Kaepernick Protests

[SKINS#1]

I write to express my concern about anti-American protests that are taking place in the National Football League, and I do so on behalf of all military heroes and their families.

These honored Americans are insulted by Mr. Colin Kaepernick’s protests of our national anthem and our country. His campaign – by virtue of the time and manner in which it takes place – is not personal. His protests are carried out as a representative of the National Football League and I believe it is time for the Commissioner to put an end to these anti-American demonstrations during NFL games.

My hope is the 49ers cut him and none of the other teams make him an offer. Then as a private citizen he has the right to express his opinion.

[Deadskins]

I write to express my concern about anti-American protests that are taking place in the National Football League, and I do so on behalf of all military heroes and their families.

These honored Americans are insulted by Mr. Colin Kaepernick’s protests of our national anthem and our country. His campaign – by virtue of the time and manner in which it takes place – is not personal. His protests are carried out as a representative of the National Football League and I believe it is time for the Commissioner to put an end to these anti-American demonstrations during NFL games.

My hope is the 49ers cut him and none of the other teams make him an offer. Then as a private citizen he has the right to express his opinion.

I don't care for the way he is protesting either, but it certainly isn't "anti-American." He isn't harming anyone by not standing during the national anthem. He may not be showing a level of respect that you prefer, but that is his right. As a citizen (public or private), he has a right to express his opinion. In fact, the founders considered that basic right so important, that they enumerated it as #1 in the Bill of Rights. Disagree with it all you want, but it is not "anti-American."

[DEHog]

He has to be a “private” citizen to be able to express his opinions? As someone who served 21 years in the military I respect his right to express his opinions anywhere, anytime. I also respect the opinions of those who feel differently than him. Please don't do so for the military, most of the vets I know feel the same way. While we may not agree with his stance, we respect his right to exprees his opinions in the manner he has chosen.

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

He has to be a “private” citizen to be able to express his opinions? As someone who served 21 years in the military I respect his right to express his opinions anywhere, anytime. I also respect the opinions of those who feel differently than him. Please don't do so for the military, most of the vets I know feel the same way. While we may not agree with his stance, we respect his right to exprees his opinions in the manner he has chosen.

I'll second this. I didn't serve so I could dictate to others how they exercise their freedoms. I served so others could continue to exercise their freedoms. If we don't believe in free speech for those with whom we disagree then we don't believe in free speech at all.

[DEHog]

He has to be a “private” citizen to be able to express his opinions? As someone who served 21 years in the military I respect his right to express his opinions anywhere, anytime. I also respect the opinions of those who feel differently than him. Please don't do so for the military, most of the vets I know feel the same way. While we may not agree with his stance, we respect his right to exprees his opinions in the manner he has chosen.

I'll second this. I didn't serve so I could dictate to others how they exercise their freedoms. I served so others could continue to exercise their freedoms. If we don't believe in free speech for those with whom we disagree then we don't believe in free speech at all.

Well said!

[TexasCowboy]

Kaepernick just needs to shut his mouth and stick to playing football...he's just further dumbing
down Americans by claiming that we're still somehow stuck in the days when anti semitism was
far more rampant than, Than it is now

[Deadskins]

by claiming that we're still somehow stuck in the days when anti semitism was
far more rampant than, Than it is now

You should probably look that word up.

[TexasCowboy]

You should probably look that word up.

Racism is racism regardless if it's against religion or color of skin

[Countertrey]

I don't give a damn if he protests... but his particular protest is highly disrespectful towards a large number of Americans, who make or made their livings in the most colorblind profession in the nation.
He can do what he wants, but I have no obligation to respect his choice, nor quietly absorb his insult.

[SKINS#1]

I think we can agree, as a Private Citizen he is would be exercising his RIGHT but as a representative of the NFL I think the Commissioner has a right to tell him this is NOT acceptable behavior.

[Deadskins]

I think we can agree, as a Private Citizen he is would be exercising his RIGHT but as a representative of the NFL I think the Commissioner has a right to tell him this is NOT acceptable behavior.

Even as a rep of the NFL (which he's not), he is still a private citizen.

[SKINS#1]

Not when he is wearing a NFL uniform, he represents the NFL. For example, as a private citizen he can legally smoke the wacky weed but not as a member of the NFL.

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

Not when he is wearing a NFL uniform, he represents the NFL. For example, as a private citizen he can legally smoke the wacky weed but not as a member of the NFL.

