NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr.: My ancestors were refugees
Source: Charlotte Observer
As expected, President Donald Trumps executive order barring citizens of seven Muslim nations from entering the United States has generated a hailstorm of social media posts.
NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. joined in late Saturday night with a post expressing empathy for refugees facing hardships.
Earnhardt tweeted this his own ancestors left Europe centuries ago to escape religious persecution.
In a tweet to Twitter user @GelarBudidarma, who identifies himself as a Muslim mostly from Bandung, Indonesia, Earnhardt wrote: my fam immigrated from Germany in 1700s escaping religious persecution. America is created by immigrants.
Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nascar-auto-racing/thatsracin/article129529084.html
So impressed by Earnhardt's support on this issue. It is not easy for a guy like him to take a stand. I salute his courage and leadership. GOP 'leaders' should take some notes.
Aristus
(66,587 posts)Quite a courageous stand he's making.
exboyfil
(17,867 posts)Last edited Mon Jan 30, 2017, 11:19 AM - Edit history (1)
he loses America (or at least the delusional portion that voted for him).
RETRACTED
Thank you Dale for standing up for what is right.
Lochloosa
(16,097 posts)exboyfil
(17,867 posts)I retract my comment.
MountCleaners
(1,148 posts)So much for dissenters being out of touch with "real" Amurika....
Fla Dem
(23,950 posts)He also took a stand on the confederate flag issue.
Jeff Gluck , USA TODAY Sports Published 3:45 p.m. ET June 26, 2015 | Updated 3:52 p.m. ET June 28, 2015
SONOMA, Calif. Dale Earnhardt Jr. doesn't think much of the Confederate flag.
NASCAR's most popular driver reiterated his longtime stance on the flag Friday when asked by reporters at Sonoma Raceway, saying he agreed with NASCAR that it should be removed from the grounds of the South Carolina state capitol.
"I think it's offensive to an entire race," Earnhardt said. "It does nothing for anybody to be there flying, so I don't see any reason. It belongs in the history books and that's about it."
more>>>>
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2015/06/26/dale-earnhardt-jr-jeff-gordon-confederate-flag-nascar/29349435/
wildeyed
(11,243 posts)For what it is worth, NC is not typically governed by racist knuckle-draggers. The group that is in power right now is not typical. We usually keep centrist Dems and business progressive Reps in power. We are not liberal by any stretch, but we are not radically RW either. We are savagely gerrymandered right now, but there is fixing to be a HUGE backlash.
starshine00
(531 posts)He was such a rebel if I remember right in his early days, sad a lot of stupid things and had a bad attitude, now he is kicking butt...to say THIS about the confederate flag is unheard of by someone with a fan base like his, good for him.
Cha
(298,313 posts)ck4829
(35,100 posts)This isn't the first time he's done something I think we could all get behind.
I remember this from a while back.
http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=20985
LisaM
(27,874 posts)Good on him.
democratisphere
(17,235 posts)It shows the kind of character this guy is made of!
manicraven
(901 posts)So did my dad... Nascar is also trying to improve their image of inclusiveness.
Botany
(70,697 posts).... and has met and worked w/Dale Jr. and told me years ago that he is
one of the nicest guys he has ever met.
Paladin
(28,297 posts)Remember after Dale Sr. died and the entirety of redneck America went into mourning? Dale Jr.'s willingness to make this statement on immigrants is going to resonate.
underpants
(183,157 posts)The Times actually had it on their front page (below the fold) the next day. Al Franken pointed this out in one of his books.
nini
(16,672 posts)definitely not a hot head like his father.
Baconator
(1,459 posts)Always nipping at victory but never quite got there...
I don't watch too much but always rooted for him when I did.
ffr
(22,684 posts)It's the first crack in this whole let-us-be-isolated meme tRump and the KGOP are pushing.
progressoid
(50,043 posts)That's gotta piss off a lot of people. WTG Dale!
FailureToCommunicate
(14,045 posts)Just about everyone in USA is an immigrant or refugee or decended from some.
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,857 posts)"History repeats itself; the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce."
hibbing
(10,120 posts)I don't follow NASCAR, but I do follow him on the Twitter, his Twitter game is strong.
Peace
irisblue
(33,080 posts)you have to wonder who that base will follow.
pamela
(3,469 posts)He took his whole crew to see Farenheit 9/11.
Wounded Bear
(58,825 posts)from the above comments, he's apparently more of a kindred spirit than I knew.
Kudos to him.
Mika
(17,751 posts)... not long after it was released. He was asked by trackside reporters what he and his crew did after the race was postponed a day because of rain. He replied that he took his crew the see Fahrenheit 911, then he looked into the camera and said it is a film that every American should see.
Bravo Dale
Delphinus
(11,851 posts)I am impressed and hopeful this makes an impact on his fans.
ck4829
(35,100 posts)Docreed2003
(16,916 posts)In my limited experiences with him, I can only say this doesn't come as a surprise. The hate will come, but I doubt it will affect him in any way. Despite what people may think about NASCAR drivers, Jr is a decent and compassionate guy and this shows he has no fear in standing up against what is wrong.
cynatnite
(31,011 posts)He's a good guy.
Boxerfan
(2,533 posts)And his damn the torpedoes race style caught up with him. After I witnessed Dale Sr. do that I never bothered to follow his son.
I was a big Tony Stewart fan & have a ton of his 1st year memorabilia. Big prop's to Dale-he knows he is not gaining anything by saying this.
I have a new driver to root for - Yay- Tony's last year so I need one...
JI7
(89,305 posts)colsohlibgal
(5,275 posts)I would have to think this would anger much of this kind of fan base, it will be fun to follow this story.
I am no NASCAR fan but good for Dale Jr.
Cha
(298,313 posts)wildeyed
(11,243 posts)Cha
(298,313 posts)Mahalo
Kick in to the DU tip jar?
This week we're running a special pop-up mini fund drive. From Monday through Friday we're going ad-free for all registered members, and we're asking you to kick in to the DU tip jar to support the site and keep us financially healthy.
As a bonus, making a contribution will allow you to leave kudos for another DU member, and at the end of the week we'll recognize the DUers who you think make this community great.