Our president ignores an American hero: Trumps silence on the Waffle House murders is deafening

[MrScorpio]

James Shaw Jr. disarmed a mass shooter single-handed. Everything about that is a problem for Donald Trump

CHAUNCEY DEVEGA

APRIL 24, 2018 10:00PM (UTC)

During the early morning hours last Sunday, a 29-year-old white man named Travis Reinking allegedly used an AR-15 rifle to kill four people and injure two others at a Waffle House restaurant in Nashville. Reinking is reportedly a member of the Sovereign Citizens, a right-wing extremist movement that is heavily influenced by white supremacist political ideology. It is likely not a coincidence that all of Reinking's victims were nonwhite.

A 29-year-old black man named James Shaw Jr. disarmed Reinking by grabbing the barrel of his AR-15. Shaw is the true definition of a hero. He acted selflessly, without training or compensation, and at great personal risk.

Like most real heroes, Shaw refused any special praise or honor. As Shaw explained at a press conference on Sunday, “I’m not a hero. ... I’m just a regular person. I think anybody could have did what I did if they’re pushed. You have to either react or fall. I chose to react because I didn’t see any other way to live.”

During those few minutes last Sunday morning in a Waffle House, a mini-drama of American life in the age of Trump took place.

A young black man protected the public from a white man hell-bent on committing mass murder. In America, black men are all too often subjected to harassment, state-sponsored violence and racial profiling. By comparison, white men -- even when they are mass murderers or domestic terrorists -- are described by default as "nice" and "normal" people who are "lone wolves" or suffer from mental illness. Their crimes come as a surprise and not indicative of a broader "cultural problem" among the "white community."

https://www.salon.com/2018/04/24/our-president-ignores-an-american-hero-trumps-silence-on-the-waffle-house-murders-is-deafening/

[RockRaven]

1. Serious question:

How much has the waffle house shooting been covered on FoxNews? I'd be a little surprised it the answer was "a lot" but I don't watch them and I'm curious.


That being said, Trump's reason for not commenting upon it is only obscure to the willfully blind.

[PatrickforO]

2. It is shameful - the guy is a hero for sure.

We shouldn't expect anything from Trump, though. After all, Shaw acted heroically while being black. In Trump's eyes, and the eyes of his white nationalist, kkk and nazi supporters, that is everything.

And you know, as a white man, I'm pretty sorry about that. It is shameful, and I'm sorry people of color have to live with this shit every day.

[MaryMagdaline]

3. We so desperately want heroes. There is no reason not to honor this young man and to acknowledge

Those who died.

[PoorMonger]

4. Yes but

This hero has two reasons Trump won’t acknowledge him. Part of it is Trump’s racism, but I think the even bigger reason the right will ignore it is that his heroism dispels their good guy with a gun narrative. Really, I mean think of this for a moment....

Other than police action has there ever been a mass shooter stopped by a random bystander who happened to be armed? But here Mr. Shaw saved the day by unarmed simply by being brave and quick thinking.

[mn9driver]

5. Praising him would confuse and upset Trumps base.

Trump and the GOP understand quite well how to keep their support.