For years I have heard conservatives complain, at times I think rightly, about the lack of free speech on college campuses, but the conservative mantle of free speech seems to give way when it comes to respecting the flag or patriotism.
In that sense, though, I doubt Colin Kaepernick really understood the impact of his action of silent protest, kneeling during the pre-game singing of the national anthem – he couldn’t have picked a more effective venue for his protest.
The reaction has been nothing short of shocking, with people calling him a traitor, stating he ought to be fired (even though the NFL has no rule that requires a player to stand for the national anthem), stating that, while he has a right to protest, they have a right to boo him or root against him.
Now, personally, I have always thought the playing of the national anthem at sporting events was false patriotism and archaic. While football is probably the least international of all sports, at a baseball game, a basketball game or a hockey game, you probably have 15 nationalities represented on the field and yet we ask the players to stand for the American (and occasionally the Canadian) national anthem.
That point aside, the response has been shocking. Some have suggested that he is the most despised NFL player among executives since Rae Carruth hired a man to kill his pregnant girlfriend. Others in the Twitter world have suggested he go find another country to move to or, as one columnist put it, “code for ‘Go back to Africa.’”
New York Daily News columnist Shaun King writes, “In other words, if you are white and think this country sucks, you should run for President on that premise, but if you are black and think the same thing, you should move the hell out.”
Mr. King continues with a very pointed and I think accurate point: “Talking heads, athletes, writers, and politicians all over America have expressed disgust over Colin’s silent protest. Well, I have a question. Exactly which form of our protest do you actually prefer?”
He points out, “I have yet to see a form of protest that you actually agree with.”
Mr. King adds, “Because here’s what I really know — you have not yet seen the harshest protests and boycotts that we could try next to wake this nation up and motivate it to actually right the wrongs of police brutality and racial injustice. You should welcome Colin Kaepernick’s peaceful and measured protest.”
I originally thought that the strong reaction was that people didn’t like mixing sports with politics, protest with the flag, but the reality after reading Shaun King’s column is they just don’t want to hear any form of protest from the black community. No form of protest has been considered acceptable.
The next shoe dropping is actually more interesting to me, and it is word of the Santa Clara police union saying its officers might stop working San Francisco 49ers home games.
The letter states that “some recent actions by a 49ers employee have threatened our harmonious working relationship. On August 26, 2016, prior to the start of the 49er pre-season football game at Levi’s stadium, on duty 49er employee Colin Kaepernick made the decision to exercise his right of free expression and not stand to honor the National Anthem. This expression caught the attention of the media.
“Following the game, your employee explained to the media that his actions were an attempt to get public attention to the oppression of African Americans and minorities in the United States by police officers. Your employee then insinuated that police officers are being placed on paid leave for murdering minorities. This statement is obviously insulting, inaccurate and completely unsupported by any facts.”
I find the response by the union interesting. I don’t know much about the history of the Santa Clara police but, while the 49ers now play their home games in Santa Clara, the last I checked they were still the San Francisco 49ers. The reality is that Mr. Kaepernick’s comments are pretty close to spot-on for the San Francisco Police Department.
In May, San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr resigned after a 29-year-old African American identified as Jessica Williams was shot and killed by a San Francisco police sergeant as she allegedly attempted to flee officers in a vehicle they suspected to be stolen. She was unarmed and there was no indication that she posed a threat to officers when she was shot.
That incident was viewed by Mayor Ed Lee as the last straw. He said in a statement, “These officer-involved shootings, justified or not, have forced our city to open its eyes to questions of when and how police use lethal force.”
Mayor Lee said police shootings have “shaken and divided our city, and tensions between law enforcement and communities of color that have simmered for too many years have come into full view. … The community is grieving, and I join them in that grief.”
The death of Ms. Williams marked the third individual killed by San Francisco police since last December. The DOJ is currently reviewing the San Francisco Police Department after officers killed Mario Woods in December of last year.
Autopsies showed that Mr. Woods was hit by more than 20 shots. Police claim that the autopsy corroborated the investigation. “It is difficult for anyone to watch videos of the shooting. Similarly, it is equally as difficult to read the Medical Examiner’s report,” the statement said. “That said, newly released information in the autopsy report appears to corroborate facts gathered by investigators in the aftermath of this tragic incident.”
