Whiny NFL QB won't stand for National Anthem
- Thread starter Locutus
- Start date
Like I said, you are intentionally blind to the facts so you feel ok about the systemic racism and class warfare in the western world. I can see you will never accept and understand that there are a lot of people who are disadvantaged based upon their wealth and/or skin colour. You believe 1 or 2 individuals are representative of 'equal' opportunity. It's a lie you tell yourself to ease your guilt.
roflmao!
Abdul-Jabbar: Insulting Colin Kaepernick says more about our patriotism than his
By Kareem Abdul-Jabbar August 30
During the Olympics in Rio a couple of weeks ago, Army Reserve 2nd Lt. Sam Kendricks was sprinting intently in the middle of his pole vaulting attempt when he heard the national anthem playing. He immediately dropped his pole and stood at attention, a spontaneous expression of heartfelt patriotism that elicited more praise than his eventual bronze medal. Last Thursday, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick chose not to stand with his teammates during the national anthem. To some, Kendricks embodies traditional all-American Forrest Gump values of patriotism, while Kaepernick represents the entitled brattish behavior of a wealthy athlete ungrateful to a country that has given him so much.
In truth, both men, in their own ways, behaved in a highly patriotic manner that should make all Americans proud.
The discussion of the nuances of patriotism is especially important right now, with Trump and Clinton supporters each righteously claiming ownership of the “most patriotic” label. Patriotism isn’t just getting teary-eyed on the Fourth of July or choked up at war memorials. It’s supporting what the Fourth of July celebrates and what those war memorials commemorate: the U.S. Constitution’s insistence that all people should have the same rights and opportunities and that it is the obligation of the government to make that happen. When the government fails in those obligations, it is the responsibility of patriots to speak up and remind them of their duty.
One of the ironies of the way some people express their patriotism is to brag about our freedoms, especially freedom of speech, but then brand as unpatriotic those who exercise this freedom to express dissatisfaction with the government’s record in upholding the Constitution. Colin Kaepernick explained why he will not stand during the national anthem: “There are a lot of things that are going on that are unjust [that] people aren’t being held accountable for. And that’s something that needs to change. That’s something that this country stands for — freedom, liberty, justice for all. And it’s not happening for all right now.”
What makes an act truly patriotic and not just lip-service is when it involves personal risk or sacrifice. Both Kendricks and Kaepernick chose to express their patriotism publicly because they felt that inspiring others was more important than the personal cost. Yes, Kendricks is a world-record pole-vaulter, but every athlete knows that breaking focus and concentration during a high-pressure competition can be devastating to the athlete’s performance. The Olympics was filled with favorites who faltered because of loss of focus. Halting his run in order to honor the national anthem could have cost Kendricks his medal. He was willing to take that chance.
Likewise, Kaepernick’s choice not to stand during the national anthem could create a public backlash that might cost him millions in future endorsements and affect his value as a player on his team, reducing salary earnings or even jeopardizing his job. If team ticket sales seriously dipped as a result, he would pay for his stance.
We should admire those who risk personal gain in the service of promoting the values of their country. Both athletes are in fine company of others who have shown their patriotism in unconventional ways. In 1989, when a federal law prohibiting flag desecration went into effect, Vietnam Veterans burned the American flag as a protest to a law curbing the First Amendment. Their argument was that they fought for the freedoms in the Constitution, not a piece of cloth, and to curtail those freedoms was an insult to their sacrifice. Ironically, the original purpose of flag desecration laws between 1897 and 1932 wasn’t to prevent political dissent, but to prevent the use of flag imagery for political campaigns and in advertising.
One sign of the maturation of American society is the willingness of those in the public eye, especially athletes, to openly take a political stand, even if it could harm their careers. The modern era of athletes speaking out began in 1966 with Muhammad Ali refusing to be drafted to fight other people of color. In 1967, I joined with football great Jim Brown, basketball legend Bill Russell, Muhammad Ali and other prominent athletes for what was dubbed “The Cleveland Summit.” Together we tried to find ways to help Ali fight for his right of political expression. I don’t know how much we were able to accomplish on a practical level, but seeing black athletes in support of Ali inspired others to speak out. The following year at the 1968 Olympics, African Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists during the medal ceremony as a protest to the treatment of people of color in the United States. In 2014, NBA players LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Jarrett Jack, Alan Anderson, Deron Williams and Kevin Garnett and NFL players from the Rams and Browns wore “I Can’t Breathe” shirts during warm-ups for a game to protest police killings of unarmed blacks.
