Kaepernick Sits for National Anthem

[Elmer]

13 hours ago, 14ledo81 said:

Curious what everybody thinks of this.

I support his right to do so.  

A couple of things though. 

  1) Could he have picked a better way to voice his point that is not a slap in the face to all those that have served and/or died for the flag?

2) If he can't support the US of A, maybe he should become a citizen of a different country?

1-It is his right to freedom of speech/expression, like it or not! 
Also he simply sat, and made no statement until he was asked later. Would you rather he stood on a soap box at mid field and ranted???
Usually when a athlete gets on the soap box people complain they should "stick to sports"
He specifically said "... his stand is not against men and women in the military fighting and losing their lives for Americans' rights and freedoms."

2-This has been covered, by how is exercising his 1st amendment right not supporting the "US of A"?
I did not realize that not standing for a song, or a indoctrinating pledge written by a socialist, we are against our country?

12 hours ago, Ernest Jones said:

Great post. A nation's anthem is nothing more than an advertising jingle and should never be held in higher regard than what it is supposed to represent. Same with a flag, without the morals, values and ideals it represents, it is no more important than a coca-cola sign. Care more about the people and less about the brand. 

A song and a pledge are intangible symbols of the country. The flag while being tangible is still just a symbol. They are symbols of a country that has a constitution and a bill of rights, which allows for us to express ourselves even if in doing so means destroying the symbol itself. 
I often wonder why people get so worked up about the desecration of a flag, yet there is no outrage when all other flag related apparel (shirts, hats, pants, bikinis, towels, souvenir flags) are thrown out and not discarded in a manner consistent with the flag code, but I digress!

11 hours ago, CR McDivot said:

"People of color" have not been oppressed, rather given special rights since at least the War of Northern Aggression.

Bwahahahaahahahahahahahahaaaaa!!!!!!!

[14ledo81]

2 hours ago, boogielicious said:

Why? Just because he wants a nation that is free of hate and prejudice, doesn't mean he hates America. He just wants the country he loves to be better. I love my country as much as anyone, but I think we can improve. Are we perfect the way we are right now?

It is easy to label people who don't share your (not you personally, but in general) viewpoint as hating America. That is what partisan politics is all about and both side use it all the time.

The flag of this country and the anthem represent all of us, not just veterans and not just those who gave their lives serving in the Military. Let's not forget that. Bigotry and Racism are unAmerican. And yet we aren't viewing it that way. We seem to accept the hate associated with racism as just a fact of life. It almost tore the nation apart 166 years ago.  It's 2016 and we still have a problem. 

FWIW, I would have chosen a different approach than he did just because of the rhetoric that followed. But that is the Boy Scout in me. 

I agree with you, and am all for trying to make our nation better.  It does not mean I would say, "I can't support the flag of this nation because of.....etc.."  I can still support the nation, and the flag, and still try to make things better.

So, I guess it looks to me like he doesn't like our nation.  If there is more good than bad (I believe there is), than a person should show support.  If a person believes there is more bad than good, then leave.

I am not labeling him as "hating" America because of his stance (BLM), rather because of his actions (sitting for the anthem), and his statements about it (can't support a nation that.....etc.).

[jamo]

1 hour ago, 14ledo81 said:

So, I guess it looks to me like he doesn't like our nation.  If there is more good than bad (I believe there is), than a person should show support.  If a person believes there is more bad than good, then leave.

Where would he go? He's from Wisconsin.

[newtogolf]

9 minutes ago, jamo said:

Where would he go? He's from Wisconsin.

Canada can have him.

[Golfingdad]

2 hours ago, 14ledo81 said:

So, I guess it looks to me like he doesn't like our nation.  If there is more good than bad (I believe there is), than a person should show support.  If a person believes there is more bad than good, then leave.

Really??  Those are the only two options?

[CarlSpackler]

1 hour ago, jamo said:

Where would he go? He's from Wisconsin.

I know where he can go. 

[14ledo81]

57 minutes ago, Golfingdad said:

Really??  Those are the only two options?

Basically.  Either you like something or you don't.  If you don't, move on.

[Golfingdad]

Good article: http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17405859/colin-kaepernick-did-controversial-was-not-un-american-nfl

[Hardspoon]

4 minutes ago, 14ledo81 said:

Basically.  Either you like something or you don't.  If you don't, move on.

