New public enemy#1 - NFL QB won't stand for national anthem - oppression of people of color

[underpants]

Look out Colin it is going to come pouring down on you.
I, personally, may just be conditioned but I wouldn't go to this extent. That's just me.



“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 Steve Wyche of NFL Media. “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.”

As others have noted (and as PFT was informed when first becoming aware of the issue of Friday), Kaepernick hasn’t stood for the playing of the national anthem at any of his team’s three preseason games. Last night the gesture was noticed because, for the first time this year, he was wearing a uniform bearing his name and number.

“This is not something that I am going to run by anybody,” Kaepernick 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.”

NBC Sports

[KG]

1. solidarnosc

[roamer65]

2. This is what is still great about America.

He has the choice to do it and it should be respected.

[zentrum]

43. What's not so great about America

…is that the fourth stanza of the Anthem supports slavery and was written by a slave-owner and anti-abolitionist.

We won't be really great until we tell the truth about our history and hagiography. And why do we need an anthem built on war-imagery? Let's evolve a little.

[A HERETIC I AM]

56. 3rd.

But I don't think it "supports" slavery, as opposed to referencing it.

Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
‘Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

[UMTerp01]

3. I support Kaepernick not standing

For me, the flag means many things. I have great respect for our military and have many in my family who are military so I always stand with my right hand over my heart and sing when the National Anthem is played. But thats me. Not every one feels that way and it is Kaepernick's right to protest if he wants. I find it very hypocritical that many of the same people always screaming about 1st Amendment right to protest have an issue with him for doing this, and the fact that they are angrier with Colin Kaepernick for not standing during the National Anthem and not angry at the social justice issues he's saying are the reason he won't stand for the National Anthem. Like....make up your mind people. I have been battling trolls all morning on twitter. Colin is my fraternity brother so its a bit more personal for me.

This is the same kind of hypocritical shit that bothers me about religious people. You prioritize "sin" with gay being at the very top but ignore all of the other "sins" that are in the Bible. Like GTFOH with this madness.

[brush]

38. Hey, Nupe, I stand with you and Brother Kaepernick. I don't stand either. Change has to happen first

[mrmpa]

44. nine years ago.......

my then 16 year old nephew and I went on a camping trip out west. We both are very liberal & progressive. We knew what type of people and environments we would be in. He checked my SUV & made sure all my bumper stickers against Bush and pro-union were removed. He didn't want the vehicle damaged. We also knew we would be going to a rodeo & a few other outdoor events. We talked & said that we would stand for the Pledge of Allegiance & the National anthem & nothing else.


One event we went to, Lee Greenwood's song "proud to an American" was played. Everyone but us two stood up and sang along. When we didn't stand we had a number of people glaring at us. At the time this song was being played everywhere & it was being treated like a second US national anthem.

At a Rodeo there was a long winded prayer over the loud speaker that extolled the virtues of Bush. Again neither of us stood and people just stared at us. When they got around to the National Anthem we did stand with my nephew taking off his hat, while a number of men around us kept their hats on. My nephew nudged the man in front of him & said "take off your hat". The man looked at him, but finally complied.

These people who complain about people like Colin, and stare at people like me and my nephew have absolutely no idea what it is to be "patriotic". Being patriotic is being able to see the injustices and to address them with words & actions. It is not blind.

[awoke_in_2003]

64. That Greenwood song

may be the worst song ever written- yes, even worse than MacArthur Park.

[madokie]

4. He just went way up in my opinion of him

I stand with Colin

[oswaldactedalone]

5. +1

Colin is now my new favorite NFL football player, and I don't even follow that sport.

[Hayduke Bomgarte]

6. I don't fault him for not standing.

In fact I respect him for it. I won't stand for it either, or participate in the Pledge of Alligiance. Haven't for many years.

[IVoteDFL]

7. I don't understand people who get all bent outta shape about these things

First with Gabby Douglas now this. Is it just because they are expected to stand with the hand on the heart?