What should horrify Americans is not Kaepernick’s choice to remain seated during the national anthem, but that nearly 50 years after Ali was banned from boxing for his stance and Tommie Smith and John Carlos’s raised fists caused public ostracization and numerous death threats, we still need to call attention to the same racial inequities. Failure to fix this problem is what’s really un-American here.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/post...than-his/?tid=pm_pop_b&utm_term=.f4c30f0ab60f
By Kareem Abdul-Jabbar August 30
During the Olympics in Rio a couple of weeks ago, Army Reserve 2nd Lt. Sam Kendricks was sprinting intently in the middle of his pole vaulting attempt when he heard the national anthem playing. He immediately dropped his pole and stood at attention, a spontaneous expression of heartfelt patriotism that elicited more praise than his eventual bronze medal. Last Thursday, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick chose not to stand with his teammates during the national anthem. To some, Kendricks embodies traditional all-American Forrest Gump values of patriotism, while Kaepernick represents the entitled brattish behavior of a wealthy athlete ungrateful to a country that has given him so much.
In truth, both men, in their own ways, behaved in a highly patriotic manner that should make all Americans proud.
The discussion of the nuances of patriotism is especially important right now, with Trump and Clinton supporters each righteously claiming ownership of the “most patriotic” label. Patriotism isn’t just getting teary-eyed on the Fourth of July or choked up at war memorials. It’s supporting what the Fourth of July celebrates and what those war memorials commemorate: the U.S. Constitution’s insistence that all people should have the same rights and opportunities and that it is the obligation of the government to make that happen. When the government fails in those obligations, it is the responsibility of patriots to speak up and remind them of their duty.
One of the ironies of the way some people express their patriotism is to brag about our freedoms, especially freedom of speech, but then brand as unpatriotic those who exercise this freedom to express dissatisfaction with the government’s record in upholding the Constitution. Colin Kaepernick explained why he will not stand during the national anthem: “There are a lot of things that are going on that are unjust [that] people aren’t being held accountable for. And that’s something that needs to change. That’s something that this country stands for — freedom, liberty, justice for all. And it’s not happening for all right now.”
What makes an act truly patriotic and not just lip-service is when it involves personal risk or sacrifice. Both Kendricks and Kaepernick chose to express their patriotism publicly because they felt that inspiring others was more important than the personal cost. Yes, Kendricks is a world-record pole-vaulter, but every athlete knows that breaking focus and concentration during a high-pressure competition can be devastating to the athlete’s performance. The Olympics was filled with favorites who faltered because of loss of focus. Halting his run in order to honor the national anthem could have cost Kendricks his medal. He was willing to take that chance.
Likewise, Kaepernick’s choice not to stand during the national anthem could create a public backlash that might cost him millions in future endorsements and affect his value as a player on his team, reducing salary earnings or even jeopardizing his job. If team ticket sales seriously dipped as a result, he would pay for his stance.
We should admire those who risk personal gain in the service of promoting the values of their country. Both athletes are in fine company of others who have shown their patriotism in unconventional ways. In 1989, when a federal law prohibiting flag desecration went into effect, Vietnam Veterans burned the American flag as a protest to a law curbing the First Amendment. Their argument was that they fought for the freedoms in the Constitution, not a piece of cloth, and to curtail those freedoms was an insult to their sacrifice. Ironically, the original purpose of flag desecration laws between 1897 and 1932 wasn’t to prevent political dissent, but to prevent the use of flag imagery for political campaigns and in advertising.
One sign of the maturation of American society is the willingness of those in the public eye, especially athletes, to openly take a political stand, even if it could harm their careers. The modern era of athletes speaking out began in 1966 with Muhammad Ali refusing to be drafted to fight other people of color. In 1967, I joined with football great Jim Brown, basketball legend Bill Russell, Muhammad Ali and other prominent athletes for what was dubbed “The Cleveland Summit.” Together we tried to find ways to help Ali fight for his right of political expression. I don’t know how much we were able to accomplish on a practical level, but seeing black athletes in support of Ali inspired others to speak out. The following year at the 1968 Olympics, African Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists during the medal ceremony as a protest to the treatment of people of color in the United States. In 2014, NBA players LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Jarrett Jack, Alan Anderson, Deron Williams and Kevin Garnett and NFL players from the Rams and Browns wore “I Can’t Breathe” shirts during warm-ups for a game to protest police killings of unarmed blacks.
