Feetzballer Kaepernick 'protests inequality' at preseason game

[yllus]

Does refusing to stand for he anthem make racial discrimination go away? No, it is in no way meaningful or useful. Instead of showing gratitude for a country that allows an idiot like him to make millions of dollars, he disrespects those who help afford him that right.

He's talking about racial minorities being oppressed..... while collecting his paycheck of millions of dollars, and without actually citing any evidence or any reasoning to support his position.

If the country is such a horrible place, feel free to point out what place is better.

Who would be so silly as to expect his one action to directly lead to change? His refusal to stand is getting prime time attention on the Internet, on radio and on television. That's what he's after - bringing awareness to a cause that very well might negatively impact his career, which is already not in great shape. Mission accomplished there for sure.

Protest isn't supposed to be supplicated and polite. It almost always necessitates creating some sort of obstruction that makes the average citizen's life more frustrating or difficult for a little while. It's an act that says, "While you go about your regular day, _____ is happening, and I find that intolerable, so I'm going to make you notice it." Getting the topic surfaced is job #1; winning support can follow.

Finally, again, what bearing does his enormous paycheque have on whether or not he and people of his skin colour face discrimination? The fact that he makes money doesn't absolve society of an obvious problem. (Not that it's the only or even the largest problem, but it is a problem.)

 

[theeedude]

He really brought the closet statists out of the woodwork. Good, means he touched a nerve.

 

[TheGardener]

Kaepernick's about to be a guy with eight figures in his back pocket on the unemployment line. His employer will cut him from the roster in a week's time. You can argue whether it is his de-evolution as a football player, or his being a major embarrassment to the 49'ers, the NFL and SF. But he will be out of a job very soon. Would some team pick him up? Stranger thinks have happened.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I wonder how much shit these guys would get today for doing this

I mean, they did catch some pretty serious flak for it back then

Smith and Carlos were largely ostracized by the US sporting establishment and they were subject to criticism. The Time magazine on 25 October 1968 wrote: ""Faster, Higher, Stronger" is the motto of the Olympic Games. "Angrier, nastier, uglier" better describes the scene in Mexico City last week."[15][16] Back home, both Smith and Carlos were subject to abuse and they and their families received death threats.[17]

 

[PokerGuy]

Niners should just cut the loser now, that way he can permanently "protest" by sitting on his couch at home instead of being disrespectful at the stadium

 

[theeedude]

I wonder how much shit these guys would get today for doing this

I mean, they did catch some pretty serious flak for it back then

There is a great story about the third man there:
http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/24/sport/olympics-norman-black-power/
He took a lot of heat in Australia for standing in support of the other two.

 

[zinfamous]

Kaepernick's about to be a guy with eight figures in his back pocket on the unemployment line. His employer will cut him from the roster in a week's time. You can argue whether it is his de-evolution as a football player, or his being a major embarrassment to the 49'ers, the NFL and SF. But he will be out of a job very soon. Would some team pick him up? Stranger thinks have happened.

He can't be worse than Buttfumble, right?


right?

 

[Jaskalas]

At least he doesn't care about what MSM or ivory tower academia says.

A guy stoking racial tensions with falsehoods is not something you should be proud of.
Like yelling fire in a crowded theater, how long before those lies incite another Dallas shooter?
The lie is that "bodies on the street" are happening due to "oppression" and/or racism. They are not.

Inner cities are filled with violence, and police have a generic problem with the overuse of force, but police do not shoot blacks more than whites. And given the problem in inner cities, #BLM does not stand for black lives. It stands for stoking racial tension, based on lies against cops. Ferguson being both the origin and prime example. If that spark leads to more violence? Then #BLM is taking lives, and if their efforts cloud over the real problems in inner cities by scapegoating the police... then they've indirectly taken black lives.

I'm all for police reform, but not in the name of racial incitement based on lies.
And if people want to claim they are #BLM, then they'd address the violence of our inner cities.
America can come together to do both, but not while folks are too busy hating on one another.

I mean, does Kaepernick think "hands up, don't shoot" was real?
Do you?

 

[theeedude]

A guy stoking racial tensions with falsehoods is not something you should be proud of.
Like yelling fire in a crowded theater, how long before those lies incite another Dallas shooter?
The lie is that "bodies on the street" are happening due to "oppression" and/or racism. They are not.

