DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Kaepernick refuses to stand for National Anthem

IMO, I see a lot of it as hating on someone for what they believe in, and that's not criticism, it's just hate.

My reasoning behind that is the delivery of the message, alot more people will listen to the message when its delivered without something negative attached to it.

He imo, is one of the last people that should be doing what he did, he's a multimillionaire, he's lived a charmed life,

I disagree. If he made a passionate plea without any controversy attached to it, the story would have faded by Sunday afternoon.


I will ask, then who is the right person at the right time to speak up? I'm not a huge Russell Brand fan, but he said this and I found it pretty interesting.... “When I was poor and complained about inequality they said I was bitter; now that I'm rich and I complain about inequality they say I'm a hypocrite. I'm beginning to think they just don't want to talk about inequality.”

No...noone is talking about anything other than how much of a douche he is...thats not bringing any focus to his cause,

and the person that should speak up, is the persons who actively participates in the solution, not..look at me. He is a look at me type activist..

oh look i don't like the country but I'm just going to disrespect every single person who died for it by sitting down and that will accomplish fixing it.

What I find so intriguing about his opinion is that if America oppresses/ suppresses certain minority groups so readily, why do so many from around the world seem to want to come here?

Jerseys Lives Matter.

I would listen to someone who was about positive action that didn't slight one group of people to bring awareness to another,

but it doesn't mean i don't find him a douche and think that he comes across as a whiny bitch who just wants people to talk about him again.

Granted, I may be somewhat biased having served and fought in 4 continents for these rights and like many have lost brothers fighting for the same rights, the flag and the anthem represents something different to us. When i hear the anthem and see the presentation of the colors, I'm not thinking of anything other than paying respect to those who past and present that can't be here because their commitment to country to defend the very rights idiots like him think its ok to exercise in such a way that is disrespectful. Theres alot about the government and policies and what not that I don't approve of, but believe me, as bad as it is, I've seen so much worse. Still the greatest country in the world.

As I've said people have the right to disrespect the anthem, the flag, what it represents, but it doesn't mean that I in turn can't express my displeasure. Also if done in my presence will surely be met with a size 12 straight up their 4th POC.

The key for him is what he does from here. If this is the extent of his activism, well he's even dumber than he's given credit for.

But if he uses this as a springboard to bring more awareness, then the vitriol will subside and then it becomes a different defining moment,

but if i was to venture a guess, this is where it will end for him, he'll pay lip service to every microphone he comes across. But he won't do anything that will facilitate much more change.

Both sides kept saying that the other side was ignorant and people need to educate themselves before speaking.

Just read an article about how he's felt this way for almost a year, but nobody noticed until now.

http://www.businessinsider.com/colin-kaepernick-social-injustice-sat-national-anthem-2016-8

I gotta admit, this makes it look a lot more legit, imo. It also lends credence to the argument that he's getting people to talk about the issue. I have to sit and think about my earlier point of view.

And where did you see he did this for 3 weeks, I haven't seen that anywhere.

i said nothing about protesting. I have no issues with that.

I've been clear, what he did was not protesting, it was selfish disrespect which he has zero credibility.

That's a subject that deserves its own thread in EE. I hope you start such a thread. I'd be very happy to discuss this with my fellow Dawgs, because it digs deep into not only what America represents to those on the outside, it also reflects upon what America IS to those "on the inside."

We should all have that talk... even if some beloved members of the pound might squirm at what this Dawg might have to say.

_______________

As for Kaep, and what he did:

It doesn't really effect me one way or another. I certainly wasn't offended by it, but I'm certain that I would have dealt with the issue differently. I have a 30 year career that attests to it. In the EE thread, I mentioned that I've actually played the national anthem more than 300 times since I began drawing a paycheck. I probably played it 100 times before I was hired. I can't imagine sitting there onstage- mute, motionless, silent... while 1700 people rose to their feet and sang, while my colleagues played that piece. I simply wasn't raised to behave that way. My Mother would be mortified. My Father (a WWII vet and police Officer) would be supremely disappointed. I'd NEVER do anything in public to bring discomfort to either of them.

By contrast, I was raised to speak plainly and from my heart when the opportunities present themselves... which is why I 'Preach the Clemens Family Gospel' on these boards every time subjects like these pop up. I'd dishonor the way I was raised, and My Family's struggle for equality by shirking my duty as a 21st century fully-functioning American citizen. America NEEDS to know how She treated Your Neighbor, if she is to continually work toward making Herself 'a more perfect union.'