That's stupid. You can hate what is going on in a country (or a city or a state or a district) and try to instigate change.  I'd argue it's much more admirable to stay. 

[Elmer]

3 minutes ago, Golfingdad said:

Good article: http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17405859/colin-kaepernick-did-controversial-was-not-un-american-nfl

That was good!

Another perspective:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/king-stand-star-spangled-banner-article-1.2770075

[14ledo81]

18 minutes ago, Hardspoon said:

That's stupid. You can hate what is going on in a country (or a city or a state or a district) and try to instigate change.  I'd argue it's much more admirable to stay. 

100% agree it is more admirable to stay.  Stand up and support the nation and help it get better.

[Gunther]

7 minutes ago, Elmer said:

That was good!

Another perspective:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/king-stand-star-spangled-banner-article-1.2770075

Two articles from institutions known as bastions of liberal thought, thanks for the open minds guys.

Listen, if Jason Witten did the same to protest Obama's support of Planned Parenthood's illegal harvesting of fetus parts or his support of BLM killing cops, or the Supreme Court legalizing gay marriage, you who now support this action would vociferously oppose it.  I would still oppose it because of the disrespect shown to the country by a multi-millionaire, although I'd be a little less outraged because the motivation would be just in my mind.  

Let's call it what it is.  It's strictly a left v right issue.  All of the responses here have been as predictable as if we were discussing Trump v Clinton.

[baller7345]

I find this image weirdly appropriate...

 

[Golfingdad]

10 minutes ago, Gunther said:

Two articles from institutions known as bastions of liberal thought, thanks for the open minds guys.

They're opinion pieces, not news stories, so they are merely reflections of the opinions of the authors - who cares where they were published?

11 minutes ago, Gunther said:

Listen, if Jason Witten did the same to protest Obama's support of Planned Parenthood's illegal harvesting of fetus parts or his support of BLM killing cops, or the Supreme Court legalizing gay marriage, you who now support this action would vociferously oppose it.

Absolutely, 100% dead wrong.

[Elmer]

8 minutes ago, Gunther said:

Two articles from institutions known as bastions of liberal thought, thanks for the open minds guys.

Listen, if Jason Witten did the same to protest Obama's support of Planned Parenthood's illegal harvesting of fetus parts or his support of BLM killing cops, or the Supreme Court legalizing gay marriage, you who now support this action would vociferously oppose it.  I would still oppose it because of the disrespect shown to the country by a multi-millionaire, although I'd be a little less outraged because the motivation would be just in my mind.  

Let's call it what it is.  It's strictly a left v right issue.  All of the responses here have been as predictable as if we were discussing Trump v Clinton.

first off, My mind is very much open. Why do you only consider my mind closed, simply because I dont agree with your perspective or train of thought?

secondly, thank you for deciding how I would react to hypothetical scenario!

If you want to sit down for any anthems, or burn Bradley Cooper DvD's because he supports Hillary, I will champion your right to do so!

Now would there be any less outrage if A non "multi-Millionaire" staged this same protest?
 

[Dave2512]

He was a clown before this so...

[14ledo81]

"Villanueva, 27, a former rifle platoon leader of the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, first said he didn't want to be involved in the Kaepernick discussion when approached at his locker. But when asked about the responsibility of an athlete to stand during the anthem, Villanueva, of Spanish descent, said American minorities have more liberties than in other countries, with freedom to speak their mind, largely because of the military fighting for that right."

Interesting quote from Villanueva.

 

"Kaepernick, who is set to make $11.9 million in 2016, told San Francisco-area reporters Sunday that he means no disrespect to the military, but he is sitting down for a cause he feels is right."

This doesn't fly with me.  You don't get to do something disrespectful, and then say you meant no disrespect....

 

Again, it is not about the issue he is protesting to me.  It is about the way he is going about it.

[newtogolf]

He's made a lot of money, has a podium to effect change and could easily get engaged in his community if this cause was something he felt strongly.    

I can't help but wonder if he'd be so vocal about his concerns of black oppression if he wasn't about to lose his starting QB job to a white QB, seems the timing is a bit self serving.