And that doesn’t even include the officers who have been implicated in sending racist and homophobic text messages. In one message from former officer Jason Lai, he made disparaging remarks about African Americans, Latinos, Indians, and LGBT people. In the messages, which are rife with racial and sexual slurs, Mr. Lai compared black people to “barbarians” and “a pack of wild animals on the loose.”
Using a Cantonese slur for blacks, Mr. Lai stated, “Bunch of hock gwais shooting each other. Too bad none of them died. One less to worry about.”
“It is chilling how casually former officer Lai dehumanizes the citizens he was sworn to serve,” SF Public Defender Jeff Adachi said. “He wished violence upon the very people he was being paid to protect and none of his colleagues turned him in.”
Sgt. Yolanda Williams, who was the target of some of the text messages released last year, said a year ago, “We know that this is not an isolated incident. This problem is systemic within the San Francisco Police Department and unfortunately there have been some who have chosen to turn a blind eye.”
We’re supposed to be surprised and appalled when an African American football player decides to protest and makes disparaging comments about the police? Come on.
Shaun King presents in his column some other scenarios. “What if NFL players decided to actually stop playing until this nation took our pain seriously? What if people of good conscience decided to stage an economic boycott unlike anything this nation has ever seen before?”
He adds, “What we are doing now is actually the tame, palatable alternative to those things, but it all seems to be too much for you — which is strange because you have said so little about the injustice itself.”
Exactly. People are more shocked by the form of protest than by the substance of it. Perhaps they doth protest too much.
—David M. Greenwald reporting
Guess who’s foot this is?
http://www.dailywire.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_full/public/uploads/2016/09/colin_kaepernicks_socks.jpg?itok=oCnw9O8n
Can you really blame the Santa Clara police dept?
Kaep’s career is going downhill and he’s looking for any attention he can get.
Yes I Can blame them.
That doesn’t surprise me……..
They have a job to do – to protect the public, period. One football player making comments they don’t like is no excuse not to do their job. Sorry. Should police not have to work at BLM protests either? Can protesters simply put up anti-police signs and make sure their demonstrations are police-free? Where do you stop with this?
The police officers have to volunteer to work the games and are paid as security personnel. They have their own free speech rights, period.
“They have a job to do – to protect the public, period. ” So they want to protest, which is their right. David it’s not too late for you to go to SC and protect the public. I have a cape you can borrow if you like.
Transit workers whose job it is to transport people strike-people need to find a way to get around, waste disposal people strike-and the trash piles up, Why should the cops be different? Canceling a football game is hardly a big deal compared to shutting down mass transit.
Excellent quielo. Let me pre-load David’s typical response to your logical challenge.
“It is different with law enforcement.”
You and I know it is not any different.
“and none of his colleagues turned him in.”
Systemic lack of civil behavior and hatred toward civilians. Hire people without normal compassion who are, naturally suspicious and have an aggressive personality and these are the cops you get.
…”which is strange because you have said so little about the injustice itself.”
Because as long as it isn’t happening to their kids, many white folks don’t want to be bothered.
Shoot some white college kids and the tone and complexion of the protestors will change.
I agree and would add the word “wealthy”.
For years, no one cared about the W Memphis 3 because they were very low income white kids.
Doctors kill people from time-to-time and they are not in the habit of turning their colleagues in either.
““What if NFL players decided to actually stop playing until this nation took our pain seriously?” This is a great idea and I would hope all other professional sports would follow their lead. You may think the playing the Anthem at sporting events is “archaic” while think pro sports themselves are “archaic”. Get rid of all the bums regardless of their political affiliation.
I guess I did not get the “sports fan gene”.
Often a woman I may be involved with will decide to wear one of my shirts to breakfast with me as a public declaration that she woke up at my house and dressed herself out of my closet. When I see guys wearing jersey’s I am always tempted to ask if they are in a sexual relationship with that person and dressed themselves from his closet that morning. Surprising as it may seem to some people on the site I do use discretion and not ask the question.
Back on topic, not sure why you believe some useless jock has freedom of speech rights while the SC Police do not. Can you go into more detail on why this is so?
