Colin Kaepernick protests anthem over treatment of minorities

[Face McShooty]

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick says he refused to stand during the national anthem Friday because of his views on the country's treatment of racial minorities.

 

"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 told NFL Media after Friday's game. "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."

 

The 49ers acknowledged in a statement that Kaepernick sat on the team's bench during the national anthem before their game against the Green Bay Packers.

 

"The national anthem is and always will be a special part of the pregame ceremony," the statement said. "It is an opportunity to honor our country and reflect on the great liberties we are afforded as its citizens. In respecting such American principles as freedom of religion and freedom of expression, we recognize the right of an individual to choose to participate, or not, in our celebration of the national anthem."

 

Kaepernick told NFL Media that he did not tell the team he was planning to protest the national anthem.

 

"This is not something that I am going to run by anybody," he said. "I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people that are oppressed. ... If they take football away, my endorsements from me, I know that I stood up for what is right."

 

Kaepernick also refused to stand for the national anthem in at least one other 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. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way."

 

49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, on his decision to sit during the national anthem

 

Pro Football Talk initially reported that Kaepernick did not stand during the anthem. He was not asked about his decision during his postgame news conference, which was held before the Pro Football Talk report.

 

Kaepernick, who is biracial, was adopted and raised by white parents. He has been outspoken on his Twitter account on civil rights issues and in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

 

Numerous high-profile athletes have spoken out about civil rights issues in the wake of gun violence throughout the United States. In July, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul opened the ESPYS with a call for social change and an end to violence, and WNBA players wore warm-up shirts to show solidarity after shootings in Minnesota and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

 

Wade's cousin, Nykea Aldridge, was killed by gunfire in Chicago on Friday, a day after Wade participated in a series of panel discussions on gun violence hosted by The Undefeated on ESPN.

 

Kaepernick told NFL Media that he had thought about going public with his feelings for a while but that "I felt that I needed to understand the situation better."

 

He joins team sports athletes including Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf and Carlos Delgado in refusing to participate during patriotic American songs. Abdul-Rauf was suspended one game by the NBA in 1996 for not standing during the national anthem, saying the United States had a history of tyranny and doing so would conflict with his Islamist beliefs. He later agreed to stand and pray silently during the song. Delgado would leave the field in 2004 during "God Bless America" in protest of the Iraq War.

 

Kaepernick made his preseason debut against the Packers after sitting out the first two exhibition games because of tightness in his right shoulder. Kaepernick went 2-for-6 for 14 yards and added 18 yards on four carries in the 49ers' 21-10 loss.

 

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17401815/colin-kaepernick-san-francisco-49ers-sits-national-anthem-prior-preseason-game?ex_cid=sportscenterFB&sf34480771=1

[Delibirb]

I've always been respectful of people who choose not to acknowledge the flag in protest, however, I also respectfully disagree with their reasoning.

 

I personally believe the flag isn't representative of the country and what it stands for, it's a representation of what the country needs to work towards, what it should stand for. It's a symbol of hope to overcome whatever oppression or unfairness is at play; a reminder to remove the systemic barrier, not symbol of it itself. I'll stand to that idea any day.

[Face McShooty]

I've always been respectful of people who choose not to acknowledge the flag in protest, however, I also respectfully disagree with their reasoning.

 

I personally believe the flag isn't representative of the country and what it stands for, it's a representation of what the country needs to work towards, what it should stand for. It's a symbol of hope to overcome whatever oppression or unfairness is at play; a reminder to remove the systemic barrier, not symbol of it itself. I'll stand to that idea any day.

100% agree on everything you said

[Wizarus]

It's really not that big of a deal to me. I think people care way too much about this Anthem, and symbols in general in this country.

[Dad]

Kaepernick is full of sheet.  This is an attempt draw attention to his shitty career that's already plummeting.  Mind you what he said might suggest he gives a damn, suddenly proclaiming this to be the reason he sat down is a load of crap.