What should horrify Americans is not Kaepernick’s choice to remain seated during the national anthem, but that nearly 50 years after Ali was banned from boxing for his stance and Tommie Smith and John Carlos’s raised fists caused public ostracization and numerous death threats, we still need to call attention to the same racial inequities. Failure to fix this problem is what’s really un-American here.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/post...than-his/?tid=pm_pop_b&utm_term=.f4c30f0ab60f
I heard a supporter of Kaepernick on tv railing about all the things wrong with America. I think those fellows have a misguided understanding of what the National Anthem is about.
The situations with the police, poverty, political indiscretions, etc. are social and political issues. That is what elected Governors and Senators are for - to complain to. That would be the proper way to address one's concerns, not by protesting in such a dumb way as refusing to stand for the National Anthem.
Why do people stand for the National Anthem? It was my understanding that we stand because we identify ourselves as people of that nation and that we are loyal to our nation.
To refuse to identify one's nationality and loyalty to the nation of your citizenship is cowardly, ineffective and silly, imo.
Such a means of protesting will not change anything. It will only divide the country further into those who support the protest and those who do not.
If people want change why the hell don't they go through the proper channels? A caper like this just looks like a play for attention.
I think the whole thing would have been better ignored; not made into a major media issue for days and days. The guy has a right to do what he's doing, futile as it is and damaging to his career and reputation. It seems that there much more important issues to talk about and fight over than the National Anthem!
The situations with the police, poverty, political indiscretions, etc. are social and political issues. That is what elected Governors and Senators are for - to complain to. That would be the proper way to address one's concerns, not by protesting in such a dumb way as refusing to stand for the National Anthem.
Why do people stand for the National Anthem? It was my understanding that we stand because we identify ourselves as people of that nation and that we are loyal to our nation.
To refuse to identify one's nationality and loyalty to the nation of your citizenship is cowardly, ineffective and silly, imo.
Such a means of protesting will not change anything. It will only divide the country further into those who support the protest and those who do not.
If people want change why the hell don't they go through the proper channels? A caper like this just looks like a play for attention.
I think the whole thing would have been better ignored; not made into a major media issue for days and days. The guy has a right to do what he's doing, futile as it is and damaging to his career and reputation. It seems that there much more important issues to talk about and fight over than the National Anthem!
My problem with Kaepernick is not so much what he is saying.. there's a valid discussion on police conduct with respect to blacks.. but with the forum he's chosen.
He's using his team as his pulpit. What's more he's been almost incomprehensible as to exactly what his cause is. It certainly has nothing to do with football, which is a majority black business, its players payed extravagant salaries and given celebrity status. His $114M contract, $75M guaranteed, insulates from consequences from his QB stats and performance which have plummeted like a stone over the last 2 years.
It's vaguely about racism, or 'black lives matter'.. well okay, take off your uniform and state your case in an op ed, with a reasoned argument and potential solutions. There's nothing like that here.. its just a rant, on the dime of your teammates, who might or might not share your opinions.. but almost certainly are largely against the way its being expressed (including the 'pig cop' sox).
It's a big distraction to the team, who are going to be booed relentlessly around the league every time the offense takes the field this season. Insulting the flag or the anthem will almost certainly misconstrued as to its intent, and offends large sectors of the NFL fan base.. which means the message, however valid, is completely lost.
It seem to me a last gasp of a career that is tanking. At some point he'll be benched for poor performance, and 49ers will just buy him out and release him, and get back to playing football.
He's using his team as his pulpit. What's more he's been almost incomprehensible as to exactly what his cause is. It certainly has nothing to do with football, which is a majority black business, its players payed extravagant salaries and given celebrity status. His $114M contract, $75M guaranteed, insulates from consequences from his QB stats and performance which have plummeted like a stone over the last 2 years.
It's vaguely about racism, or 'black lives matter'.. well okay, take off your uniform and state your case in an op ed, with a reasoned argument and potential solutions. There's nothing like that here.. its just a rant, on the dime of your teammates, who might or might not share your opinions.. but almost certainly are largely against the way its being expressed (including the 'pig cop' sox).