What if the fans used their free speech rights and decided not to attend games? I think things would change rather quickly when all of the overpaid sports figures realized their gravy train was in jeopardy.
“What if the fans used their free speech rights and decided not to attend games?”
That is an interesting idea. Someone else might have suggested that all athletes of color boycott the MLB, NBA and NFL for a season, perhaps starting their own league and marketing it to the media. Those well known acronyms might find themselves a little short handed.
“Back on topic, not sure why you believe some useless jock has freedom of speech rights while the SC Police do not.”
Cops and pro footballers have rights and responsibilities. Both are paid to do a job. Nowhere in the NFL rule book does it say that player must stand for the anthem.They get paid to play ball. Cops are paid to protect the public. If they willfully refuse they are derelict in their duty and should be severely disciplined.
Once again:
The police officers have to volunteer to work the games and are paid as security personnel
Bets on how long it would take to replace the slackers?
Look, for someone who’s always in the lap of law enforcement, you are advocating that cops put their personal feelings above their personal code, and, even if they are just attending the game as fans, their duty. I think even you can smell this pile.
It’s their free time, if they wish to make a statement by not working the games that’s their right. They’re in no way shirking their normal duties. Taking a knee during the anthem was one thing but wearing socks depicting cops as pigs is way over the top.
“It’s their free time,”
For which they are well compensated. Again, there would be a line around the stadium to replace them.
Fine, but that’s besides the point. They have the right to protest and not volunteer to work the games. You said it’s a dereliction of their duty, but it’s not their duty.
I think even you can get this.
“If they willfully refuse they are derelict in their duty and should be severely disciplined” Does this apply to all striking public employees?
In general, public employees do not have the right to strike.
“In general, public employees do not have the right to strike.”
What country are you in?
In 39 states, the prohibition against public employee strikes is absolute.
In California, the right is very limited.
“The state law “allows public employees to go on strike to enforce their collective bargaining demands” they cannot do so if the employees “perform jobs that are essential to public welfare.”
There you go, football games are not “essential to public welfare.”
“I will urge the (Santa Clara Police Officers’ Association) leadership to put the safety of our citizens first,” Sellers said. “I will work with both sides to find a solution. In the meantime, I will ensure we continue to provide a safe environment at Levi’s Stadium.”
Chief Michael J. Sellers
Chuckling that all of you are worried about the poor city of Santa Clara and their delapidated, run down old stadium. Can’t imagine where they’ll get the money in Silicon Valley to hire private security.
Can’t believe the taxpayers have to pay OT to cops for these types of functions. I guess the NFL is too broke to protect their ticket holders.
Am I missing something? Seriously.
quielo
“ not sure why you believe some useless jock has freedom of speech rights while the SC Police do not. Can you go into more detail on why this is so?
I would like to try to address this issue. I do not believe that the “useless jock” has any greater freedom of speech rights than do the SC Police. What I do feel is that racist, sexist, and homophobic attitudes should preclude an individual from serving as a member of the police. I will absolutely defend the rights of any individual to (for example) hate me because I am a woman and to express that peacefully and verbally . What I will not support is paying the salary of that individual who is being paid to protect me since I believe that his hatred would prevent him from protecting me to the same extent that he would a male.
So I have a question for you that I think reflects this issue. Do you believe that a person who stated that they hated the United States of America and all it stands for would make a good candidate for our armed forces ?
Absolutely not. In fact, there are a number of oaths and ceremonies required for soldiers. If you dislike your country then you should be allowed to take a role defending it.
should not be allowed.
Frankly
“If you dislike your country then you should ( not) be allowed to take a role defending it.”
I could not agree more. And I also feel that if you feel that humans can be ordered in rank of importance of their lives by color, or gender, or religion…..then you also have no business taking a role in protecting the public. For me, this clearly applies to police such as those who engaged in the hate filled texts that were exposed in the SF investigation and also applied to anyone who defends or trivializes those beliefs.
Biddlin
“Shoot some white college kids and the tone and complexion of the protestors will change.”
I think that this point is well illustrated by the uproar over the pepper spraying of a largely white group of protesting students on our very own campus not so long ago. That action was defended by a few posters here also, but “went viral” before that was even a common expression. And yet we see the blatant racism and sexism of the San Francisco police department manifested in excessive violence and ( comparatively speaking) barely take note.