There truly IS a 'different America' that America's Descendants of Slaves experience that no other immigrant population has ever been forced to endure. CK made a stand in much the same way that the 1968 200M gold and silver medalists did in the Mexico City Olympic games:




...and here we are, talking about the same level of 'social outrage' that was sparked almost 50 years ago, when two American Citizens mounted a social protest about their Mother Country's inequities- on a world stage.

The conformist in me is surprised by CK's demonstration.
The 'Angry Black Male' in me applauds it.

The Clemdawg you all know is here to talk about it... because it's still an issue- a PROBLEM in a country that points to the inscription at the base of the statue of liberty as the 'sales pitch' for its incredibly diverse constituents.


I'd probably never do what KC, John Carlos and Tommie Smith did... but I won't castigate them for the steps they took. I've tried to do the same here in our message board threads. The only difference between them and me: time, place, and context.

America has been a shining beacon for the rest of the world, and for a great many things that other nations simply cannot boast. But She is not perfect. And Her imperfections should be viewed as 'works in progress' by her own citizens who seek to make Her A More Perfect Union.

When the 1968 Olympians raised their fists in protest, when CK refused to stand for the anthem, when I openly contribute my thoughts on America here at DT... these are ALL voices trying to be heard- each of us speaking in a different way, each of us speaking about the same problem.

It makes NONE of us less American, less patriotic, less- 'worthy.'

It simply makes us dissatisfied with the status quo.
If there is one unifying theme that runs through all these different kinds of protest, it's this:


ALL of us want Our Country to be better. For ALL of us.


I hope you can understand where I'm coming from.


.02,
Clemdawg.

LOL..........you're right. And the missing word is "dumb."

That's a subject that deserves its own thread in EE. I hope you start such a thread. I'd be very happy to discuss this with my fellow Dawgs, because it digs deep into not only what America represents to those on the outside, it also reflects upon what America IS to those "on the inside."

We should all have that talk... even if some beloved members of the pound might squirm at what this Dawg might have to say.

_______________

As for Kaep, and what he did:

It doesn't really effect me one way or another. I certainly wasn't offended by it, but I'm certain that I would have dealt with the issue differently. I have a 30 year career that attests to it. In the EE thread, I mentioned that I've actually played the national anthem more than 300 times since I began drawing a paycheck. I probably played it 100 times before I was hired. I can't imagine sitting there onstage- mute, motionless, silent... while 1700 people rose to their feet and sang, while my colleagues played that piece. I simply wasn't raised to behave that way. My Mother would be mortified. My Father (a WWII vet and police Officer) would be supremely disappointed. I'd NEVER do anything in public to bring discomfort to either of them.

By contrast, I was raised to speak plainly and from my heart when the opportunities present themselves... which is why I 'Preach the Clemens Family Gospel' on these boards every time subjects like these pop up. I'd dishonor the way I was raised, and My Family's struggle for equality by shirking my duty as a 21st century fully-functioning American citizen. America NEEDS to know how She treated Your Neighbor, if she is to continually work toward making Herself 'a more perfect union.'

There truly IS a 'different America' that America's Descendants of Slaves experience that no other immigrant population has ever been forced to endure. CK made a stand in much the same way that the 1968 200M gold and silver medalists did in the Mexico City Olympic games:




...and here we are, talking about the same level of 'social outrage' that was sparked almost 50 years ago, when two American Citizens mounted a social protest about their Mother Country's inequities- on a world stage.

The conformist in me is surprised by CK's demonstration.
The 'Angry Black Male' in me applauds it.

The Clemdawg you all know is here to talk about it... because it's still an issue- a PROBLEM in a country that points to the inscription at the base of the statue of liberty as the 'sales pitch' for its incredibly diverse constituents.


I'd probably never do what KC, John Carlos and Tommie Smith did... but I won't castigate them for the steps they took. I've tried to do the same here in our message board threads. The only difference between them and me: time, place, and context.

America has been a shining beacon for the rest of the world, and for a great many things that other nations simply cannot boast. But She is not perfect. And Her imperfections should be viewed as 'works in progress' by her own citizens who seek to make Her A More Perfect Union.

When the 1968 Olympians raised their fists in protest, when CK refused to stand for the anthem, when I openly contribute my thoughts on America here at DT... these are ALL voices trying to be heard- each of us speaking in a different way, each of us speaking about the same problem.

It makes NONE of us less American, less patriotic, less- 'worthy.'

It simply makes us dissatisfied with the status quo.
If there is one unifying theme that runs through all these different kinds of protest, it's this:


ALL of us want Our Country to be better. For ALL of us.


I hope you can understand where I'm coming from.


.02,
Clemdawg.