The 2017 BET Awards took place on October 6, 2017, and aired on the 10th. Among multiple formidable acts, Eminem took a new step into the light with his “The Storm” cipher which premiered at the awards.

If you say you never respected, liked or at least listened to Eminem’s music, you would be lying. The mere fact that he has been a renowned artist for decades, gives his words substance. He has been regarded in the rap genre as a visionary since his beginning. For this, when Eminem speaks, people listen.

In the cipher, Eminem raps about the unjust social issues that America is currently experiencing under the Trump Presidency. He is taking a direct stand to say that he is on the side of the NFL players’ recent actions where all of America is seeing them link arms and kneel during the national anthem before the games. Many have a problem with this, including our President Trump.

Trump has called the players word for word “sons of bitches” as a reaction to their kneeling, stating that it is disrespecting the country.

In my opinion, our President, our leader, is disrespecting his people by judging them and not listening to their cries. Let me restate something that I think many are forgetting in these times: America is a democracy, and a democracy is led by the people, and it only works for the people.

Well, if that were true then why are the people, the ones that are taking a stand and attempting to say what they are unhappy about, being demoralized and put down for their actions? Their words and beliefs misconstrued by our very own President, the man we have chosen as our leader.

I bring up the Eminem cipher because it is yet another good example of a celebrity using his platform to make a stand.

The President and those that support him are having a problem with this. They are uncomfortable with the fact that celebrities, artists, NFL players, big names and wealthy figures, are taking a stand opposing what the Trump administration is attempting to relay onto America.

For years, we have hoped that well-known figures would fight for the people and what is right, because what is right is what the majority want. The majority want justice and racism absolved.

It seems to me that these well-known figures are attempting to take a stand alongside those that speak for freedom and justice, and many in America insist on denouncing their voices and their substance.

If an increasing number of celebrities are taking a stand along-side the injustice of police brutality, and other issues we are experiencing currently, then I think their words must be heard and acknowledged. What game are we playing at when we miss seeing the point of kneeling during the anthem.

The act has been established and its point of view must be seen. If we are to act as such, then we shall have to stand together side by side and defend our brothers and sisters in a united America.

The people do not live for the flag to wave, the flag must be held high by the people to wave above us proudly. If many are protesting the wind, then perhaps the currents have changed. We are not patriotic to the corrupt government, we are patriotic to the nation under which we can all live freely and chase our opportunities and fulfill our own desires. All citizens and people of America are equally important.

In my opinion, if the majority of the people are unhappy with the way the government is executing its duties, then a real issue is occurring. The American people are not the enemy, the overarching influence of government is the enemy.

Alexander the Great once said, “I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep, I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.” Do not be a sheep and follow a lion blindly, do not mistake Trump’s stature as truth.