This past Friday evening, San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick chose not to stand and salute the flag during the National Anthem prior to the game vs. the Green Bay Packers.
In his words: “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way.
There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”
We live in a country where we have heroes who wake up each day to lay their lives on the line to protect the freedoms and liberties that we enjoy each and every day. Kaepernick included.
Although what he said may be described as un-American, un-professional, dillusional, disappointing, the fact is he has the right to express himself, as do we all.
Recently, many professional athletes in all sports have spoken out about the need to get into the neighborhood, work on the racial divide in this country, maybe this was Kaepernick’s way of contributing to his community, no one knows for sure.
The problem as I see it is not what he said as much as the hypocrisy oozing from his comments.
Kaepernick was born to a 19 year old indigent white female, his father, an African-American male left her to fend for herself with a newborn and, making a decision no mother should have to make, put her child up for adoption where he was then adopted by an affluent upper class white family from Wisconsin.
Kapnerick has a net worth of an estimated 60 million dollars, let me simplify that, $60,000,000.00. That being said, how can he possibly know the plight of the oppressed black community?
He wasn’t raised that way. He didn’t have to fight his way out, he is “protesting ” against the same establishment that gave him what he has.
His problem isn’t the American Flag or what it stands for, it isn’t the National Anthem and what that means to all of us, heck, it’s not even Blaine Gabbert, the man he should be worried about taking his starting QB job, no folks, Colin Kaepernick’s problem is…… Colin Kaepernick.
Vince McKee
August 28, 2016 at 11:34 pm
profound
nice work!
Well worded and very true.
Debbie Clarke
August 29, 2016 at 10:25 am
I LOVE love love the NEO Insider’s contributing reporters& their reports. REAL people telling it like it is. Too bad our news stations aren’t as interested in the truth-our country would be making better informed decisions if they were. Truly enjoy all the articles. Keep up the great work& honest perspective.
John
August 29, 2016 at 1:51 pm
I could not disagree more with the author. You do not know about Kaepernack’s background. What, you know that he was adopted so that means he has never faced racism? You know that he has never faced hatred and bigotry? How do you know what he has gone through? And you certainly do not know of any outreach that he may have done in communities. This is really a pretty crappy article. I support the guy. He has a pulpit and he can use it. Like Ali did. Like Tommie Smith and John Carlos did at the ’68 Summer Olympics. He is calling attention in a way HE sees appropriate. And for that he cant be faulted even if you disagree with him. Our Flag, our nation is not without blemish.
Ruben Rodriguez
August 29, 2016 at 2:43 pm
John, thank you for reading the article! Although it’s true that I do not know his background the truth is that HE does. I am just exercising my freedom to express myself as well as he. Please continue to follow our posts, much appreciated.
Steve Pajk
August 31, 2016 at 11:30 pm
Well said Ruben! Bravo!