Inner cities are filled with violence, and police have a generic problem with the overuse of force, but police do not shoot blacks more than whites. And given the problem in inner cities, #BLM does not stand for black lives. It stands for stoking racial tension, based on lies against cops. Ferguson being both the origin and prime example. If that spark leads to more violence? Then #BLM is taking lives, and if their efforts cloud over the real problems in inner cities by scapegoating the police... then they've indirectly taken black lives.

I'm all for police reform, but not in the name of racial incitement based on lies.
And if people want to claim they are #BLM, then they'd address the violence of our inner cities.
America can come together to do both, but not while folks are too busy hating on one another.

I mean, does Kaepernick think "hands up, don't shoot" was real?
Do you?

From your own link:

This work focused only on what happens once the police have stopped civilians, not on the risk of being stopped at all. Other research has shown that blacks are more likely to be stopped by the police.
...
The study, a National Bureau of Economic Research working paper, relied on reports filled out by police officers and on police departments willing to share those reports.

Shocking developments, police reports the police are willing to share show the police is not racist. More at 11.
I guess he didn't fall for that BS.

 

[m8d]

Colin Kaepernick not the first black athlete not to stand for the anthem. http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2016/08/29...and-sing-the-anthem-i-cannot-salute-the-flag/

 

[Chaotic42]

I support his right to protest, but I disagree with it. He could do a lot to bring positive attention to the issue, but instead he's just stoking the fires of those who are trying to marginalize the issue of violence and institutional racism.

 

[HomerJS]

I wonder how much shit these guys would get today for doing this

I mean, they did catch some pretty serious flak for it back then

Fox News headlines would be "Negro traitors embarrass United States at the Olympics"

 

[1prophet]

As much as I disagree with what he did, it is his right. I support him exercising his right, and anyone else who does so legally. I don't mind that he's gotten negative press for it. There are lots of ways to help out if he wishes, he makes a lot of money. I am interested if his conversion to Islam on the off season had anything to do with it.

Shaun King post a long FB post about this, part of which is pretty funny to me.

He continues to use the word "we" in the lengthy post. That to me is pretty funny because hes a white dude, pretending to be black. He makes BLM look bad, just as some others do. Beyonce is another example. Parading the mother of Brown and the like on stage last night, like he was some sort of martyr and shes a victim of police brutality to black people. False. He was a thug, who just committed a criminal act, then was confronted by police for it, and attacked the cop dying in the process. Then entire hands up, don't shoot is based off a lie, but facts dont appear to matter. There is actual police brutality and misconduct, protest only the factual cases and not the made up bullshit ones if you want credibility.

Ironic isn't it, how those on the left have no problem pointing out the irrationality of Trump, tea party, etc supporters as irrational and ignorant by their words or deeds when fact checked because of their mistrust in government,

just like those on the right point out the irrationality of burning down ones own neighborhood over something not based on facts but perceived reality rooted in an urban myth (hands up don't shoot) because of the their general distrust of the police.

While it is easy to point the finger calling one a thug and the other a bigot/racist while berating the other side by using facts against their irrationality it seems few if any ask the question why are they so irrational and bitter in the first place that allows one to make a martyr over a Mike Brown or a savior out of a Donald Trump.

 

[theeedude]

Did he burn down his neighborhood? No, he expressed his views in a non-violent, non-disruptive way. You don't have to agree with his views, but you should respect his right to express them.

 

[pcgeek11]

Did he burn down his neighborhood? No, he expressed his views in a non-violent, non-disruptive way. You don't have to agree with his views, but you should respect his right to express them.

Quite correct. Any stupid way that he wants.

 

[Mursilis]

Did he burn down his neighborhood? No, he expressed his views in a non-violent, non-disruptive way. You don't have to agree with his views, but you should respect his right to express them.

Has anyone argued he should not be allowed to express his views? Disagreeing with his protest isn't the same as saying he shouldn't be allowed to protest.

My problem with it is that it comes across (to me) as too broad. Some minorities are clearly being treated unjustly in this country, but we are, as a nation, also making progress. That progress isn't nearly as fast as it should be, of course, but at least things are changing, and large numbers of Kaepernik's fellow citizens agree with him and are working toward making the nation more just. Sitting for the anthem suggests all of us are part of the problem, not the solution.

