No pity for Colin Kaepernick
It is highly questionable as to whether former San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback Colin Kaepernick will ever play football again. In fact, if it were not for this new wave of racial controversy raging throughout American these days, it is almost certain that he would not ever return to football.
If he sees the loss of a football career as the existential tragedy of his life, he has no one to blame but himself. He should have known that refusing to stand for the National Anthem – which is how he began his personal protest — would roil a lot of football fans. In fact, he gave an earlier hint of going public with his opinions when he wore cops-as-pigs socks to work (pictured above).
While his intention was to draw positive attention to the issue of police brutality toward Blacks, his protest was far from successful. It was quickly seen as an attack on America by many folks – including some who supported his concern over policing primarily in the segregated communities in our major cities. It would be one thing to point to a problem but quite another to attack the symbols of our overarching unity – the National Anthem, the flag, the Pledge of Allegiance – and most recently Independence Day.
In a very real sense, Kaepernick was nullifying the basic American concepts of e pluribus unum — and our ability as one people to strive together for that more perfect union – in favor of identity-based tribalism. He rejected the idea that there are more things that we share in common than that divide us. Without that underpinning, there is no way to mend our division.
In his more recent tweet, Kaepernick again demonstrated a disdain for America as a whole – and does so by dishonestly conflating the past and present. In his tweet, Kaepernick wrote:
“Black ppl have been dehumanized, brutalized, criminalized + terrorized by America for centuries, & are expected to join your commemoration of “independence”, while you enslaved our ancestors. We reject your celebration of white supremacy & look forward to liberation for all.”
He is right to condemn the dehumanizing, brutalizing, criminalizing and terrorizing of Negroes in America. But Kaepernick – nor anyone else – lives in that America anymore. For sure, the residual of Democratic Party systemic racism can be found in our major cities today – but not so much among the general public. Kaepernick is not committed to addressing racism in America as opposed to advancing the narrow and specious narrative of the hard left. It is a broad-brush anti-American narrative replete with reverse racism.
If Kaepernick never makes it back to the gridiron, he deserves no pity. He is going to be a very, very wealthy man. Ironically, he is making his fortune by accessing all the fundamental freedoms and benefits of an American citizen. He is a living example of American Exceptionalism. His new wealth is the product of America’s free enterprise system.
He has had a lucrative contract from Nike and has now signed another deal with Disney to produce a docu-series to play across the company’s various platforms. He has lucrative book deals and his activist organizations are well-funded by a major donor.
Tearing down America – as opposed to making it a more perfect union – is highly profitable today. And Kaepernick is cashing in big time.
So, there ‘tis.
Editor’s note: After Kaepernick’s latest tweets, any team would be crazy to pick him up again. And would his team mates want to work with him? Maybe half will and half won’t. It would divide the team. Disaster.
As is so often the case with your posts, this one is filled with half truths and misses the bottom line. The bottom line is that black people do have a legitimate concern with how police react to them. Colin was a leader in a movement to protest their concer, and he did it by taking a knee during the National anthem. Now this is clearly not the usual and customary way of projecting oneself during the anthem, but is it disrespectful? Certainly not, and that is finally being realized four years later. Of course racist conservatives were quick to jump on this as an act disrespecting our military and the fool in the WH was quick to fan those flames for political advantage, but all that really did was show the narrow-mindedness of much of the football audience. As was stated at the time, it was not meant to disrespect the military or the flag, but merely to draw attention to an injustice. It can be argued that Colin should have known better, because there are so many narrow-minded individuals in this country, but he thought the cause was worth it, and I salute him for that. I for one will never watch football or go to a game as long as he sits idle. So there tis…
It’s snowflakes like you that have bought into the propaganda that the media and the liberals have used to support there agenda. Where was his protest when Obama was President? And you this was not meant to be disrespectful is spoken like someone that was NEVER in the military. Where is the blacks outrage over black on black violence? How about the facts that 40% of blacks are on welfare. Get an education and learn before you continue to look like one the the mindless sheep that follows the libtards. Quit blaming whites for the failure of blacks in this country.
Rick-The fact that you are ignorant is obvious. Colin started taking a knee to protest police actions against blacks in 2016. Obama was President. And since when is bowing in prayer (taking a knee) disrespectful? It is only jerks like you that see it that way, the rest of t the world sees it for what it is, a protest. Wake up and have a little empathy for your fellow man instead of being part of the flock of sheep being led by the idiot currently in the WH.
Mike, Your attempts to recast reality is pathetic. We traditionally STAND out of respect for the Anthem and the flag because it represents a belief in an overarching common culture. We can disagree and debate within our common community, but to attack the very bond that makes us American is a deal breaker. Intentionally sitting or kneeling is a show of disrespect to the American bond. Maybe Kaepernick could have stood and scratched his crotch as a show of concern about police. It would have had no more relevancy to the issue. And you playing the race card to defend your position is utterly disgusting. THAT is racism. If hsi kneeling did not reflect disrespect for the flag, how do you explain his tweets against American in general. He is among those who would have America become a nation of competing tribes.
Larry, your utter lack of empathy for a significant portion of the American populace in your response is as obvious as it is stupid (and racist). As was widely reported during the times when the first ‘take a knee’ protests were ongoing, the players said they meant no disrespect to either the military or the flag. Why can’t you accept that? Why does everyone have to conform to your idea of what is “respectful”. Who gave you the right to determine what is respectful when the anthem is played anyway? Why is doing something different so awful? You answer none of these questions in your response to my comments, you only bring up tweets that were not specifically identified in your article as further justification for your position and try to blast me for bringing up racism. The only thing that is clear is the narrow-mindedness of your conservative beliefs, and your inability to empathize with those who have a real problem facing them. Disgusting…
Larry-In thinking about this a little more, I think it is rich that you would bring up Kaepernick’s tweets as a reason that he should not be given his old job back, especially since they have nothing to do with how he performs his job as quarterback. And yet you continue to enthusiastically support a president who continually tweets lies and divisive rhetoric to the American public which, without doubt, does directly affect his job performance So hypocritical on your part, and yes, I will say it again, racist. So there tis…..
It does however affect how the fans see him though. Behavior codes are in every NFL contract, and bad behavior affects the game. Football is just an entertainment business, when ticket revenue falls, its bad for the business of football. Does he have the right to speak? Sure. Do people have the right to hate him and avoid him. Yep.
The rest of your email is fantasy crap.