Aug 27 (Reuters) - National League quarterback Colin Kaepernick of San Francisco 49ers refused to stand for the national anthem before a preseason game on Friday, drawing boos from some fans and criticism on social media, but his team said it backed his right to protest.
Kaepernick, a former starter who led San Francisco to the 2013 Super Bowl but has since been demoted to backup, said he sat on the bench during the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" to make a statement about racial injustice in the United States.
"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 later told NFL Media in an article posted on Saturday. "To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way."
Kaepernick appeared to be referring to police use of deadly force, which has come under increased criticism in recent years as incidents have been captured on cellphone video.
I don't have a problem with his cause, just his form of protest. Kaepernick has the right to protest and I have the right to change the channel whenever he's playing on television. I have the right to not purchase anything he promotes and the right to let his sponsors know why. I sincerely believe in his right to protest, I mean that but, I think his agenda could be helped more if he put his money where his mouth (or in this case his butt) is.
I always see celebrities telling us what we should be doing, what we should be donating our money to support and yet, they are the ones with big money to put into a cause. Yet, they want us to donate ours. Show me and then I'll consider your cause.
------------------ Ron
Isn't it strange that after a bombing, everyone blames the bomber, his upbringing, his environment, his culture, his mental state but … after a shooting, the problem is the gun?
Definition of a home owner, "see the door threshold, without my permission, there and no futher.......
If, you wish to piss off a Conservative, lie to him. If, you wish to piss off a Socialist, Liberal or Progressive, tell them the truth.
[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 08-28-2016).]
]I don't have a problem with his cause, just his form of protest. Kaepernick has the right to protest and I have the right to change the channel whenever he's playing on television. I have the right to not purchase anything he promotes and the right to let his sponsors know why. I sincerely believe in his right to protest, I mean that but, I think his agenda could be helped more if he put his money where his mouth (or in this case his butt) is.
+1
I will add that I am against making flag burning illegal for the same reason and we sure as hell don't need an amendment to the Constitution for it either.
Obviously, he has the right to protest, subject to the rules of his employer, who seems to be in support of his actions, and by implication, his opinions. I find his behavior reprehensible, and that is my right.
I consider professional sports to be part of the entertainment industry, and as such, of little value or relevance. So, to avoid this song and dance man, his team, or the league would be no different for me than any other day of the year. If this were the Cardinals, I would expect that Arizona would react more appropriately.
I will add that I am against making flag burning illegal for the same reason and we sure as hell don't need an amendment to the Constitution for it either.
This I agree with. Of course, I also think the fine Americans that whup those flag burning citizen's butts should be defended by the best legal minds available, paid for by the ACLU and should not be charged with more than littering.
------------------ Ron
Isn't it strange that after a bombing, everyone blames the bomber, his upbringing, his environment, his culture, his mental state but … after a shooting, the problem is the gun?
Definition of a home owner, "see the door threshold, without my permission, there and no futher.......
If, you wish to piss off a Conservative, lie to him. If, you wish to piss off a Socialist, Liberal or Progressive, tell them the truth.
Funny, I don't remember him preaching about oppressing black people when he was being adopted by his 2 white parents. I'm sure they had many other choices to make at the time and yet they selected him.
This is called "last resort" to revive a failing career in the NFL. He's a has-been at this point so why not stir the pot.
Of course, I also think the fine Americans that whup those flag burning citizen's butts should be defended by the best legal minds available, paid for by the ACLU and should not be charged with more than littering.
Eh, no, I don't think that either. That is taking the law into your own hands. We have enough of that from leftist radicals and it is leading us down a dark path away from the rule of law.
Frankly, I thank the founding fathers for the 1st amendment, for without it we wouldn't know who the idiots were. That goes for Trump demonstrations as well as Pennock's.
Frankly, I thank the founding fathers for the 1st amendment, for without it we wouldn't know who the idiots were.
To me, that might be the most valuable aspect of Freedom of Speech. I am always amazed and disappointed that those who wish to silence their opponents cannot grasp that idea.
Eh, no, I don't think that either. That is taking the law into your own hands. We have enough of that from leftist radicals and it is leading us down a dark path away from the rule of law.
Frankly, I thank the founding fathers for the 1st amendment, for without it we wouldn't know who the idiots were. That goes for Trump demonstrations as well as Pennock's.
