I need to interrupt my series of pieces about my guiding observations. I'll resume that series next week.
I keep seeing this happen: an actor (or a comedian, or a musician, or a sports star) says something political. Someone somewhere--this happens all the time on Twitter--tells that person to stick to acting (or comedy, or music, or sports). Wednesday morning I watched the talking heads on ESPN debate whether or not it is appropriate that Steve Kerr, head coach of the Golden State Warriors basketball team, has recently been outspoken on political issues.
This is very very important so let me say it as clearly as I can:
The essential core of our republic lies in the first three words of the Constitution.
Those three words are: "We the People."
Our whole society rests on the foundation of those three words. We the People means that the government is not a thing outside of us that we have no connection to. Our government is directed not by kings nor emperors nor popes nor ayatollahs nor führers. WE ARE THE GOVERNMENT.
We, the People.
So understand: in our country, it is not just your right to speak when you feel called to speak. It is your responsibility.