The Pittsburgh Steeler's Alejandro Villanueva came out of the tunnel for the national anthem yesterday, the only Steeler to do so. Trump and the right wing love him now for that. But on another day, they would have:
• Called him an "anchor baby" because he was born in the US to non-US Spanish parents.
• Been suspicious of his citizenship due to his Hispanic name.
* Criticized his parents because his parents worked for NATO.
* Called for his parents deportation.
* And boycotted Villanueva himself and the Steelers because he, in part, has spoken in support of Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem, saying, "I will be the first one to hold hands with Colin Kaepernick and do something about the ways minorities are being treated in the United States, the injustice that is happening with police brutality, the justice system, inequalities in pay."
Villanueva supports Kaepernick and the move to address racial inequities. And, as a combat veteran, he also supports standing for the national anthem. Being able to do both is called "freedom."
Also, it is more than likely offensive to him to be called an anchor baby, he is tired of people questioning his citizenship, and by now is infuriated at Trump and the right wing for messing around with the status of his parents and people like them.
What is so, so troubling is that Trump and the right wing - because of the multiplicity of ways they harass minorities - could just as easily condemn Villanueva, as glorify him.
That is dangerous, dangerous power.