It's a big distraction to the team, who are going to be booed relentlessly around the league every time the offense takes the field this season. Insulting the flag or the anthem will almost certainly misconstrued as to its intent, and offends large sectors of the NFL fan base.. which means the message, however valid, is completely lost.
It seem to me a last gasp of a career that is tanking. At some point he'll be benched for poor performance, and 49ers will just buy him out and release him, and get back to playing football.
Yeah, no where else - London, Brazil, Spain, Canada... all places that pay wayyyyyy too much for sport icons/players.
A Real Veteran Knows That Respect Cannot Be Compelled, Bought Or Inherited -- Jim Wright Explains It All
Perfect stance on the issue.
U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe kneels during national anthem
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
First posted: Sunday, September 04, 2016 10:38 PM EDT | Updated: Sunday, September 04, 2016 10:45 PM EDT
CHICAGO - U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe knelt during the national anthem Sunday night before the Seattle Reign’s 2-2 tie with the Chicago Red Stars in the National Women’s Soccer League.
“It’s the least I can do. Keep the conversation going,” Rapinoe tweeted about her actions in protest of racial injustice and minority oppression.
Rapinoe’s protest follows similar high-profile actions by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The football player’s refusal to stand for the anthem first came to public notice when he remained seated on the bench before a preseason game against Green Bay. On Thursday night in San Diego, Kaepernick and safety Eric Reid kneeled during the anthem before a game against the Chargers.
The 31-year-old Rapinoe helped the U.S. win the World Cup last year and played in the Rio Olympics.
U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe kneels during national anthem | Soccer | Sports |
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
First posted: Sunday, September 04, 2016 10:38 PM EDT | Updated: Sunday, September 04, 2016 10:45 PM EDT
CHICAGO - U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe knelt during the national anthem Sunday night before the Seattle Reign’s 2-2 tie with the Chicago Red Stars in the National Women’s Soccer League.
“It’s the least I can do. Keep the conversation going,” Rapinoe tweeted about her actions in protest of racial injustice and minority oppression.
Rapinoe’s protest follows similar high-profile actions by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The football player’s refusal to stand for the anthem first came to public notice when he remained seated on the bench before a preseason game against Green Bay. On Thursday night in San Diego, Kaepernick and safety Eric Reid kneeled during the anthem before a game against the Chargers.
The 31-year-old Rapinoe helped the U.S. win the World Cup last year and played in the Rio Olympics.
U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe kneels during national anthem | Soccer | Sports |
Dear CBC Execs,
Let me start off by saying you are doing an exceptional job on covering the heroic saga of Colin Kaepernick’s Rosa Parks moments of bravery. But driving home today, while faithfully tuning in to CBC Radio One, I found it tremendously problematic that your news updates about Kaepernick didn’t mention his most recent act of daring valour: his wearing of socks covered in white pig cops.[...]
today’s “q” episode brightened my day when the brilliant Piya announced that she and the “sports culture panel” were going to discuss the Kaepernick controversy and his hegemony-defying socks. I was relieved to find out that everyone on the panel was “team Kaepernick”. I always feel like I’m in my safe space when listening to CBC Radio because all of the hosts and guests think the right way and come to the correct consensus right from the start.
The agreeable panel was right on the money that the “biracial” Kaepernick is an eloquent and articulate messenger of truth.
mo
https://ravingcanuck.com/author/graemecgordon/
Let me start off by saying you are doing an exceptional job on covering the heroic saga of Colin Kaepernick’s Rosa Parks moments of bravery. But driving home today, while faithfully tuning in to CBC Radio One, I found it tremendously problematic that your news updates about Kaepernick didn’t mention his most recent act of daring valour: his wearing of socks covered in white pig cops.[...]
today’s “q” episode brightened my day when the brilliant Piya announced that she and the “sports culture panel” were going to discuss the Kaepernick controversy and his hegemony-defying socks. I was relieved to find out that everyone on the panel was “team Kaepernick”. I always feel like I’m in my safe space when listening to CBC Radio because all of the hosts and guests think the right way and come to the correct consensus right from the start.
The agreeable panel was right on the money that the “biracial” Kaepernick is an eloquent and articulate messenger of truth.
mo
https://ravingcanuck.com/author/graemecgordon/
Kaepernick admits to wearing socks with cartoon cops as pigs
The Associated Press
First posted: Thursday, September 01, 2016 03:44 PM EDT | Updated: Thursday, September 01, 2016 03:53 PM EDT
SANTA CLARA, CALIF. - San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick says he has been wearing socks depicting police officers as pigs in protest of “rogue cops” who put the community and other officers at risk.
