Just a few years ago, Colin Kaepernick was being heralded for his great arm, his quick feet and his surprisingly rapid rise to stardom in the NFL. That star appears to have fizzled out. Though his fame and fortune escalated quickly in two short years, many people around the league (and the country) have recently learned Colin Kaepernick isn’t just a lousy football player but a lousy human being.
The San Francisco 49ers quarterback, who makes millions of dollars a year, is now recognized for making millions of Americans (including me) furious when he refused to stand up for the national anthem during a preseason game.
“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 in an interview.
Keeping the Man Down
Oppressed? How can you (Colin) speak about oppression when you are a multi-millionaire with a $2.7 million home in San Jose?
Oppressed? Colin, you are a bi-racial man with a biological black father and a biological white mother. You spent your early years in the midwes and when adopted by two white people, moved to California as a 4-year-old whose adopted parents put him on the path to his dreams.
Oppressed? Tell that to the black men in Detroit, or Chicago or Gary, IN.
Colin Kaepernick, you don't know the first thing about what it means to be oppressed. Or black.
Kaepernick’s defenders have been saying that America ought to respect his freedom of speech. What they fail to realize is that freedom of speech cuts to the core of what this country is all about.
I understand that Kaepernick is entitled to his opinion and he’s entitled to express it. The problem is that he’s being paid close to $20 million to be the face of an organization and a leader for his team.
Why not — instead of sitting things out — you stand up and use your financial success, your notoriety, your presence to make a difference?
Stand Instead of Sit
Why not donate some of your gobs of money to help build up an oppressed community in towns across the country? Why not physically show up in cities like Baton Rouge or Chicago and help the people who live in impoverished communities instead of escalating the hateful rhetoric and pity.
Even Usain Bolt of Jamaica showed more patriotism than Kaepernick ever will for a country he doesn’t even reside in. Bolt interrupted an interview he was giving at the Olympics a few weeks ago when he heard the national anthem of the United States being played in the background. He turned from the interviewer and stood at attention during the anthem, showing his respect.
Unlike you Colin.
Colin, you entertain one day a week for a living, while thousands and millions of police officers and military personnel serve and protect every day of their lives. Who cares if you think there are a few bad apples in law enforcement? What about the thousands of Americans who have sacrificed their lives, their arms, their legs their minds in acts of war to keepus (and you) and this country free? Why isn’t that alone enough to stand at attention and place your hand over your heart?
Colin Kaepernick, if this country and its ways offends you so much, get the hell out. And that goes for all those who stand (or sit) with Kaepernick by not honoring those who’ve served when the anthem gets played. Those who stand for this kind of thing are all just bratty, anti-American demagogues.
Unify instead of Divide
The American flag and our national anthem are two of this nation’s most proudest symbols based on what they represent. To disrespect those symbols — in my mind — is no different than those who celebrated airplanes crashing into buildings.
The good news is, Kaepernick might not have to worry about playing football for a country that he says oppresses him no matter how many Occupy Democrats-approved political statements he makes. He’ll likely be without a team in the NFL this week (or soon) and will end up in Canada with the Canadian Football League.
At least he can stand for their anthem without his principles being so burdened.
No matter what our political stance is or who we side with in government or politics, we, as Americans should always honor those who have sacrificed and who put their lives on the line to keep this country free. All it takes is rising to our feet and covering our hearts.
I guess that’s just too much to ask of a soon-to-be-ex NFL quarterback.
