoctrinated, atom bomb-strength whoopsie daisies.

Because of his circumstance, Drew Brees had a Manchurian Candidate moment where he, triggered by the word “protest” and the headline-grabbing unrest from which he is largely shielded, jumped to attention and regurgitated a cliché he was assured, once upon a time, was on-brand and ok. He is a public figure, coached to lean on soundbites, which is, at best, lazy, and at worst, well, now Drew knows.

Drew Brees is not a bad guy, and had he paused and actually thought things through, I doubt he would’ve said the same thing. But he did say it, and why he said it needs to be a reflection point for all of us.

However egregious or subtle, we all have programing that needs to be broken during this time. And we can all can pause and think, and ask ourselves “why?”