Poor Sportsmanship in the NFL

[Magpie]

The irony is that those very people he disrespects by not standing DO support his right to sit, and they have and they continue to fight for that very right. That doesn't mean that they don't find what he did disrespectful though.

And as far as the stand or get out, well if he is so unhappy with the way his country treats its citizens, namely black citizens he is free to reside in a country that he can be proud of and support the way it treats its black citizens. Its a pretty logical conclusion, if where you live makes you unhappy you move.

Or, you know, if where you live makes you unhappy, you could non-violently protest for change.

 

[Hikergirl]

Or, you know, if where you live makes you unhappy, you could non-violently protest for change.

True, but you could also move to a place that is just the way you like it

 

[Flight]

Actually, this makes me very uncomfortable... not every young black man can become a pro football player, though too many do waste their life and ruin their health trying. A few "make it". Many more are exploited, injured, and abandoned. It's much the same forces of poverty and limited opportunity and lack of education that forces many individuals into the military. When you have no other options, where do you go?

Football is not the answer to poverty, education is. And so, you'd think the whole college athletics scholarship system might be a perfect solution to the problem. In exchange for your athletic efforts on our school's behalf, we'll pay for your education. But it doesn't work like that! College athletes are even more exploited than pro athletes, and they almost never get any kind of education out of the experience either.

(Edit: Do be careful clicking on the link below. John Oliver has a bit of a potty mouth and they don't bleep him very well. It's still worth watching, though!)

Kaepernick holding up himself as an example to other young black men would be like saying, "You too can be a multimillionaire if you spend every last dollar on lottery tickets! I did, and I won! You can win, too!" I suspect he knows that, too.

Neil DeGrasse Tyson (arguably a much more successful black man than Colin Kaepernick) has talked about the obstacles that stand in the way of black men in the sciences. Teachers saying to him, "Science? Don't you want to be an athlete?" He talks about the road blocks in his way, and how his passion inspired him to overcome them... and then he talks about looking behind and wondering how much blood is on the tracks, that he made it when so many didn't. He doesn't say, "I succeeded, so what's wrong with you?" He says we need to remove those obstacles and level the playing field.

And he's absolutely right. He's not an example of how "they too can have the same opportunity in this country", he's an example of how unfairly the system is stacked against one segment of the population.

Superbly written post! One of the best I have read.

Backed up by two excellent videos (and yes, some need to be careful when considering watching the John Oliver video - bad language but an important eye opener).

 

[Magpie]

True, but you could also move to a place that is just the way you like it

I think if you care at all about your country, you pretty much have to stay and try to fix it (and my Quaker childhood training insists that "speaking up" and "peaceful protest" are entirely legit ways to attempt to change things).

I assume he loves his country. That's why he hasn't left it.

Me, I emigrated to Canada from the US when I was nine and realized a few years ago that the country of my heart isn't the US, it's Canada. So, I renounced my US citizenship, because as a citizen, I am always responsible for my country and have to do my best, in whatever small way, to make it better. And I didn't want to be responsible for the US in that way any more (especially as I really wasn't living up to my responsibilities, what with living, working, marrying, even serving in a "foreign" military).

 

[Gracie09]

How sad nfl players have been convicted of crimes ranging from domestic violence to rape to murder to drug dealing to animal cruelty but a man sitting down is what gets people's panties in a twist.

 

[LisaR]

http://www.vox.com/2016/7/13/12118332/john-carlos-olympics

John Calos was the American runner who raised his fist on the podium during the '68 Olympics.
A quiet, non violent protest that many still talk about today. Agree or disagree, it doesn't matter. It generates conversation.

 

[Gracie09]

http://www.vox.com/2016/7/13/12118332/john-carlos-olympics

John Calos was the American runner who raised his fist on the podium during the '68 Olympics.
A quiet, non violent protest that many still talk about today. Agree or disagree, it doesn't matter. It generates conversation.

Don't forget the etheopean (I know I spelled it wrong I'm on my phone) who flashed a protest sign as he crossed the finish line of the marathon. He is now seeking asylum because he will be shot if he goes home. To me the us means the right to protest peacefully without fear of being killed for my beliefs.

 

[Gracie09]

True, but you could also move to a place that is just the way you like it

True but wasn't this country founded by people trying to fix what was wrong with the current govt. I'm not saying revolution but throughout history from slavery to women's rights to the civil rights movement to gay rights etc all were accomplished by people staying put and fixing the injustice they saw. Maybe his protest will amount to nothing but maybe it will be he catalyst for social change.