[Ryusei the Morning Star]

[Aerion Brightflame]

Serving in the army doesn't make you a hero. Being a hero would make you a hero, serving in the army just means you served So that poster is kinda stupid. Well that and the fact he said America oppresses minorities, not the flag. So it's just the usual pro military propoganda trying to mininize what the guy said without addressing his point. It might just be a publicity stunt but he talks about an issue that does clearly exist in US.

[Ryusei the Morning Star]

Yeh, that's not how we see our vets here

 

You serve, we honor

 

NFL has become a Leftwing CJ and this guy has no future. What the Bears did was the perfect way to spit on his face

[Face McShooty]

Yeh, that's not how we see our vets here

 

You serve, we honor

 

NFL has become a Leftwing CJ and this guy has no future. What the Bears did was the perfect way to spit on his face

What did the Bears do?

[Ryusei the Morning Star]

What did the Bears do?

Everyone stood up in a line of solidarity for the national anthem

Btfo moment for this loser

[Aerion Brightflame]

I know that is the common perception of Vets in the US, but it's bollocks. You get truly terrible people in the military who rape and steal and kill on tour when not needed, you get people who've never seen a day in action, you get bullys you get arseholes. And yes you get heroes and good men too but it's naive to think 'he served thus hes a hero'.

 

It being the cultural norm does not make it right, nor does it justify using the idea of 'a hero' to sheet on someone pointing out social injustice in an attempt to change it - show me this 'hero' doing the same?

 

Because everyone agreed that minorities had it bad in the 'funk liberals' thread, and there's enough evidence of it being the result of the US Goverment directly. Are ironically the issues of minorities only revelant when you are going 'funk liberals' or is it just the fact the guy isn't being overly patriotic that's the issue?

 

Because the guy has stood for this before this instance so the idea of it solely as a PR grab is lessened (that's obviously still a part of it since he's a football player)

[Ryusei the Morning Star]

Still doesn't account for the fact that he gave up millions. He's not getting that back no matter how many of those gross alligations you put forward he does.

 

There was no funk liberals thread. There's a funk leftist thread, bashing people who think "bullying" is actually a logical reason to deride someone's enlistment. Give me a break Tom. The guy is on his way out so he decided to take a big sheet while doing so. If Hope Solo's actions merit 6 months off as shaming her country this guy deserves a Perma expulsion for his staggering disrespect to the country that gave him everything

[LordCowCowCowCowCowCowCowCow]

Okay so first of all think about this objectively. What does the uproar over this mean?
We put more stock in standing for a national anthem and forced patriotism (Because it is forced, given that we're saying someone can't choose not to without it being bad.) than people's opinions.

Let's not get into if he believes what he says or not yet. Let's start with that simple fact. He basically is saying he disagrees with the idea of being made to do something just because it's his "duty as an American" because he doesn't believe that America deserves that respect at the moment.

Whether you agree that he's right or not you have to agree in his right to do it. I mean, aren't most people who are saying "How dare he not do this, if you don't like America leave" and such the same types who talk about freedom of speech? Where's that freedom of speech now? It feels wrong that evidently this man can't choose to not do something that's not really, thinking logically, that important.

He has his opinion, and he acted upon it. Sure disagreeing with it is one thing but there are people calling for him to be fired, jailed, or even just spreading the name-calling. It's just not right.

[Ryusei the Morning Star]

He's not the first person to fault America's problems. Unlike others who have issues with it, he shamed the nation on live television

 

There's certainly an avenue of free speech he could have taken that doesn't take a dump on all our servicemen and women

[LordCowCowCowCowCowCowCowCow]

He's not the first person to fault America's problems. Unlike others who have issues with it, he shamed the nation on live television

 

There's certainly an avenue of free speech he could have taken that doesn't take a dump on all our servicemen and women

And why does that matter? Why does shaming the nation matter really?

You are big on not worrying about insulting or offending individuals and yet you stand up for the general idea of servicemen and the nation being insulted?

[Aerion Brightflame]

He didn't do that - you brought the military into this. He just expressed his right not to honour a nation that's done shitty things. As anyone in any nation should be able to do because we have the right to freedom of expression.

 

The link doesn't mention coffee at all. You did. tThe link and text doesn't mention the military you did. You tried to shame him for the sake of mindless patriotism.