I feel like athletes, more than other public figures are often treated like they owe their fans something. Do Americans feel personally rejected when one does not stand or put their hand on their heart?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

8. He should stay seated. No need to stress that shoulder by holding hand over heart.

Blaine Gabbert can stand in his stead.

Kaepernick can stay seated through the national anthem, the kickoff, the game, the season.

It is a good way (in a Trumpian sort of way) to get the cameras off the teams and singers during the national anthem, and get the attention diverted to himself. All publicity is good.

[brush]

41. Did you forget the sarcasm gif or just miss the point all together?

[yortsed snacilbuper]

9. I hope Reverand Tomlin stops praying on the side lines to win football games too.

I quit watching the Steelers.

[blue neen]

15. Mike Tomlin is entitled to his beliefs, just like you are entitled to yours.

It's strange that out of all the Pittsburgh sports personalities who have shown displays of faith over the years, you choose to ridicule Mike Tomlin. Over and over.

Either be fair about it or give it a rest. JMHO.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

18. I pay taxes in Pittsburgh, my taxes paid for Hienz field,

I don't want Heinz Field turned into a church and I'll complain about any religious nut I want to.

[blue neen]

20. Paying taxes does not give you the right to be intolerant.

Oh, and as a taxpayer in Pennsylvania, my taxes paid for Heinz Field and PNC Park and a number of other stadiums. Look it up. That still doesn't give me the right to be intolerant, especially about only one person in particular.

Oh, and your assertion that Heinz Field is being turned into a church is laughable. Just go there on any given Sunday, and you'll see that is not even close to being true. There are people there enjoying themselves who are from every possible background, ethnicity, race, and religious (or not) persuasion.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

26. tomlin is trying to get people to believe in something that dosen't exist,

He's intimidating people that aren't religious.

[blue neen]

29. Intimidating? So, you're telling me that you are afraid of Mike Tomlin. Right.

Be careful, people here are going to see what you're really up to with your accusations.

I have seen enough to know that I'm done. Have a nice time trying to explain yourself.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

33. Mike Tomlin, Steelers head coach, talks about his faith

Tomlin said he is glad to share his faith in sport's brightest media spotlight, noting, "We embrace and appreciate this platform."

http://www.bpnews.net/29752/mike-tomlin-steelers-head-coach-talks-about-his-faith

[hughee99]

22. NFL stadiums are already cathedrals in worship of

The mighty dollar, and they are already full of people praying (especially on third and long).

[Calista241]

10. Pardon me if my heart doesn't bleed for this guy that was oppressed into

signing a 6 year $114M contact.

[jehop61]

11. I wonder

how much of his time and money is he dedicating to this cause. Talk is cheap.

[tiredtoo]

12. He is not protesting his contract

He is protesting what he considers mistreatment of his people by the powers that be.
Not everyone is so self centered, some think of others in spite of their personal success.

[packman]

13. Agree with Calista 241

Let him sit down for the season or, better yet, let him sit down in his overly large house in front of his overly large plasma TV and watch the games from there - fuck him and his grandstanding. I'll take your money and all your adulation but spit in your eye attitude doesn't sit well with me. I'm sure their is a spot for him on the Canadian football system or some other non-American football team so he doesn't have to suffer .

[rury]

14. Did you read his remarks at all?

We know he's rich. He did not say that he personally was oppressed. His stance is in
protest against the treatment of people of color in general.He knows that his own wealth does not minimize the inequality, violence and oppression that many of his people suffer in the United States.
Apparently you fail to understand the concept of being wildly successful and prosperous while maintaining the ability to care about those who are mistreated and less well off.
There are those among us who don't just think of themselves.

[C Moon]

25. +1

[JI7]

19. what does that have to do with racism faced by POC ? black guys with money are

Stopped by cops all the time. Does it not matter because they have something you don't ?

[Go Vols]

21. Yep,the team owner is only worth 2.1 billion

He should take a pay cut to help her out.

[LeftyMom]

24. You know he's not going to see that money, right?

NFL contracts aren't guaranteed. He'll be cut after this season and won't get the bulk of that money.

He would have been cut this year but he was recovering from surgery and there was a contractual issue with cutting him while he was injured.

[Calista241]

59. His guaranteed amount was $61M.

The 49'ers can't cut him easily because of the cap hit they'd take. his dead money numbers are 20m+ for the next 2 years, and the team can't absorb that amount of dead money from 1 player and remain competitive.

and $61M is still a shitload of money.

[Auggie]

27. That figure is BS ... a huge amount was not guaranteed

[jtuck004]

30. The only thing that is bleeding are the black bodies in the street. No one is asking for your

enlightenment.

They are asking us to stop murdering black folk, treat them with the same respect we do other people that look like us.

Why would you treat him like you would a racist bus driver in Alabama in 1955?

You do know that despite any contract, every black parent that watches their kid leave the house wonders if they will be killed for nothing more than the color of their skin before they get home, eh?

Your "6 year $114M contact" (sic) angle is a dodge, a distraction from and defense for the racism he wants to confront.

Would you be more impressed if he was sitting in the back of the bus?

[gabeana]

36. You and some others soundlike

the non racist tweets in from this ariticle
http://www.rawstory.com/2016/08/49er-qb-kaepernick-sits-out-national-anthem-to-protest-treatment-of-blacks-and-the-bigots-go-insane/

[TrackFan12]

60. Colin... His play is Arleady bad enough

Haha this is a great response. As a 9ers fan I wish he was gone because he's not good at his job!!

[romanic]

16. I respect him for doing it and it's his right.

But I don't entirely agree with some of what he said in regards to the flag itself.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

17. Kaepernick is excercising his right to demand that the perfect drive out the good, but he's foolish.

[Bradical79]

40. I don't know what you're talking about -nt

[Bernardo de La Paz]

46. Let me try to break it down for you. I hope this is sufficient.

1. He has the right to say what he wants, including about this topic.

2. "The Perfect is the Enemy of the Good".

3. The USA is not perfect. There exists oppression of people of color.

4. The USA has made tremendous progress to ending that oppression. An example of progress is the election of an African American to the Presidency.

5. That progress will never result in perfection. There will be oppression of various kinds at various times in various ways to various degrees of severity in the future.

6. He is foolish to expect perfection.

7. He is foolish to write off all the good as if it never existed so that he can demand perfection, which will never exist.

Has that helped you understand what I was talking about?

[MyNameGoesHere]

48. Yes everyone thinks it is a silly idea.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

[Bradical79]

57. Somewhat

I feel like you're setting up a strawman though. It is not a demand for perfection as if he's complaining about some minor problem. It is a protest of police brutality which has included state sanctioned murder. There's nothing foolish about that.

[mjvpi]

23. Good for him

If 100 NFL players would do that, it would spark more public discourse than the cooperate media has. I not saying that's the way it should be, but that's the reality that we live in.

[Auggie]

28. Where is it written the National Anthem has to be played at sporting events?

[jtuck004]

31. It keeps the communists away.n/t

[LeftyMom]

32. Well it's probably in Sony's contact with the JedHole

Because it's usually some bland bit of marginal talent from their stable stretching the song out for that sweet TV time.

Murica!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

34. It's part & parcel of driving idiot meme that Athletes are greater Heroes than Scientists. . . nt

[FairWinds]

35. The people screaming for K's head on a platter . .

are the same ones who whine about "political correctness."

As a veteran, it really bothers me that people are pretty much
forced to stand and honor the Torture State.

[gabeana]

39. you nailed it right on the head

only problem is that they are too stupid to see their own hypocrisy

[Iggo]

49. They love freedom 'til someone expresses some.

[Bradical79]

37. Good for him

I thought his statement was well done.

[zentrum]

42. The Anthem has a slavery history.

The guy who wrote the thing was a slave owner. Francis Scott Key owned slaves and was an ardent anti-abolitionist. His answer to the problem of "cruelty" to slaves was——ship people back to Africa—to avoid ever having to overturn the system of slavery.

Here is the fourth stanza:

"And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

As The Root explains:

In other words, Key was saying that the blood of all the former slaves and “hirelings” on the battlefield will wash away the pollution of the British invaders. With Key still bitter that some black soldiers got the best of him a few weeks earlier, “The Star-Spangled Banner” is as much a patriotic song as it is a diss track to black people who had the audacity to fight for their freedom. Perhaps that’s why it took almost 100 years for the song to become the national anthem."

http://www.theroot.com/articles/history/2016/07/star-spangled-bigotry-the-hidden-racist-history-of-the-national-anthem/

Apart from its war/militaristic imagery we need to get rid of this song in the same we way we need to get rid of the confederate flag and the names of slave owners adorning buildings.

[FairWinds]

45. Pretty sure that the "hireling" part . .

was aimed at native americans, many of whom sided
with the British during the War of 1812 for very
understandable reasons.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

51. Do what Canada is doing and alter the Official lyrics appropriately.

The lines in question officially goes:

True patriot love in all thy sons command.

This means to raise, increase, patriot love in all the people.


The original version was gender neutral:

Weir's original lyrics from 1908 contained no religious references and used the phrase "thou dost in us command" before they were changed by Weir in 1914 to read "in all thy sons command".

A Member of Parliament has succeeded in getting a private member's bill through the House of Commons and it is now in the hands of the Senate:

In May 2016, Liberal MP Mauril Bélanger introduced a private member's Bill C-210 to change two words in "O Canada".[20] These proposed changes are said to make the anthem more gender-neutral by changing the words "thy sons" to "of us". In June 2016, the bill passed its third reading with a vote of 225 to 74 in the House of Commons.[21]

True patriot love in all of us command.

But then again, remember, Canada is going to have a Canadian woman on its currency a decade or so before the US get around to it, assuming the US can knock down alt-right objections to African Americans and women.

It may be found not so easy to change the lyrics of the Star Spangled Banner.

[needledriver]

52. Another decade for a woman on US currency?

Look up Susan B. Anthony and Sacagawea coins and get back to me.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

53. Touché! I was think of paper money. Thanks! . . . . nt

[TipTok]

47. Bye bye career...

[dembotoz]

50. jesus that took guts

when i was in high school a small group of us in my homeroom stopped doing the pledge as part of a viet nam protest.

as the seat chart would have it....we were in a back corner of the classroom so it is possible most the other students did not even know we were doing it.

the homeroom teacher was a wonderful teacher and while i never know if he approved or did not approve i think he was just happy that we cared a great deal about something...anything perhaps.....

there was peer pressure each time to stand, but that decreased over time as the student who did see us probably just chalked it up to those damn hippies in the corner.

to go public like he did....my lordy that took guts.....i wish him well

[FLPanhandle]

54. If he gave away his millions to help the oppressed, I'd be impressed

Not standing for the anthem is just grandstanding without having to do anything.

[deathrind]

55. Ok...

Good for him to acknowledge the issues and speak out but there are better ways to bring attention to the issues than this. Especially for a person with his resources and position.

Someone should advise him that that same flag and country that encompass the issues he has chosen to put a focus on while not perfect is not all evil either. Don't throw the baby out with the bath water...

[Albertoo]

58. His lack of perspective is staggering

I am not in any way a nationalist. My allegiance goes to universal humanist values.
BUT, for practical purposes, it is important to recognize it is nation-states which are the place where such values can be enshrined and defended. In that sense, when one has the chance to live in a wealthy democracy, it's important to respect the symbols of said wealthy democracy.

In more direct terms: if a citizen of the US is ready not to respect the symbols of the US democracy (however childish they may seem), just on the grounds that said democracy isn't perfect, it implicitly assumes there is another, evidently morally superior country somewhere else.

Conclusion: if he was true to logic, Colin Kaepernick should contemplate relocating.

[JonLP24]

61. I really don't care about the national anthem

Especially in sporting events or who stands, kneels, or whatever. I personally skip to something else if they show it on tv.

[DawgHouse]

62. He gets paid to pay football.

It doesn't matter if he stands or not. JMHO

[brettdale]

63. A bigger statement would be for Colin to say

Im going to donate my entire paycheque to black lifes matter, I wont accept
any payment while people starve.

Do you think he will do that???