 

[gotomu212]

If all of us left the country when upset about something it would be a pretty empty place. If you can't look back on 250 years of our history and not find something that offends you to your core you're pretty ambivalent. This country swings left to right and back again fairly regularly so someone is always pretty ticked about how things are going at some point.

I myself am really glad that my ancestors dating back 350 years chose to stay in America and change things they weren't happy about rather than finding a new place to live.

 

[Hikergirl]

I think if you care at all about your country, you pretty much have to stay and try to fix it (and my Quaker childhood training insists that "speaking up" and "peaceful protest" are entirely legit ways to attempt to change things).

I assume he loves his country. That's why he hasn't left it.

Me, I emigrated to Canada from the US when I was nine and realized a few years ago that the country of my heart isn't the US, it's Canada. So, I renounced my US citizenship, because as a citizen, I am always responsible for my country and have to do my best, in whatever small way, to make it better. And I didn't want to be responsible for the US in that way any more (especially as I really wasn't living up to my responsibilities, what with living, working, marrying, even serving in a "foreign" military).

I think you are right, there is nothing wrong with trying to change things in a country you love. I also don't think there is anything wrong with leaving either, or have it suggested to you. I don't get the impression he loves his country but that is just my simple opinion, I'm not claiming to know what he is thinking.
Personally, I don't think his protest will change anything except maybe people's opinion of him.

I do agree with the pp that said it has people talking, but if this thread is an example of what people are talking about, that isn't going to change anything either. This will all be forgotten about next week and his protest would have meant nothing.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

True but wasn't this country founded by people trying to fix what was wrong with the current govt.

Which brings us back around to my original point: the US Government isn't in the business of employing local police officers.

 

[Gracie09]

Which brings us back around to my original point: the US Government isn't in the business of employing local police officers.

The constitution does simply apply to the federal government

 

[Hikergirl]

True but wasn't this country founded by people trying to fix what was wrong with the current govt. I'm not saying revolution but throughout history from slavery to women's rights to the civil rights movement to gay rights etc all were accomplished by people staying put and fixing the injustice they saw. Maybe his protest will amount to nothing but maybe it will be he catalyst for social change.

You mean the people that left their country for a better life?
This country is made up of immigrants who left their home countries because of a number of reasons.
People still do that today.
You want change do something about it. That can mean sitting your butt down on a bench, or moving to a place that you are happy with. Nothing wrong with either. Or rather, nothing wrong with exercising your right to do either, I can't say I personally respect his way of protesting.

 

[Gracie09]

You mean the people that left their country for a better life?
This country is made up of immigrants who left their home countries because of a number of reasons.
People still do that today.
You want change do something about it. That can mean sitting your butt down on a bench, or moving to a place that you are happy with. Nothing wrong with either.

Well many of them were actually born in the colonies. They could have gone west and start over but instead they stayed and protested and fought. At some point you stop leaving and start standing up (or sitting down as the case may be) and say enough.

 

[Hikergirl]

Well many of them were actually born in the colonies. They could have gone west and start over but instead they stayed and protested and fought. At some point you stop leaving and start standing up (or sitting down as the case may be) and say enough.

I'm not sure why you keep arguing, I've already agreed with you. I can see it both ways, if you can't, then okay.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

The constitution does simply apply to the federal government

So, now it's s Constitutional protest??

 

[JoeA]

Serious question - I see and hear a lot about BLM but are Kapernick and Company doing anything about cities like Chicago and Baltimore? Or other inner cities with similar problems?

Chicago has had roughly 358 black citizens murdered this year (478 total and 75% are black according to my buddy Google) while Baltimore has had 200 homicides (not sure of the breakdown).

 

[Magpie]

Serious question - I see and hear a lot about BLM but are Kapernick and Company doing anything about cities like Chicago and Baltimore? Or other inner cities with similar problems?

Chicago has had roughly 358 black citizens murdered this year (478 total and 75% are black according to my buddy Google) while Baltimore has had 200 homicides (not sure of the breakdown).

I think this sports journalist has a better answer for you than anything I could ever come up with:

49ers' Colin Kaepernick sat during national anthem and sparked national debate; what's your contribution?

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/thomps...ing_wp_cron=1472600291.6964480876922607421875

 

[Hikergirl]

I guess you got your answer JoeA,
deflect, deflect and deflect......

 

[Gracie09]

So, now it's s Constitutional protest??

well you brought up freedom of expression and federal govt ergo constitution. Civil rights is a constitutional issue