”Ultimately it was about awareness, and to make people realize what's really going on in this country. There are a lot of things that are going on that are unjust and that people aren't being held accountable for, and that's something that needs to change.”- Colin Kaepernick
“ This country stands for freedom, liberty, and justice for all, and it's not happening for all right now. There are a lot of things that need to change, one specifically is police brutality. There's people being murdered unjustly and not being held accountable. Cops are getting paid leave for killing people. That's not right. That's not right by anyone's standards.”- Colin Kaepernick
Bigot: intolerance toward those who hold different opinions from oneself.
Accusations:
Respect and disrespect are feelings, not actions. Actions can subjectively be viewed as respectful, or disrespectful. To say that somebody disrespected you, is to say that somebody performed an action that left you feeling discontent; it actually says more about you than it does about the other person. It must be a tough existence when you feel disrespected every time that somebody doesn't act according to your subjective preferences. I would be embarrassed if I truly felt disrespected by somebody not standing up during a certain song, especially a collectivist war song. Are you really that easily affected by somebody's inaction? Do you need a safe space? Feeling disrespected by somebody who doesn't even know that you exist, for not performing a certain action, is like a child getting mad at their favorite wrestler for not using their special move during a whole match! Get over it.
As if his standing was intended to make people feel disrespected, rather than to merely draw attention to himself and his cause. Wouldn't it make more sense that his aim was to draw attention to himself by not performing a ritual that is culturally expected to be performed at every football game? Colin claims that he sat during the anthem out of protest, and in hopes of bringing attention to the issues of police brutality and police accountability. Does it make sense to intentionally make the same people that you are trying to convey a message to feel disrespected? Can we agree that police brutality and police accountability are problems that need attention?
“I have great respect for the men and women who have fought for this country.”- Colin Kaepernick
How is it disrespectful for somebody to not perform a certain action that you expect them to do?
Doesn't that imply that you are in some way feeling entitled to them performing that action?
What's worse, performing an action in contrast to somebody's preference, or not performing an action according to somebody's preference?
Is it possible to violate somebody's self-ownership through inaction? How?
Fact is, none of you had anything to do with that song, or the formation of this country. If you feel emotionally attached to every “accomplishment” that your nation has achieved, then why don't you feel equally as emotionally attached to all of the immoral acts that your nation has carried out? Ask yourself, If you were personally responsible for all of the actions carried out by your government, would there be more to be proud about, or would there be more to be ashamed about? The US anthem is symbolism for more than just what your prussian indoctrination has lead you to believe. The U.S. military alone is responsible for 20-30 MILLION deaths just since world war two, and that is not including any American deaths. That's 10x the amount of deaths than ALL of the American causalities added up from EVERY war. Are you proud that slavery was once legal, or that segregation was once compulsory? Never mind the fact that the country's history is stained by the blood of Native American genocide. Wouldn't it make more sense for Blacks, and Native Americans to be the ones who are feeling disrespected when you guys perform the ritual of standing to a song that represents the oppression and genocide of their ancestors?
Are people obligated to stand for a song because you chose to have an emotional attachment to it?
If you believe in a certain religion, and somebody were to say that you were unintelligent for believing in that religion, then it would be understandable to feel disrespected.
If you were to send out wedding invitations that explicitly stated to only attend if you could dress a certain way, and your wishes went ignored, then it would be understandable to feel like you were disrespected.
If you told your friends and family that they were expected to call before showing up at your house, or at the very least that they are expected to knock when they arrive, but they keep showing up unannounced and entering without knocking, then it would be understandable to feel like their actions were disrespectful.
This accusation is ridiculous. Collin Kaepnernick risked losing his job and other pricey contracts by doing what he did. Despite seeing dozens of people claiming that he did this for money, I haven't been able to get one person to formulate an argument to back that idea up. How could he make any more than he already does by doing something as controversial as not standing for the a national anthem? Where would this money be coming from? All of the people that he is pissing off? His boss? Terrorist?
Do you really believe that somebody who has signed a six-year 110 MILLION dollar contract would feel that it was necessary to not stand for a national anthem to make money? First of all, who would pay him to do that? Why would they pay him to do that? What would the incentive be? And how much money do you think it would take for somebody who makes a minimum of 19 MILLION per year to agree to do something that they knew would make them look bad? He plays football for the money, he sat out of protest.
Of course he did it for publicity, that's even what he claimed himself. He said he did it to bring attention to police accountability, and that liberty was not being protected for all. It makes perfect sense to do something that is viewed as controversial in order to get a multitude of microphones affiliated with major news networks shoved in front of your face as a means to spread a message that you are zealous about. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. To feel resentment towards this guy for not participating in a ritual that is meant to symbolize what he is feeling in opposition of, is to be a bigot. To feel disrespected as a result of his actions is to have a maturity level about equivalent to your average toddler.
Here are some of the consequences I've seen people suggest:
-Should lose his job
-Should leave America
-Should get his ass kicked
Suggesting that somebody should lose their job for not performing a nonobligatory ritual is extreme enough, but some people raise the level of sociopathy to the point of suggesting that Kaepernick should be deported, or even worse, assaulted. If you agree with that line of thinking, then you're clearly a megalomaniac. It's immoral to use coercion on innocent people. Your hurt feelings, from somebody not performing a ritual that you are emotionally attached to, does not make you a victim of a crime, and it does not morally justify any use of force. To claim that protesting a national anthem by remaining seated is criminal, or an act of aggression, is delusional. If there is no victim, then it isn't truly a crime. How are you being disrespected by somebody's inaction? How does inaction, such as his not standing for a national anthem, show resentment towards you or me?Could it be, that in actuality, the people who are being disrespectful are the ones who are saying that Kaepernick should be met with ridicule and or coercion for not participating in a nonobligatory cultural ritual?
