Colin Kaepernick sits during National Anthem

[Ophiolite]

The real patriots have it playing in their brain all the time, on a loop.

Surely you are not suggesting they are loopy?

 

[aieyiamfu]

Surely you are not suggesting they are loopy?

Guess that depends which side you are looking at it from.

 

[Shiloh Raven]

I wonder how many of those critical of his sitting down knew the entire anthem before they judged him?

Doubtful.

 

[aieyiamfu]

Sgt. Zachary Stinson, USMC, uses his arms to stand for the playing of the National Anthem.

If emotional pandering is the only way you think you can make your point, you should hang it up.

 

[aieyiamfu]

Sgt. Zachary Stinson, USMC, uses his arms to stand for the playing of the National Anthem.

Hopefully the Sargent can ditch his brainwashing and get mad at the idiots responsible for his predicament (the government for all you statist mind slaves).

 

[Shiloh Raven]

If emotional pandering is the only way you think you can make your point, you should hang it up.

Agreed. It is rather petty to use a disabled veteran to stir emotions about paying homage to the national anthem and to the American flag.

 

[aieyiamfu]

Here's something to think about: The United Stated elected a black man for the highest office in government two times in a row. As POTUS, Obama is the head of the US and head of the US military. And that position put Obama consistently in the #1-#3 position on the Forbes "World's Most Powerful People" list since the time he walked into the White House.

Of what merit is that?

 

[aieyiamfu]

Agreed. It is rather petty to use a disabled veteran to stir emotions about paying homage to the national anthem and to the American flag.

True and as a disabled veteran I can tell you I have never looked at myself in the mirror and had the urge to bust into the national anthem.

 

[dzheremi]

Of what merit is that?

A black person has been extremely successful in his chosen field, in/thanks to AMERICA, therefore Kaepernick doesn't have a point.

Kind of like how Magic Johnson being alive today means that no one has AIDS anymore.

 

[bhsmte]

True and as a disabled veteran I can tell you I have never looked at myself in the mirror and had the urge to bust into the national anthem.

Does this mean another veteran cant feel differently?

 

[SnowyMacie]

http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=17414735&ex_cid=espnfb

"(The soldiers) didn't sacrifice themselves so you can do what they want you to do. They've sacrificed themselves so that you can do what the Constitution allows you to do."

This has nothing to do with patriotism, the military, or respecting the national anthem. He didn't make a scene, he remained sitting because he wanted to express his stance. That's it. End of story.

 

[SummerMadness]

A black person has been extremely successful in his chosen field, in/thanks to AMERICA, therefore Kaepernick doesn't have a point.

Kind of like how Magic Johnson being alive today means that no one has AIDS anymore.

One could argue that he is successful in spite of racial discrimination in the United States.

 

[aieyiamfu]

Who fought and died to make America a free country for all people?

No one person or group. Of course freedom in America has a lot of strings attached, so maybe noone.

 

[civilwarbuff]

The past few pages have read like a Stalinist anti-capitalist propaganda brochure......

 

[bhsmte]

One could argue that he is successful in spite of racial discrimination in the United States.

I dont think blacks have been held back from nfl careers for many decades. Teams want the best players, regardless of color.

 

[Belk]

I have seen many as man stand and place his hand piously upon his heart to declare his love for country and veterans. I have seen those same men conspicuously absent when it came time to give veterans assistance from legislation or taxes. It seems to me that if a man wishes to respect the sacrifice of veterans then using their rights in an attempt to better his country is a good way to go about it. A man who takes action will always impress me more then one who thumps his chest.

 

[Tallguy88]

Excuse me? Was I talking to you? Was I talking ABOUT you? No and No. I'm sorry people are not 100% behind your feelgood jingoism, and that's confronting, but don't take it out on me.

That post was just the last straw. I know it wasn't directed at me through the quoting. I've been considering it for a long time. I'm happy to fellowship in appropriate threads with you. But I'm done debating with you.

 

[civilwarbuff]

One could argue that he is successful in spite of racial discrimination in the United States.

Or they could argue that "racial discrimination" is not the big bad boogey man that people try to make it out to be.....That anyone can be successful with hard work and determination.

 

[Shiloh Raven]

A black person has been extremely successful in his chosen field, in/thanks to AMERICA, therefore Kaepernick doesn't have a point.

There are people who are blinded by their America loving obsessive patriotism and are mad at Colin Kaepernick because he refused to stand for the national anthem but some of these same people apparently are not mad about the injustices he is protesting. I would say that they have definitely missed his point.

"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color," Kaepernick said. "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 street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."
(emphasis mine)

And just because Colin Kaepernick is now rich because he is a professional sports athlete does not, in any shape or form, negate the oppression, racism, and discrimination that Black people and other people of color still face in this country. It also does not mean that his wealth and success as a professional sports athlete causes him to be incapable of having empathize and compassion for Black people and other people of color. Edited: This is a generalized statement addressing the reaction to his protest.

 

[Albion]

There are people who are blinded by their America loving obsessive patriotism and are mad at Colin Kaepernick because he refused to stand for the national anthem but some of these same people apparently are not mad about the injustices he is protesting. So, I would say that they have definitely missed his point..

I don't think that's at all accurate to say. First, he'd have to be correct. Merely because he is throwing out accusations and does so in a dramatic way, does not make them true. Second, there is the issue that many here have addressed, which is about the particular choice of protest. We do not have to agree that it is the most effective, most logical, or even most unselfish kind of protest that might have been used.