Colin Kaepernick

[Firkinvald]

By now you may have heard about Colin Kaepernick, the multi-million-dollar quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers and his refusal to stand during the national anthem played before every NFL game. When questioned by media about his decision, he revealed his Black Lives Matter sympathies as he blamed it on US oppression of African-Americans and other minorities.

“I’m not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the streets and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

[RyuNura]

I feel that he should be allowed to do as he pleases. America is a "free" country after all.

[scozy]

All certainly agree that all lives matter. The thing is, if you are a white American, your life does as a matter of fact matter to the police, the judicial system, and the institutions in general. Does it if you are a black American?

So yes, not standing up for a country in which systemic racism in so deeply ingrained is commandable.

[tom the pit leader]

Originally Posted by scozy

All certainly agree that all lives matter. The thing is, if you are a white American, your life does as a matter of fact matter to the police, the judicial system, and the institutions in general. Does it if you are a black American?

So yes, not standing up for a country in which systemic racism in so deeply ingrained is commandable.

Blacks are a legally protected class in the United States. Whites are not.

Black Lives Matter is funded by George Soros for the specific purpose of creating racial tension and demonizing white people.

[killer04]

Hate to break it to you, law enforcement really give no fucks about what race you are. The media just loves picking up on any story that could have any relation to being racially motivated.

[Molagbal]

The thing is, what makes America great is that you can protest like this freely. I disagree with the way he has chosen to protest, but it is what it is, I think it would be foolish to for him to be punished for saying his opinion.

[tom the pit leader]

Originally Posted by Molagbal

The thing is, what makes America great is that you can protest like this freely. I disagree with the way he has chosen to protest, but it is what it is, I think it would be foolish to for him to be punished for saying his opinion.

I agree with you less and less strongly as I see my allies punished with impunity for expressing their views, while my opposition claims that "they're just expressing an opinion."

[happy5214]

Let me preface this by saying that I am one-quarter African American, even though you probably couldn't tell by looking at me, and my father (who is half African American) served in the Air Force for 30 years.

I agree wholeheartedly that he has a right to protest in this fashion. People in the past have "disrespected" the flag and the anthem for all sorts of reasons. The First Amendment allows that. I will also argue that racial discrimination is a real issue, simply because you cannot make this up on this big of a scale. Perception is reality, and the mere belief that police relations with minorities are strained, regardless of whether anything real is causing it, is a problem in and of itself.

That being said, I disagree with his specific actions. First, as I voted (for a view that I added to the poll. ), it's a huge distraction to himself and his team. What Firk left out is that Kaepernick will likely be a backup for the 49ers this season because of injury and poor performance last season. I'm sure he did not intend to create a firestorm for matters unrelated to football, but he must have realized that it was a possibility. The message he is trying to convey (my interpretation: America is not living to its ideals because of unequal treatment of minorities.) is getting lost because of the job he has (which is one covered by the media like no other) and his manner of protest (deemed anti-military, anti-American, or at the very least unpatriotic). If he keeps doing it, the story will get old quickly in our 24-hour media cycle. But what will he have accomplished other than bringing unwelcome attention to his employer and co-workers without truly advancing the much-needed conversation of rectifying the racial inequities that have dogged this country since the colonial era.

Tom: there is a reason why white Americans aren't a protected class and other racial and ethnic minorities are. Whites did not generally discriminate against their own kind, while collectively they did institutionally treat several minority groups (blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans, etc.) as inferior, second-class citizens, or even as non-citizens. Minorities need protection from discrimination by whites. Whites don't need that protection.

[Staccs]

Originally Posted by killer04

Hate to break it to you, law enforcement really give no fucks about what race you are. The media just loves picking up on any story that could have any relation to being racially motivated.

Says the white guy.

[killer04]

Originally Posted by Staccs

Says the white guy.

No, it is being said by the guy that works with law enforcement and should have his own badge and gun soon.