My hat is off to Mr. Kaepernick for his peaceful, measured means of protest which, as was pointed out in a recent interview of a soldier returned from Iraq, he has every right to do. Amongst other comments she said “This is what we were fighting for”. If a member of our military can understand the importance of our basic rights and be willing to risk her life for them, how is it that we can ignore them because we do not like the words, or in this case, the kneeling ?
Jonny Cash used to do this “bit” at Highwaymen concerts. He’d say, “The constitution gives everyone free speech, and part of that free speech gives you the right to burn the American Flag”. The audience, with many conservative-leaning people, would go crazy and people would start boo-ing Johnny loudly, almost in a slow wave of shock.
“Now, now . . . “, he’d say, totally in control of the chaos. “The constitution also gives me the right to carry a gun. And if you burn my flag I’m gonna shoot you!”
And the crowd went wild.
BP
“Taking a knee during the anthem was one thing but wearing socks depicting cops as pigs is way over the top.”
How far “over the top” BP ? Where would you rank this in inappropriateness in comparison to the use of excessive force leading to the death of an unarmed individual ? How would you rank it in comparison to the vile comments regarding race, gender, and sexual preference coming from the San Francisco police whose job it is to protect the lives of those individuals as well as those of whom they appear to approve, namely white or Asian, male, heterosexuals ? When answering, please remember that Kaepernick’s job is to play ball. The job of the police is to protect lives.
By the way, I agree with you that the police have every right not to volunteer to serve as security at 49 er games. I think that it is a silly, self destructive and needlessly adversarial response to the non violent actions of a single player. But, I will absolutely defend it as their right.
I honestly wonder if BP considered the Tea Party protests of Obama over the top. Im talking about the highly racist posters one would see at those protests. Or if he supported officer Pike. Or how often he would scream freedom of speech whenever a conservative Trump supporter says something racist. Or is it that he simply is ok with political speech he agrees with, and not OK with what he does not.
I wonder if Sean would be supportive if a white NFL player decided not to stand for the anthem in protest over the damage he felt Obama has done to our nation? I wonder if he would also say the police still must work the game even though they want to protest because they don’t stand with that player. Or is it that Sean simply is ok with political speech he agrees with, and not OK with what he does not.
So what if the one of the refs showed up with “strange fruit” socks?
Not speaking for Sean, but for myself, my view would be, I wouldn’t give a crap if he decided not to stand, it certainly wouldn’t offend me. I wouldn’t agree with him. But by creating this counter-narrative, it seems to me that you are not disagreeing with his form of protest, but rather with the content of that protest. That’s very interesting because it goes against the narrative of opposition that we have heard so far.
Not so, where have I stated that Kaep didn’t have the right to protest. What I have stated is the off duty cops also have the right to their free speech and not work the game. It’s you and some others who feel the cops shouldn’t be able to protest.
“It’s you and some others who feel the cops shouldn’t be able to protest.”
Actually what I said said is that they should protest, remove the “be able to”
The Santa Clara Police department is willing to risk the safety of people who enter their town to attend a game, because someone won’t stand when the National Anthem is being played? It seems minimumly petty and maybe a reflection of how poorly we educate our citizens about our history and defining principles. They need to take the high road, but they’ve chosen the low one.
How hard is this for everyone to understand? It is not a Santa Clara Police officers job to work a 49er game. They work them on their days off and volunteer. They are hired by the team to work the game (and paid through their employer) It is not a requirement, it is not a dereliction of duty if they do not volunteer, it is not a work assignment. They can all freely choose to spend their Sundays doing something else. Is a teacher not doing their job when they spend the summer at the beach instead of teaching summer school?
If the teacher volunteered to teach and doesn’t show up because he doesn’t like the students socks, that teacher is derelict in their teaching duty.
If nobody volunteers to work the Rams game next Monday night because they are offended by being called murdering pigs then that is not dereliction of duty.
If they are that sensitive to criticism, they probably aren’t fit to carry a badge or gun.
All this criticism and protest would dissolve if they’d stop shooting and killing so many people. (790 in 2016, as of this posting) Cops are the most deadly gang on America’s streets, by a long shot.