Kaepernick issued a statement on Twitter on Thursday after photos began circulating on social media of him wearing the socks that show a pig dressed in a police hat. The photos were taken earlier in training camp before Kaepernick’s refusal to stand during the national anthem as a form of protest became public.
“I wore these socks, in the past, because the rogue cops that are allowed to hold positions in police departments, not only put the community in danger, but also put the cops that have the right intentions in danger by creating an environment of tension and mistrust,” he wrote. “I have two uncles and friends who are police officers and serve ALL people. So before these socks, which were worn before I took my public stance, are used to distract from the real issues, I wanted to address this immediately.”
Kaepernick created a firestorm last weekend when his decision to sit during the national anthem in protest of what he called oppression of African Americans and other minorities became public.
Kaepernick has said he plans to sit for the anthem again Thursday night when the 49ers player their final exhibition game in San Diego.
In this Aug. 10, 2016, file photo, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick wears socks depicting police officers as pigs during training camp at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)
http://instagram.com/p/BJ0vPsQAGZQ
Kaepernick admits to wearing socks with cartoon cops as pigs | NFL | Football |
The Associated Press
First posted: Thursday, September 01, 2016 03:44 PM EDT | Updated: Thursday, September 01, 2016 03:53 PM EDT
SANTA CLARA, CALIF. - San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick says he has been wearing socks depicting police officers as pigs in protest of “rogue cops” who put the community and other officers at risk.
Kaepernick issued a statement on Twitter on Thursday after photos began circulating on social media of him wearing the socks that show a pig dressed in a police hat. The photos were taken earlier in training camp before Kaepernick’s refusal to stand during the national anthem as a form of protest became public.
“I wore these socks, in the past, because the rogue cops that are allowed to hold positions in police departments, not only put the community in danger, but also put the cops that have the right intentions in danger by creating an environment of tension and mistrust,” he wrote. “I have two uncles and friends who are police officers and serve ALL people. So before these socks, which were worn before I took my public stance, are used to distract from the real issues, I wanted to address this immediately.”
Kaepernick created a firestorm last weekend when his decision to sit during the national anthem in protest of what he called oppression of African Americans and other minorities became public.
Kaepernick has said he plans to sit for the anthem again Thursday night when the 49ers player their final exhibition game in San Diego.
In this Aug. 10, 2016, file photo, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick wears socks depicting police officers as pigs during training camp at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)
http://instagram.com/p/BJ0vPsQAGZQ
Kaepernick admits to wearing socks with cartoon cops as pigs | NFL | Football |
He's protesting for others, not for himself.....
You’d think conservatives would understand this, given how they’re always going on about the US Constitution and "personal liberty," but apparently they only mean that for white people.
Unnoticed in most of the media is the ultimate irony of all this: Levi's, the clothing company that bought naming rights for the 49ers' stadium, is way more unpatriotic than Kaepernick will ever be.
Even though it likes to portray itself as a salt-of-the-Earth, American company, Levis's, like most of corporate America, has taken advantage of the so-called free trade era to send most of its manufacturing jobs overseas.
Only one line of Levi's jeans, the 501 classics, is now made here in the US.
Meanwhile, the company's finance, customer relations and IT departments are now also all handled abroad, mostly in India.
The outsourcing of Levi's financial department alone cost 500 jobs.
And, according to Citizens for Tax Justice, Levi Strauss is sitting on more than $100 million overseas to avoid paying US income taxes on the money. Very patriotic!
In other words, while Kaepernick risks his career (and possibly his life) to take a stand for people who live and work here in the US, and Levi's exploits its reputation to participate in and contribute to the death of the middle class while enriching its executives and shareholders.
But you won't hear anything about that from Republicans.
They've been on Levi's side all along.
They've supported so-called free trade deal after so-called free trade deal, all while talking tough about God, country and the flag.
For conservatives, patriotism is just a slogan, and their crocodile tears about Kaepernick prove it.
Colin Kaepernick Isn't Unpatriotic, Levi's Is
Uh, yeah. Top CFL players make about $60,000 per year.
As for Colin, here's a guy that plays an American sport, for an American team that belongs to an American institution, gets paid $19 million/yr and the best he can come up with as a protest is socks and not standing for the anthem?