There is nothing in the CBA that prohibits refusal to stand for the national anthem. If there were it would be illegal. If the league tried to enforce any such policy it would get absolutely destroyed in any court of law.

The NFL is not going to test whether or not it is bigger than the 1st Amendment. It isn't. The fact that you and some others are personally offended is a big "So what?"

You're offended. And?

[SKINS#1]

B&G, Have you served in any of armed services? Obviously you can't relate to the Love many of us have for the flag and what is stands for. For this reason I have included an article that explains where I am coming from.

They like to refer to us as senior citizens, old fogies, geezers, and in some cases dinosaurs. Some of us are "Baby Boomers" getting ready to retire. Others have been retired for some time.

Yes, we are the ones some refer to as being over the hill, and that is probably true. But before writing us off completely, there are a few things that need to be taken into consideration.

In school we studied English, history, math, and science, which enabled us to lead America into the technological age.

We won World War II, fought in Korea and Viet Nam. We can quote The Pledge of Allegiance, and know where to place our hand while doing so. We wore the uniform of our country with pride and lost many friends on the battlefield. We fought for the "Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave." We wore different uniforms but carried the same flag.

We know the words to the “Star Spangled Banner,” “America,” and “America the Beautiful” by heart, and you may even see some tears running down our cheeks as we sing. We have lived what many of you have only read in history books and we feel no obligation to apologize to anyone for America .

[Countertrey]

I would also note, that some of use have borne coffins of our now absent companions, folded the flag thirteen times, representing the original states, and presented the folded flag to a shattered spouse, child or parent, often at the side of weeping children and other loved ones. I have presented that flag too many times, as an NCOIC and an OIC, "on behalf of a grateful nation, please accept this flag in appreciation of your husband's (or, sometimes, "father's" [I never presided over the flag presentation ceremony for a wife, sister, or mother]) honorable and faithful service." I did many tough things during my career. The expectations were that I would always present a stoic, military bearing during this ceremony. Nothing was harder. The worst was the time I did this at the funeral of a friend, but, it was always hard.. My response is colored by that experience.

I don't object to his protest. I object to the disrespect. I don't say the pledge of allegiance... but I do stand at attention when it is said, out of respect for those who feel it is important.

[Deadskins]

B&G, Have you served in any of armed services? Obviously you can't relate to the Love many of us have for the flag and what is stands for. For this reason I have included an article that explains where I am coming from.

They like to refer to us as senior citizens, old fogies, geezers, and in some cases dinosaurs. Some of us are "Baby Boomers" getting ready to retire. Others have been retired for some time.

Yes, we are the ones some refer to as being over the hill, and that is probably true. But before writing us off completely, there are a few things that need to be taken into consideration.

In school we studied English, history, math, and science, which enabled us to lead America into the technological age.

We won World War II, fought in Korea and Viet Nam. We can quote The Pledge of Allegiance, and know where to place our hand while doing so. We wore the uniform of our country with pride and lost many friends on the battlefield. We fought for the "Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave." We wore different uniforms but carried the same flag.

We know the words to the “Star Spangled Banner,” “America,” and “America the Beautiful” by heart, and you may even see some tears running down our cheeks as we sing. We have lived what many of you have only read in history books and we feel no obligation to apologize to anyone for America .

I resent the implication that if you have not served in the military, you are not patriotic or that you can't relate to love of the flag and what it represents.

My father served in Korea, his father WWI, his older brother WWII, and his younger brother Viet Nam. My brother-in-law is a full Colonel in the Marines and served in Iraq. My sister currently works at Camp Lejeune. My son is in Jr. ROTC as a high-school senior, plans to continue in ROTC during college, and serve after college. I too know, by heart, the words to the PoA and the songs you mentioned. Like CT, I have been to military funerals (though I don't find them more or less painful than other funerals).

Personally, I take much more offense at Donald Trump mocking a Gold Star mother and father (while stating that "starting many successful companies" was making a similar sacrifice for his country), advocating torture, and demeaning current Generals (while claiming their support), than I do with anything Kaepernick is doing or saying.

Like I said, I don't care for the form of his protest, but he's not harming anyone, and the cause he is protesting for is a just cause. Lots of folks hated on Muhammad Ali for his refusal to be drafted, but he was only doing what he believed in his heart to be right. I'm not saying Kaepernick's protest rises to the level of Ali's, but there are parallels that can be drawn.