[Ryusei the Morning Star]

And why does that matter? Why does shaming the nation matter really?

You are big on not worrying about insulting or offending individuals and yet you stand up for the general idea of servicemen and the nation being insulted?

Some kid my age who had daddy pay for him to go to a top 20 school being triggered cause I said the word rape is different than dishonoring the sacrifices of people who fought and bled for this country's safety.

 

When that SJW contributes something meaningful to society, then I'll give a damn about how triggered he is

[LordCowCowCowCowCowCowCowCow]

Some kid my age who had daddy pay for him to go to a top 20 school being triggered cause I said the word rape is different than dishonoring the sacrifices of people who fought and bled for this country's safety.

 

When that SJW contributes something meaningful to society, then I'll give a damn about how triggered he is

Why? The first involves an actual emotional response from one person. The second involves a mere concept.

[Ryusei the Morning Star]

He didn't do that - you brought the military into this. He just expressed his right not to honour a nation that's done shitty things. As anyone in any nation should be able to do because we have the right to freedom of expression.

 

The link doesn't mention coffee at all. You did. tThe link and text doesn't mention the military you did. You tried to shame him for the sake of mindless patriotism.

He's not honoring a nation that's given everything to him. He's being a hypocrite. If he really cared so much about the poor blacks he says are systemically hunted then why is he sitting all cozy on his multi million dollar salary.

 

He's about to be booted, so he's creating a controversy to get himself a fanbase to defend him when it happens

 

That's not true at all Tom. How many times have I attacked the President and other politicians who "represent" our countries. There is a much better way to do it than directly disrespect something that our servicemen fight to keep flying high

 

My country is flawed af, but I'm not gonna take a piss on the graves of people defending my country to express my distaste. The national anthem and the flag describe our men and women in uniform as well as the progress we're making. If he should have gone and heckled a politician's speech if he was really crying tears for the plight of the blacks

 

I'm saying he had poor tact, and hasn't done much to show he really cared before this

[Ryusei the Morning Star]

Why? The first involves an actual emotional response from one person. The second involves a mere concept.

Why? Because SJW contribute nothing to society? They're just added friction and bickering for non-issues. They're not productive. How much better has social justice gotten since the warriors started crying about everything (Hint: It hasn't)

 

The second isn't a concept. The anthem represents our fight for a better future. That's what he's bashing. Our future, and the past's sacrifices 

 

FML, sorry for double post

 

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/293722-trump-kaepernick-should-find-another-country

[LordCowCowCowCowCowCowCowCow]

Why? Because SJW contribute nothing to society? They're just added friction and bickering for non-issues. They're not productive. How much better has social justice gotten since the warriors started crying about everything (Hint: It hasn't)

 

The second isn't a concept. The anthem represents our fight for a better future. That's what he's bashing. Our future, and the past's sacrifices 

 

FML, sorry for double post

 

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/293722-trump-kaepernick-should-find-another-country

The concept of patriotism and the military does less. Because it's a concept. It has no feelings to hurt. And forcing people to respect something is NOT a good practice. Especially something with obvious flaws.

You just said it isn't a concept. And then said it represents something.

So bashing ideas is wrong now? We're going to kick out everyone who doesn't agree entirely with us? That's what you want for our country?

[Delibirb]

He has the legal right to do what he did, his reasons shouldn't be in question because his career is failing or because he's a millionaire. And as someone mentioned, this isn't the first time he's done something like this.

 

It's peaceful and respectful protest, not SJW bullshit. He didn't say no one should stand for the flag, he said he wasn't going to because this and that.

 

Like I said, I disagree with this reasoning, but it isn't difficult to respect what he's trying to make a statement for/about. There's no need to bash him as a person over this, at all. Burning a flag, maybe.

 

So Winter, if you could cease with your incessant witch hunt, that'd be lovely and maybe this thread can die, cause it's not a topic that needs to go this far.

[Dad]

Jesus Christ.  You guys can't even discuss anything opinionated without turning it into a shitpost.  First and only warning.  Keep it civil.