I have a couple of thoughts regarding Colin Kaepernick [View all]
If this is not the proper place, let me know and I'll delete.
As a retired NCO and a scion of Appalachian white trash, my 1st reaction was anger. How dare he blah blah blah...
What can I say, I have knees, sometimes they jerk in reaction.
On the other hand, my thinking self has a different take on the National Anthem and protest and the perception of protest:
The national Anthem is a symbol of a country that I love despite knowing how flawed it is. It grates on my sensibilities when that symbol (or the flag) is slighted even when I understand and sympathize with the protester.
However:
I won't let my anger cause me to forget that a major goal of protest is to cause an emotional reaction - Or that the most often cited reason we have a military in the first place is to keep us "free" and that freedom includes the freedom to piss off conservative white people.
But here is a thought that I've not heard that I wanted to share. Mr. Kaepernick put his money where his mouth is.
His protest will cost him millions in earnings over the course of his life.
Listen. A metric shit ton of people live for the excuse to hate wealthy blacks, whether they are athletes or became wealthy in show business or business business - Doesn't matter, a lot of these people have a hair trigger temper regarding POC in general but well to do POC really gravel their ass.
They'll boycott any company the doesn't sever ties with him. They'll protest at public appearances for years to come.
Whether I agree or not, I have to respect a man willing to, as the old expression says "take what you want, then pay for it"
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