Nope, there are on average 2000 gang related deaths per year.
Not all 2000 were killed by a single gang, now were they?
You see, organic, not intentional and therefore forgivable.
So now that you realize that working 9er games on their day off is not part of their job you are calling them gang members. Nice one.
So all the different police departments in cities all over the country are considered one single gang but all the gangs in these same cities are to be considered separate?
OK, got it.
If they volunteered for it, that is a contract to perform. Simple.
When I worked for a municipal waste disposal department, I volunteered to be part of an emergency response team that involved making myself available 24/7 for hazmat cleanups. Unless I had scheduled vacation time or a doctors excuse, attendance at call outs was mandatory. I’m guessing from the chief’s memo the SC cops are in the same spot.
I can’t change the numerical facts, only the cops can. The fact that US cops summarily execute exponentially more people than any other western nations cops sets off alarm bells in reasonable people.
“I’m guessing from the chief’s memo the SC cops are in the same spot.”
No they are not in the same spot. They have no obligation to volunteer for the games if they do not want to. They made no annual commitment to work games. Also, the 9ers can use any police for they would like.
“OK, got it.”
Finally.
Funny thing about the photo at the top: People have their hands over their heart, which is for the Pledge of Allegiance, not for the national anthem. Lots of folks think they’re patriotic when they’re actually quite ignorant.
No question that quarterback K. has the right to protest by refusing to stand; also no question that the volunteer police have the right to protest Mr. K by deciding not to volunteer themselves for security duty–how anyone can say that Mr. K has perogatives but not an off-duty policeman is beyond me; seems to reflect extremely twisted thought processes that will rationalize anything.
The fact that Mr. K has been wearing piggy socks does nothing to promote any kind of respect for him–its something you would expect from an adolescent punk, not a grown man–on the other hand; he has raked in over $100 million devoting his life playing a game for adolescents (you may be able to tell I am not a pro sports fan; though I do enjoy sports up to and including college age, and olympic sports and other sports not composed of a group of wealthy mercenaries with bought loyalties that fans pretend are somehow representative of their hometown—though I get the ritual aspect, just doesn’t appeal to me).
Yes, that pretty much describes Biddlin.
[moderator] This needs to stop.
I disagree with you here – I see CK as an entertainer making a protest. I see police officers are professional law enforcement sworn to protect the public. THere’s a world of distance between the two people’s actions and most in particular, the people that the police would hurt if they do not provide security are the public not CK. So they are taking out their anger in the wrong place.
If the cops don’t sign up to work the game it will hurt his employer because they won’t be able to play the game, not the public.
They’ll get somebody whether it’s from another jurisdiction or private security
Just like when workers strike, sometimes you can get enough workers to keep the place open and sometimes you can’t. The FBI is not going to let the 9ers use all private security. Either way like I said before the police not signing up hurt the 9ers, not the fans.
Your attempt at this moral equivalency demonstrates a complete lack of objectivity and something more sinister.
You are Biddlin are similar in your dislike of cops and the mental gymnastics you both attempt to remain righteous in your own minds is fantastic.
So a man-child NFL star can protest and you support his freedom of speech, but a volunteer cop cannot and you do not?
Wow.
Thanks for allowing us all this window into the mind of a social justice activist cop hater.
I just went outside to spit.
“I just went outside to spit”
Thought for sure you’d have a fine brass spittoon.
I hate the way police are recruited and trained in the USA. I think that people like you are more concerned with keeping lower socio-economic class folks in their place and the police are doing a great job for you. I want smarter, non-militarized police who are concerned with the public’s safety first, enforcing laws second and using deadly force almost never. A hell of a lot less than 1,000 a year.
I share in those goals, but the negative branding of law enforcement is making it impossible to recruit the type of people you advocate for.
Also, on this Labor Day we should reflect on the impact of labor unions preventing the culling of bad employees and improving overall service quality.
What if we treated the profession of teaching the same way because of the percentage of truly crappy teachers?
And I don’t support “keeping the low SES people in their place”. I support preventing crime.
“, but the negative branding of law enforcement is making it impossible to recruit the type of people you advocate for.”
No, the recruiting policies, low educational requirements and iq ceiling insure their poor performance.
