Tony Dungy encourages Americans to work to improve the United States while also celebrating the blessings they enjoy. He’s also leading the way as Christians push back against a hostile media.
“Over the last few weeks, we have focused on America’s faults,” he tweeted on July 4 weekend. “We must work to improve those things, but today we should celebrate our country’s birthday. We enjoy a lot of blessings, and I’m thankful I live in America. I pray that God will show us how to help our country grow!”
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Dungy, an outspoken Christian, is a football commentator and former Super Bowl-winning head coach. He was an assistant coach for the Kansas City Chiefs early in his career. He tweeted his initial comment about America on the morning of the Fourth of July. After receiving pushback by some followers, he stood his ground. Dungy, who was the first black head coach to win a Super Bowl, responded to several black fans who criticized his viewpoint.
One person wrote, “Coach I love you … however we can’t take a break from the devastation this country has had on Black people … us. I believe your heart to be pure with this I just don’t want us to excuse this country from the enslavement of Black people by celebrating it.”
Dungy answered, “No excuse. Don’t overlook things that need to be fixed. But don’t overlook blessings either. Don’t think that everything is terrible. I promise you that if you visited some other countries it would make you thankful for what we have. It’s not all good. But it’s not all bad either.”
The same person retorted, “I find it difficult to celebrate a country that doesn’t see me as a full human being that’s all. I don’t want that to take a day off.”
Dungy replied, “If we’re waiting for it to be perfect we won’t celebrate until we get to heaven. Let’s celebrate the good – and there is plenty – and work to change the bad. Which there is plenty of that too. But don’t let the negative steal your joy.”
When one person wrote, “There is absolutely nothing to celebrate,” Dungy wrote back, “If you visited some other countries around the world you might be more inclined to celebrate.”
Comments by Dungy went viral last week after he criticized CNN host Lemon who wrongly claimed that “Jesus Christ admittedly was not perfect when he was here on this earth.”
Dungy says that no one who believes in the Bible is buying Lemon’s claims.
“I’m sorry Mr. Lemon but just who ‘admitted’ that Jesus Christ was not perfect here on earth?” Dungy wrote, sharing a video of the exchange between Lemon and Cuomo. “Not anyone who believes the Bible. Not anyone who trusts in Jesus as their savior! I’m not sure the point you’re making but your premise is dead wrong. That was the point in Jesus coming!”
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice
