Kaepernick not standing for National Anthem

[Phishfan]

What about Richard Sherman?

[Spider-Dan]

I don't have any issues with Sherman's statement on the matter.  Unlike Rice, who evaded the underlying subject and simply asked agitators to settle down, Sherman agreed with the point Kaep was making but thought it could have been made in a better way.

On a related note, I find it rather strange that so many people are associating the national anthem not with our country, but with our military.  I suppose that makes it easier to criticize Kaep?  After all, criticizing the country is extremely popular these days, but bashing the military is never OK.  (Well, unless they were captured by the enemy; we like people who weren't captured.)

[Phishfan]

I'd say it a different way Spider but maybe we have heard different conversations. In my mind the discussions have not associated the national anthem with the military but they have been associating the military with the national anthem. I know it is word play but there is a difference n my mind and that is how I've been hearing it discussed.

[Spider-Dan]

In my mind the discussions have not associated the national anthem with the military but they have been associating the military with the national anthem.

I don't understand the difference, specifically in the context of refusing to stand for the anthem being considered an insult to our military.  What do you mean, exactly?

[Phishfan]

I understand it is word play and it may not make a difference. I guess any two associated things are associated with each other and vice versa. Wherever I was going a few minutes ago probably isn't going to add anything.

[masterfins]

Just to borrow one of my favorite quotes from the movie "The American President"

"America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country can't just be a flag; the symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then, you can stand up and sing about the "land of the free""

Apply that same philosophy to Kaep's sitting down for the national anthem...

I think this is how most people are treating the controversy.  Most people are saying that yes he has the right to not stand in protest, just as we have the right to say he is a jerk for protesting in this manner.

[pondwater]

I think this is how most people are treating the controversy.  Most people are saying that yes he has the right to not stand in protest, just as we have the right to say he is a jerk for protesting in this manner.

Correctamundo. As the liberals are so quick to point out. People are free to say what they want, they are not free from the consequences of those words, or actions in this case. Kaepernick has exercised his right, now everyone else can exercise their right to criticize him for it. Or burn his jersey. Or boycott his team. And in return the team can fire him if it is detrimental to their business. You know, kind of like Donald Sterling and the NBA. Or maybe Incognito/Martin/Grimes with the Dolphins. So he has his free speech, the government isn't going to do shit to him. Now the fans, the general public, and his employer. That's a whole different can of worms.

If you ask me, his season of fame is over and he just wants some attention. I don't agree with what he's doing, but it doesn't affect my life , so fuck him. Kaepernick doesn't matter anymore and I bet when he's a bit older and blows through all of his cash, he'll wish that he did things a bit differently!

[Spider-Dan]

One of the greatest things about this country - the nation that anthem represents - is that we are free to stay seated for the anthem, burn the flag, criticize the government, etc. without fear of going to jail, and we are also free to denounce people who do the aforementioned things.

Would I have stayed seated for the anthem?  No.  But as is evident in this thread, if his actions cause discussion and even 1/3rd of that discussion is about unarmed black people being killed by cops who face no legal repercussions... then I think Kaep achieved his goal.

He could have posted his political views to Twitter or Instagram and it would not have been news even in the Bay Area.  But by making this choice, he has definitely put the conversation front and center, and even if the majority of the conversation is about the anthem, even a small increase in awareness about this problem is an improvement.

[masterfins]

One of the greatest things about this country - the nation that anthem represents - is that we are free to stay seated for the anthem, burn the flag, criticize the government, etc. without fear of going to jail, and we are also free to denounce people who do the aforementioned things.

Would I have stayed seated for the anthem?  No.  But as is evident in this thread, if his actions cause discussion and even 1/3rd of that discussion is about unarmed black people being killed by cops who face no legal repercussions... then I think Kaep achieved his goal.

He could have posted his political views to Twitter or Instagram and it would not have been news even in the Bay Area.  But by making this choice, he has definitely put the conversation front and center, and even if the majority of the conversation is about the anthem, even a small increase in awareness about this problem is an improvement.

But this hasn't happened.  For one thing, unless you've been living under a rock for the past couple years, the whole Black Lives Matter, cops killing unarmed black men, etc. has been a nonstop hot button issue for at least two years, I don't know how anyone could possibly not be aware of the issue.  For most people the discussion has been about him disrespecting the flag/country/National Anthem/etc., NOT about the issue he wanted to make people "aware" of.  I wouldn't be surprised if he got caught sitting because he was pissed about how the 49ers were treating him, and just made the whole protest thing up to cover himself.

[pondwater]

But this hasn't happened.  For one thing, unless you've been living under a rock for the past couple years, the whole Black Lives Matter, cops killing unarmed black men, etc. has been a nonstop hot button issue for at least two years, I don't know how anyone could possibly not be aware of the issue.  For most people the discussion has been about him disrespecting the flag/country/National Anthem/etc., NOT about the issue he wanted to make people "aware" of.  I wouldn't be surprised if he got caught sitting because he was pissed about how the 49ers were treating him, and just made the whole protest thing up to cover himself.

You're correct again. Most people have made up their minds about the BLM non sense. Either you support it or you don't. Kaepernick isn't changing anyone's mind or convincing anyone. Kaepernick is doing this entirely for Kaepernick.

[Spider-Dan]

For one thing, unless you've been living under a rock for the past couple years, the whole Black Lives Matter, cops killing unarmed black men, etc. has been a nonstop hot button issue for at least two years, I don't know how anyone could possibly not be aware of the issue.

Speaking strictly about NorCal sports talk radio, I would say there has been an ENORMOUS increase in discussion about not just the anthem, but the reason why he chose to sit in the first place.  I don't think it's a stretch to say that many of the listeners are people who are not normally involved with politics, or were unaware why some people react so negatively to an otherwise benign phrase like "All lives matter" (similar to how a person who grew up in Europe might be puzzled by the correlation between "separate but equal" and racism).

I wouldn't be surprised if he got caught sitting because he was pissed about how the 49ers were treating him, and just made the whole protest thing up to cover himself.

I can tell you that based on other local reports, Kaep has been sitting for the anthem this entire preseason.  However, he was out with an injury for the first two games; this was the first game that he dressed for, which is why it blew up.

[masterfins]

I can tell you that based on other local reports, Kaep has been sitting for the anthem this entire preseason.  However, he was out with an injury for the first two games; this was the first game that he dressed for, which is why it blew up.

So he had been "protesting" all preseason and he didn't bother to let anyone know that he was protesting???

[Spider-Dan]

Given the earlier invocations of MLK, this tweet seems appropriate:

[Phishfan]

That one made me laugh pretty good.

[Tenshot13]

So is this a black/white thing?  From what I've seen, it's black/cops and all races except black.