(A very good act is using he same name, today and I won’t slur them)
tribeUSA
“how anyone can say that Mr. K has perogatives but not an off-duty policeman is beyond me; seems to reflect extremely twisted thought processes that will rationalize anything.”
I do not believe that a anyone is saying that. But Mr. Kaepernick’s job is not to protect you. A policeman’s job is to do so. Would you honestly believe that a policeman was likely to be as protective of you if his “off duty” position was that he hated people of your race, or gender, or religion, or sexual preference ? As I asked previously, would you want an American soldier who in their “off duty” hours commented on how much they hated America and Americans ?
For me this is not about one’s right to express themselves. I totally believe in that. But some beliefs make one inherently unsuitable for a certain line of work. I would not want to see a closet pyromaniac as a member of my fire department. I would not want a judge who believed the defendant was guilty until proven innocent presiding over my case. Nor do I want a racist walking around with a gun and a badge claiming to protect me.
Cops with the right attitude scoff at the word pig and merely reply Pride, Integrity, Guts. Cause there are a few good ones left with a sense of humor and a respect for freedom of expression. A lesson on how to handle the verbal bullies out there.
There are more than “a few” who are professional and have high ethical and personal standards… a strong majority do… the ‘unfit’ minority are the ones who get the “press”…
BP
“Not so, where have I stated that Kaep didn’t have the right to protest. “
You did not say that he did not have the right to protest. You did say that his choice of socks was “over the top” which to me implies that you feel that his form of protest should be subject to your approval. I have no problem with protest of policy by the police. If they, for example, want to protest affirmative action or if they want to express their opposition to over tie for farm workers as individuals, or as a group, I will defend their right to do so.
I will also defend their right to use hate speech such as was in their private emails, as long as they do not continue to work as police officers. There are minimum standards for many different types of jobs. I believe that an inherent belief in the equal value of all lives regardless of race, gender…. should be a minimum requirement for a police officer.
Tia, Kaep not standing for the anthem was one thing but do you not find it “over the top” for him to later wear socks depicting police as pigs?
C’mon BP that was in practice session… might be, “If I’m going to ‘do the time’, might as well ‘do the crime’…”
I say that as one who always stand… maybe 40% of the folk @ sporting events I’ve attended do not (some then will if they feel ‘guilted’ by those around them)… some of them for no better reason than not wanting to put down their beer.
@ this level of “protest”, the appropriate thing to do is “ignore” and don’t even react, if you object to their ‘objection’…
Hpierce, that was a statement. He was already in the ‘limelight’ for his protest a few days before so he knew that his actions were being scrutinized.
CK was content to just do his thing, until folk pressed him on “why”, then he expounded, and the media, including “social media” smelled fresh meat”, and it became fodder for folk who just thrive on controversy… just ignore if it’s not really hurting anyone…
BP
“do you not find it “over the top” for him to later wear socks depicting police as pigs?”
“Over the top” is too subjective for me. I find it childish and a form of expression that I would not use. I find it well within Mr. Kaepernick’s right to freedom of speech to wear these socks if he chooses. Wearing them will not risk put anyone’s life at risk.
I also defend the right of the police to make racist and misogynistic comments if that is how they feel. At the same time, I feel that these attitudes should disqualify them from serving as police officers while I do not feel that wearing “piggy” socks renders Mr. Kaepernick disqualified from playing football.
Now, how about you go back and address the questions that I had posed. You specifically have not addressed the question of whether you believe that the wearing of “piggy socks” is of the same level of magnitude of perhaps not fully defending someone because you honestly do not believe that their life is as important was that of a white, heterosexual male ?
Off topic and a total straw dog argument that has nothing to do with this article.
Nah, not a “straw
dogman” argument, just a cheap, uncalled for “swipe” (or, perhaps snipe), in the form of a question… adding the question mark at the end of a ‘statement’ has always galled me… provacative, challenging, yet purporting to be “an honest question”… don’t you agree? [irony intended]BP
Certainly no further off topic than your introducing a picture of Kaepernick’s choice of socks into a discussion of his right to protest and the police response to that action.
Really? The article is about the Kaep’s protest and the SC police possibly boycotting working 49er games because of his actions and the wearing of clothing depicting cops as pigs isn’t pertinant to the story? You are kidding, right?