 

[theeedude]

Has anyone argued he should not be allowed to express his views? Disagreeing with his protest isn't the same as saying he shouldn't be allowed to protest.

My problem with it is that it comes across (to me) as too broad. Some minorities are clearly being treated unjustly in this country, but we are, as a nation, also making progress. That progress isn't nearly as fast as it should be, of course, but at least things are changing, and large numbers of Kaepernik's fellow citizens agree with him and are working toward making the nation more just. Sitting for the anthem suggests all of us are part of the problem, not the solution.

Part of the problem is that it's never the right time, the right place, or the right way, to talk about it and the solution. So problems are swept under the rug and we shut up and sing about being land of the free and home of the brave while not even feeling free or brave enough to speak up and deal with problems head on. Also, why would a free and brave person care how someone else is expressing themselves as long as they aren't hurting anyone or interfering with anything? That's a slave mentality. I am conforming, so you better conform too.

 

[HomerJS]

For the critics of CK, how is what he is doing different from Trump's "make America great again", which implies America is not great

 

[Chaotic42]

For the critics of CK, how is what he is doing different from Trump's "make America great again", which implies America is not great

They're similar in that both of them are at best mediocre at their jobs and were in danger of fading from memory before they decided to kick hornets' nests to get their names in the news. Kaepernick will continue the fade here in a few weeks while Trump will probably never be forgotten save for a world-wide near-extinction event and will hopefully serve as a warning for future generations.

 

[emperus]

I have no qualms with anyone deciding to do this. I think it takes guts to be willing to sacrifice your career and earnings to make a point. I am more offended by those who drive around with huge flags on their cars or wear flag draped clothing, yet have no real understanding of what that flag stands for.

 

[Chaotic42]

I have no qualms with anyone deciding to do this. I think it takes guts to be willing to sacrifice your career and earnings to make a point. I am more offended by those who drive around with huge flags on their cars or wear flag draped clothing, yet have no real understanding of what that flag stands for.

That's the thing, he was likely about to get cut anyway. Now, if they do, he can claim that they cut him for this. His protest has done no good and his career is likely over anyway. My guess is that it will end up as a meaningless gesture.

 

[dainthomas]

I have no qualms with anyone deciding to do this. I think it takes guts to be willing to sacrifice your career and earnings to make a point. I am more offended by those who drive around with huge flags on their cars or wear flag draped clothing, yet have no real understanding of what that flag stands for.

How can you tell someone has no understanding of what it means when they're driving around in their car?

 

[SNC]

The problem with this is it erodes the line between relaxation and the every day hate and fear mongering. IF I were to go to a football game I want to watch a football game, not be reminded of how divided this country is becoming. At what point do those that defend what this shit head did say enough? Perhaps during the quarters we could have a rape victim stand up and tell everyone how wrong rape is, and during the halftime we could have an environmentalist give a dissertation on the affects of fracking on the horned toad. We should probably sing Mexico's national anthem too just to be sure we don't leave any one out, except for those fucking Canadians they don't count. If you want to protest something, do it on your own time, not the time I am paying for. I hear about the divide, the pay-gap for women, BLM, $15 an hour jobs that an eight year old could do, Trump, Hillary, Bernie, the poor, the black, the yellow, the brown, the gay, the not so sure, the rich that can choose depending on the day of the week! LEAVE THE FUCKING OLYMPICS AND SPORTS OUT OF IT!!!!!! If we eliminate every single method for people to get together and enjoy some time together and actually enjoy that time, we will end up hating everyone.

AND GET THE FUCK OFF MY LAWN!!!!!!

 

[jackstar7]

You guys bringing up his income... are you more likely to listen to a homeless man? I am skeptical.

Because you're certainly more likely to have heard this rich guy's words, it certainly seems like he's in a better position to be a voice for a cause that moves him.

 

[theeedude]

The problem with this is it erodes the line between relaxation and the every day hate and fear mongering. IF I were to go to a football game I want to watch a football game, not be reminded of how divided this country is becoming.

If you can't relax and watch the game because someone sat quietly during the anthem, then you are the one with a problem. The world doesn't owe you conformity.