Ray, Surely you didn't miss that winking smiley did ya? Of course, only if the butt whupp'n was made legal. That's not likely to happen and I know it. But, I firmly believe we are all responsible for our own actions.
------------------ Ron
Isn't it strange that after a bombing, everyone blames the bomber, his upbringing, his environment, his culture, his mental state but … after a shooting, the problem is the gun?
Definition of a home owner, "see the door threshold, without my permission, there and no futher.......
If, you wish to piss off a Conservative, lie to him. If, you wish to piss off a Socialist, Liberal or Progressive, tell them the truth.
I don't have a problem with him sitting out during the national anthem. I also have no problem with people thinking he is a misguided fool. Freedom of speech/expression is a 2 way street.
I don't have a problem with him sitting out during the national anthem. I also have no problem with people thinking he is a misguided fool. Freedom of speech/expression is a 2 way street.
I don't follow the 49ers closely, but I wonder if what was really on his mind then was "What can I do to further motivate the 49ers organization to trade me to another team?"
Think he's considered a valuable "get" by any of the other teams?
I don't have a problem with him sitting out during the national anthem. I also have no problem with people thinking he is a misguided fool. Freedom of speech/expression is a 2 way street.
Thinking we're pretty much in agreement. But, I added that folks are responsible for the decisions they make and the actions they take.
Thankfully, they won't make the Super Bowl, I'd hate to miss that..
------------------ Ron
Isn't it strange that after a bombing, everyone blames the bomber, his upbringing, his environment, his culture, his mental state but … after a shooting, the problem is the gun?
Definition of a home owner, "see the door threshold, without my permission, there and no futher.......
If, you wish to piss off a Conservative, lie to him. If, you wish to piss off a Socialist, Liberal or Progressive, tell them the truth.
I don't follow the 49ers closely, but I wonder if what was really on his mind then was "What can I do to further motivate the 49ers organization to trade me to another team?"
Think he's considered a valuable "get" by any of the other teams?
Last I heard, The No-quarterback Dallas Cowboys don't even want him and it has nothing to do with his sittin'.
Except Kaepernick got the benefit of the doubt when he was accused of rape. The fair comparisons would be comparing criminal behavior to criminal behavior. In both cases, they each got the benefit of the doubt.
Keapernick refusing to stand for the national anthem is not criminal behavior. It is a sign of disrespect for the entire country. Black or white, if someone does that they get an angry response. For an example of a white person that angered people for disrespect to the country, look up Roseanne Barr singing the National Anthem.
[This message has been edited by Doug85GT (edited 08-29-2016).]
I don't have a problem with him sitting out during the national anthem. I also have no problem with people thinking he is a misguided fool. Freedom of speech/expression is a 2 way street.
Agreed. The only thing more offensive than him sitting through the national anthem would be if he were forced to stand against his will.
/\ It won't bother them too much--somebody has to buy the merchandise in order to burn it--buy=profit. Probably means a windfall for the jersey marketers.
Funny, I don't remember him preaching about oppressing black people when he was being adopted by his 2 white parents. I'm sure they had many other choices to make at the time and yet they selected him.
This is called "last resort" to revive a failing career in the NFL. He's a has-been at this point so why not stir the pot.
Neither did he express any issue about being abandoned by his black father.
"Support" the US Constitution? As an expression of freedom of speech, it does not. 1st amendment doesn't and never has given any of us the right to free speech.
I don't believe anyone has suggested he doesn't have the right. His disrespect for the National Anthem and I presume our flag also because of the treatment "People of Color" receive in this country. I really don't believe he's all that sincere in his protest. With a guaranteed 61 million salary, he could personally do a lot to help those he says he's protesting for. Just not buying it.
------------------ Ron
Isn't it strange that after a bombing, everyone blames the bomber, his upbringing, his environment, his culture, his mental state but … after a shooting, the problem is the gun?
Definition of a home owner, "see the door threshold, without my permission, there and no futher.......
If, you wish to piss off a Conservative, lie to him. If, you wish to piss off a Socialist, Liberal or Progressive, tell them the truth.
I don't believe anyone has suggested he doesn't have the right. His disrespect for the National Anthem and I presume our flag also because of the treatment "People of Color" receive in this country. I really don't believe he's all that sincere in his protest. With a guaranteed 61 million salary, he could personally do a lot to help those he says he's protesting for. Just not buying it.