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

B&G, Have you served in any of armed services? Obviously you can't relate to the Love many of us have for the flag and what is stands for. For this reason I have included an article that explains where I am coming from.

They like to refer to us as senior citizens, old fogies, geezers, and in some cases dinosaurs. Some of us are "Baby Boomers" getting ready to retire. Others have been retired for some time.

Yes, we are the ones some refer to as being over the hill, and that is probably true. But before writing us off completely, there are a few things that need to be taken into consideration.

In school we studied English, history, math, and science, which enabled us to lead America into the technological age.

We won World War II, fought in Korea and Viet Nam. We can quote The Pledge of Allegiance, and know where to place our hand while doing so. We wore the uniform of our country with pride and lost many friends on the battlefield. We fought for the "Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave." We wore different uniforms but carried the same flag.

We know the words to the “Star Spangled Banner,” “America,” and “America the Beautiful” by heart, and you may even see some tears running down our cheeks as we sing. We have lived what many of you have only read in history books and we feel no obligation to apologize to anyone for America .

I served with the 89th Army Corps Of Engineers for 22 years. My primary MOS was 11B. I've seen hundreds of fellow soldiers killed or wounded in needless wars on ideals. That flag stands for ideals, too. Ours. And that's fine because one of our core ideals is the right to free speech. Not only shall Congress make no law abridging free speech but neither shall any of the fifty individual states who all adopted that exact language in their state constitutions.

Yes, I know what the pledge means to you. It means you believe in patriotism only so far as your rights are concerned. Where the rights of others begin your rights end and your feelings begin. No one cares about your feelings.

You seem to like American propaganda thinly veiled as patriotism. Patriotism is what a citizen does, not words or symbols. I don't mean that as a personal affront but those who grew up in the McCarthyism / Cuban Missile Crisis / Bay Of Pigs / Space Race / Cold War era were spoon-fed a lot of pro-American, anti-communist propaganda including but not limited to adding the words "under God" to the pledge in 1954 and "in God we trust" to currency and coins in 1956. The United States has always been a secular nation. Most of the Founders were deists, not theists. But invoking God has always been an excellent tactic for getting people to buy into anything, including enlisting and purchasing government bonds.

I know what those generations were taught. I also know one has to wear horse blinders to take it at face value.

I'm capable of separating my personal feelings on the issue from the rights of all American citizens. That is why I cannot buy into your special pleading fallacy for infringing on Kaepernick's right to kneel for the pledge of allegiance.

[Countertrey]

I served with the 89th Army Corps Of Engineers for 22 years. My primary MOS was 11B.

Hoping there are typo's here. You say you were engineer, but your MOS was 11B... I was a Combat Engineer... 12B... as an enlisted soldier, and a 21B once commissioned. I was a Combat Engineer for 20 years... in multiple units, then transferred to Army Nurse Corps, 66H and 66C, once I got my nursing license, but also in multiple units. This was long ago, and the Engineer officer's MOS has been merged back into the MOS 12 codes as of a few years ago... Now, I had considered responding via message... but your condescending and clearly slanted view of those of us mindless sheep whom grew up and served during the cold war overrode that thought.

11B is an infantryman... not an engineer... and I am also having trouble resolving the 89th Army Corps Of Engineers. My searches find nothing, and that unit name/formatting is completely unfamiliar to me. Where is/was that headquartered?
So, can you clarify? Thanks.

By the way... the issue is Kaepernick kneeling during the National Anthem... not the Pledge of Allegiance... and I saw no where in S#1's post that Kaepernick's right should be infringed. Can you point that out to me? Thanks.

ESSAYONS!

[Bdot]

I write to express my concern about anti-American protests that are taking place in the National Football League, and I do so on behalf of all military heroes and their families.

These honored Americans are insulted by Mr. Colin Kaepernick’s protests of our national anthem and our country. His campaign – by virtue of the time and manner in which it takes place – is not personal. His protests are carried out as a representative of the National Football League and I believe it is time for the Commissioner to put an end to these anti-American demonstrations during NFL games.

My hope is the 49ers cut him and none of the other teams make him an offer. Then as a private citizen he has the right to express his opinion.