The socks are the key issue for me.
What folks don’t seem to realize is that hysterical old white men having a cow over this has spread the movement throughout professional and college sports. The hypersensitive , amygdala driven hyperbole from those least likely to have had a meal in their home with anyone of color is the fuel powering the widening protests.
“amygdala driven hyperbole” glad to see you are posting that which you know. A welcome change.
That’s actually a decent point. In fact, it might end the insane practice of having the national anthem before games.
Wow!!!!
DG, getting rid of professional sports completely would solve the same problem.
Have to disagree… we should keep professional sports, and change the laws to include all income for Social Security and Medicare tax purposes… might solve another problem…
I believe in the right of people to use the resources that they have in order to make their voice heard. I believe that Clint Eastwood had earned the right through his career and fame to make what I thought was a childish and ineffective presentation before the previous Republican convention. I believe that Colin Kaepernick through his athletic abilities has earned the right to protest in his own way in front of a large national audience. I believe that he has the right to wear whatever clothing is not specifically prohibited at a practice session, just as I believe that white supremacists have the right to have swastika tattoos and clothing no matter how odious I find it.
What I do not believe is that those who clearly devalue the lives of others because of any identifying characteristic should be allowed to be employed as public service employees if they do not hold that lives of all the “public” that they are sworn to protect are equal. I would find this equally true whether it was a white degrading blacks, or a black degrading whites, either would be equally unfit to serve.
BP – I am addressing you directly. If you do not believe this to be true, I would truly be interested in hearing why not.
I agree with your last paragraph, who wouldn’t? How does the Santa Clara cops not wanting to work a game on their off time as a protest to the actions of Kaep have anything to do with that?
I am so fed up with this type of BS stunt. It is lazy. Kaepernick is just a lazy, ignorant child-man. He has demonstrated that he is not smart enough to succeed as a QB in the NFL, and this just adds to the opinion that he is also not fully developed.
He just wasted all the social capital he had been blessed with to actually help solve the problems he seems to be complaining about… to bring people together and bridge gaps of trust and consideration.
Instead he just threw a “hey, look at me” stunt and caused even more division.
Looks like another of the many bad passes he is known for.
He is not unlike all the disappointing, spoiled “me first” offspring of the greatest generation and their disappointing offspring having adopted similar dysfunctions. They immediately turn toward civil disobedience having just skipped any effort at civil engagement.
Here is the respectable way to make a difference:
http://theundefeated.com/features/demarcus-cousins-on-black-men-and-police-ive-learned-about-both-sides/
At the significant risk of being judged insane by a local blog-meister, I think we need an anthem, to focus folk on the game that is about to start… for those who don’t like the current one, let me suggest:
For baseball, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04KQydlJ-qc
For the NFL, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO5Y1OuQIxo
Will have to do research for hockey, soccer, tennis, etc., as none come to mind.
My suggestions are more singable for the fans than the current one, I’ll readily admit…
And David, were the members of the USA womens water polo team completely, certifiably insane for not only standing for, but also singling along with the National Anthem as they got their gold medals and the American flag was raised highest?
“And David, were the members of the USA womens water polo team completely, certifiably insane for not only standing for, but also singling along with the National Anthem as they got their gold medals and the American flag was raised highest?”
Different circumstances. They were a “national” amateur team. Frankly, thank goodness I’m not him, I don’t know why we play the anthem at sporting events, much like invocations for guidance and relief from some higher power. I suspect that those who would use these rituals as some sort of litmus test lack much, if any complex reasoning ability, preferring the comfort of knowing some invisible force has been appeased.
http://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/6957582/the-history-national-anthem-sports-espn-magazine
Thanks, Don. Sort of the Cohan theory.
To be clear… I reject it as a litmus test, but I also do not see it as “insane”.
I wonder a bit about those who see it as an “all-or-nothing” thing…
David wrote:
> the conservative mantle of free speech seems to give way
> when it comes to respecting the flag or patriotism.
Very few conservatives really care about free speech (just like most liberals hate free speech). Conservatives continue in large numbers to try and make burning the American flag a crime while liberals in large numbers try to make the display of the Confederate flag a (hate) crime…