The freedom of speech feels really good when you are doing the speaking. The Freedom of speech sounds good when you are in agreement with the speaker. But what if you aren't doing the speaking or disagree with the speaker? Do you feel disrespected? Do you feel oppressed? When I first heard of Kaepernick's protest, I shrugged my shoulders and scrolled on. In the back of my mind, I knew a shit storm was coming. Just another thing to inspire half the country and piss off the other half. But let's look at the bigger picture:
Just like the Obama election of 2008, this was an event where I saw people's true colors (for lack of a better word). There were many that found convenient political reasons to dislike Obama. Many are finding convenient patriotic reasons to dislike Kaepernick. Am I calling all of his critics racists? No. Are they making assumptions about Kaepernick's actions? Yes. The best way to negatively judge the basket of apples is to exaggerate the number of rotten ones in the bunch.
Keep in mind that MLK's actions were once deemed "radical." The cartoon above compares a Reverend whose protest resulted in him being thrown in a Birmingham jail cell to a multi Millionaire who sits down during the National Anthem. He sits or kneels during a song and some people are making it seem as if he is wiping his ass with the American flag. If "they stood up so you could sit down," wouldn't disciplining Kaepernick for sitting down defeat the purpose of the Military and MLK standing up in the first place?
It's easy to make negative assumptions about your opponent to make your battle seem more justified. If you are a critic of the #blacklivesmatter movement, you assume the worse of them. You assume they are all rioters who applaud violence against police and only value the lives of their own kind. True, there may be members that fit this description. Do these members make up the majority of the movement? NOPE. True, there are people out there who refuse to stand for the National Anthem out of protest. Do these all of these people despise the United States Military. NOPE.
But when you are a critic of Kaepernick, it is easier to assume he hates the military, feels personally oppressed by whites, and hates law enforcement officials. Being a critic of someone who quietly and peacefully protests the National Anthem would make you feel like...I don't know...maybe a Hypocritical Asshole. If Mr. John Doe, a black dude making $9.00 an hour at some grocery store in Rhode Island, decided to protest the National Anthem at the company picnic, it would not make prime time news. Kaepernick used what's left of his celebrity status to magnify his stance. Most critics assumed that Kaepernick himself said he felt personally oppressed...when he didn't. Just because he's a millionaire doesn't mean he can't have an opinion. "Were don't buy 49er tickets for his damn opinion" the critics say. So does that mean you are buying 49er tickets for him NOT to have one? And whether you agree with his opinion or not, don't forget that he gets paid to play football.
I completely understand that the Westboro Baptist Psychos have the First Amendment right to protest military and celebrity funerals. I can understand this protest without agreeing with it. I completely understand that the KKK have the First Amendment right to march down the Main Street of Jenkinsburg, Georgia. I can understand this march without agreeing with it. I completely understand that the #whitelivesmatter movement have the First Amendment right to have a demonstration in front of the NAACP offices in Houston. I can understand this "reactionary" demonstration without agreeing with it. We have people out there that are actually considering boycotting NFL games over the lack of discipline for someone who technically did not break a rule nor a law. We have people burning his jersey as if he left the 49ers to play for the Miami Heat. Let's not mention a few SFPD officers who will refuse to work security at or near Football games because their feelings are hurt over one individual.
Like I have said before, there once was a time when we would fight for the right for people to have the freedom to say what they want, even if it wasn't something we agreed with ourselves. You have to admit, freedom of speech is a double edged sword. You can use this amendment to protect yourself from prosecution for what you say, but then forget all about it when you want to prosecute people for what they say. Now it seems like the freedom of speech is determined on a case by case bases in the court of public opinion. Let's be consistent here. If you think a bunch of Good Ol' Boys in Oregon can take over a federal building but a Mixed-Race quarterback can't sit down during the National Anthem, that's pretty damn inconsistent. Inconsistency is what makes people think you are a bigot.
In the end, this second string quarterback is going to have to do a lot to put his money where his mouth is. He knows that he will have to follow through with this protest and continue to do his part in fixing the problem. I wonder what his critics think of the issue he is protesting. I'm willing to bet they either think it doesn't exist or don't give a damn in the first place.
Now if Kaepernick would just explain those damn socks...
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