The entire reason for this post is way off point. There is nothing anti-American about these protests. If anything, it is an act of patriotism to express displeasure with a LACK OF EQUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL AMERICANS. Furthermore, it is a simple peaceful protest, yet everyone is up in arms. Did he block a highway like BLM? No. Did he take over government property with a group of armed colleagues like the men in Oregon? No. The notion is that because he's a football player that makes a ton of money, he should just shut up and be happy. That's a joke.

Isn't it ironic that we normally chastise athletes for not wanting to be role models and take a stance on social issues, but when an athlete does, we say "Aw shutup you overpaid rich idiot - you should just be happy you can make so much money playing a game!!!"

Typical American hypocrisy. And it's refreshing to know that Kaepernick didn't care about opinions like these, and kept protesting peacefully.. because now many are doing it and many of the military veterans that people have so entitled themselves to speak on the behalf of, are actually siding with Kaepernick and ANYONE who peacefully exercises their right to free expression.

If you don't like it, so be it. But watch who you call "unAmerican" and learn what anti-Semitism even means before you go using it in sentences, smh.

[Deadskins]

learn what anti-Semitism even means before you go using it in sentences, smh.

That would be your fellow Cowturd fan who used that phrase.

[DEHog]

Not when he is wearing a NFL uniform, he represents the NFL. For example, as a private citizen he can legally smoke the wacky weed but not as a member of the NFL.

There is nothing in the CBA that prohibits refusal to stand for the national anthem. If there were it would be illegal. If the league tried to enforce any such policy it would get absolutely destroyed in any court of law.

The NFL is not going to test whether or not it is bigger than the 1st Amendment. It isn't. The fact that you and some others are personally offended is a big "So what?"

You're offended. And?

Pretty ironic that we as "citizen" wearing a uniform didn't enjoy the very freedoms that we were protecting!

[Deadskins]

Not when he is wearing a NFL uniform, he represents the NFL. For example, as a private citizen he can legally smoke the wacky weed but not as a member of the NFL.

There is nothing in the CBA that prohibits refusal to stand for the national anthem. If there were it would be illegal. If the league tried to enforce any such policy it would get absolutely destroyed in any court of law.

The NFL is not going to test whether or not it is bigger than the 1st Amendment. It isn't. The fact that you and some others are personally offended is a big "So what?"

You're offended. And?

Pretty ironic that we as "citizen" wearing a uniform didn't enjoy the very freedoms that we were protecting!

Exactly. As a member of the military, you are not considered a "private" citizen. As a player in the NFL, you are.

[Bdot]

That would be your fellow Cowturd fan who used that phrase.

True, not surprised either..

[TexasCowboy]

The saddest thing about all this is? the level of ignorance being shown, As though just certain
minorities are being "picked on" when we have disabled, seniors even our own veterans who
constantly discriminated against on a daily basis..Not to mention the fact, That prior to the
wealthy bringing their slaves over from various countries..Our outright horrid treatment of
Native Americans is a travesty beyond words, The Italian's, Irish, German's, Asian's, Jews,
and Hispanics have also felt the sting of what it means to not be wanted, By a country that
says bring us your poor and huddled masses

Instead we fight among ourselves like children when our real fight is against the
corrupted powers who keep us in poverty, when we're well with in our rights to
have $15 an hour, and not have to work 2-3 jobs while still struggling to put a
roof over our heads, clothes on our backs and food in our mouths!!! While we
continue to vote for the same 2 party idiots...

the bottom line here is we're part of the problem!!! time to grow up and take
the fight to where it belongs

[Countertrey]

The saddest thing about all this is? the level of ignorance being shown, As though just certain
minorities are being "picked on" when we have disabled, seniors even our own veterans who
constantly discriminated against on a daily basis..Not to mention the fact, That prior to the
wealthy bringing their slaves over from various countries..Our outright horrid treatment of
Native Americans is a travesty beyond words, The Italian's, Irish, German's, Asian's, Jews,
and Hispanics have also felt the sting of what it means to not be wanted, By a country that
says bring us your poor and huddled masses

Instead we fight among ourselves like children when our real fight is against the
corrupted powers who keep us in poverty, when we're well with in our rights to
have $15 an hour, and not have to work 2-3 jobs while still struggling to put a
roof over our heads, clothes on our backs and food in our mouths!!! While we
continue to vote for the same 2 party idiots...

the bottom line here is we're part of the problem!!! time to grow up and take
the fight to where it belongs

What a complete load of rubbish.