He could spend all $61 mil on whatever issue he is trying to support and it wouldn't have brought nearly the amt of attention to his cause as his sit down did. Money is rarely the answer to any social problem.
I do not like that he did this. But I understand it.
Yet , he will keep the Racist Career, Racist money, Racist constitutional and civil rights and Racist citizenship. But that Racist National Anthem has to go.....
It says volumes about how much he is willing to sacrifice for "the cause".
He probably sacrificed more than most do--other than a few words on an internet forum. You're saying he should accept being paid off with the good, to accept the bad and just be a good little boy.
Every one of us has a point, beyond which we will say "this country is no longer what I can support" just as the colonists did in the late 1700s--just as the south did in the 1860s--just as every people's thru out history has, and when that point is reached, we'll each be wondering how it happened and why no one raised a voice or protested it before it was too late--when that last of many concentric circles we draw around ourselves has been breached. Power corrupts, and just because that corruptness hasn't touched us in a personal way yet, doesn't mean it won't. As I said, I don't like what he did, but I understand it--partly, I don't like that things had to get so bad he felt the need to do it. It's going to get a lot worse too, if people don't stop turning a blind eye to it. Eventually, it'll be the demise of the 2nd amendment, and then you'll see a LOT of this kind of thing--another personal circle broken.
[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 08-30-2016).]
He probably sacrificed more than most do--other than a few words on an internet forum. You're saying he should accept being paid off with the good, to accept the bad and just be a good little boy.
As a man stuck in the middle between the white and black divide it offends me when anyone claims to represent one side by stereotyping the other. As if "They're All Like That". I refuse to stand for the anthem until this country stops being rasict. And what does this privilage jerk define as racist. At this point calling someone a racist is like a white person saying you people. Just another way to justify his own discrimination by claiming a pile crap as moral high ground.
To stand or not to stand for the anthem? Is not my grievance. It's the label he so librrally slathered across all Americans and those who have fought, are fighting and will fight for the basic founding principles of this country. He has certainly face racist individuals but he has not experienced a racist system or society. Being a minority is neither fair or unfair and prefering or feeling comfortable among your own race is neither racist or not racist. It's mostly inconvient , frequently frustrating but rarely a true racist belief or intent. Racist do exist but too many people see racism in everything that doesn't fit their definition of fair. I'm only 5' 4" tall this society and it's market place are full of shelves I can't reach. It sucks when you have to ask people to fet something from the top shelf where you a most children cant reach. But I'm not running around claiming the entire planet of people taller than me are mistreating people of below average height. Sorry for the rant, but his opportunity certainly has not been denied by this nation of racists or the rules we all live by.
[This message has been edited by jmclemore (edited 08-30-2016).]
Well, I'm 6'4 and they put stuff down on low shelves just so short people like you and my 5' 2" tall wife can reach them, and I have to bend down at my old age and pick up 10lb bags of sugar 3" off the ground. It ain't my fault you 2 gave up and just decided to stop growing.
I'm 6'3" and my wife is 5'10" and we're sick and tired of getting wet first when it rains and we're also sick and tired of shorter people thinking we've been put on this Earth to get things off of shelves for them. It's height-ism at its worst I tell you.
He could spend all $61 mil on whatever issue he is trying to support and it wouldn't have brought nearly the amt of attention to his cause as his sit down did. Money is rarely the answer to any social problem.
I do not like that he did this. But I understand it.
Well, if that's true, then can I get back some of that tax money that was spent on all the "social entitlement" programs that have been wasted for years? I'll agree with the attention point. But, his lack of respect demonstration will surely haunt him the rest of his life. Will it effect things more than his money could have, very doubtful. But now, he'll have a convenient excuse for his declining career.
quote
Originally posted by jmclemore: his opportunity certainly has not been denied by this nation of racists or the rules we all live by.
Precisely.
------------------ Ron
Isn't it strange that after a bombing, everyone blames the bomber, his upbringing, his environment, his culture, his mental state but … after a shooting, the problem is the gun?
Definition of a home owner, "see the door threshold, without my permission, there and no futher.......
If, you wish to piss off a Conservative, lie to him. If, you wish to piss off a Socialist, Liberal or Progressive, tell them the truth.
That's not likely to happen and I know it. But, I firmly believe we are all responsible for our own actions. 
Both are idiots, and deserve the same respect that they are currently displaying. None.
