Michael Sam: “Divided we are weak. Together we are strong.”

“Divided we are weak. Together we are strong.”

Those were the words tweeted by openly gay football star Michael Sam, thanking his University of Missouri family for their support. He posted the message after arriving at the school and seeing a group of Mizzou students surrounding the perimeter in order to block out a Westboro Baptist Church protest.

On Saturday, Sam headed to Columbia, Mo., to join Missouri’s 2014 Cotton Bowl champion team in accepting the Cotton Bowl trophy during the Missouri v. Tennessee basketball game, the Kansas City Star reported. The defensive lineman came out as gay on Sunday, Feb. 9.

Unsurprisingly, the Westboro Baptist Church wasn’t happy about this, and headed to Mizzou Saturday to protest the athlete.

“They comforted him in his sin, Michael Sam, this past week,” WBC’s Shirley Phelps-Roper said, per Missouri’s KRCG. “They just absolutely went crazy when he announced and told the world he is a filthy pervert and a rebel against God. They fawned all over him.”

Once again, Westboro Baptist rode in to town to show how low class they really are.  However,  Michael Sam fans were having none of their crap and formed what amounted to a human chain around their basketball facility to block out protest by the ever-odious Westboro.

“Our hope is for the wall to reflect a unified student body and symbolize a display of love towards our own tiger, Michael Sam,” students Kelaney Lakers and Alix Carruth said in a statement to the press, obtained by the Riverfront Times. “We’re humbled and a bit overwhelmed by the community’s response. This issue is so much bigger than either of us, and we want to do justice to Michael Sam and show him that Mizzou loves him.”

That’s just what they did.

Hundreds of supporters gathered around Faurot Field Saturday in a sign of solidarity for Sam and in defiance of the 14 Westboro members who showed up, the Columbia Daily Tribune reported. The human wall stretched a half-mile, made up of students, faculty and former Mizzou football players.

We can only hope that this acceptance extends to those without Michael Sam’s fame and talent.  The real question becomes whether  the American people stand with those of less fame?  Will they stand up for someone who isn’t tall, dark, handsome, talented and athletic?  How about over issues that don’t involve sexual orientation–can we stand with those who for whatever reason have been vilified and demonized?   It’s not always the easiest thing to do.

Human beings can be mean-spirited.  All one has to do is check out blogs to see the nastiness people can sink to when they think they won’t get caught.   Having character is what happens when you think no one is watching.   Blogs can be a microcosm of your community, whether its a school community, a  town, a dorm, a church (yea, even churches can be mean-spirited) or your magisterial district.  The list is endless.

The fans at the University of Missouri showed the best side of their school and themselves.  Three cheers and a standing ovation.  They certainly are the standard bearers this weekend.  Let’s hope all of us can keep it as classy.

Michael Sam:  “Divided we are weak. Together we are strong.”