I think I'm lying to myself if I pretend to know or to understand the experience of others but I also think I'm acting un-American if I marginalize their experiences and deny them equal rights. Who am I to say that the speech or expression of others is wrong? No one. The core principle of freedom of speech is to protect speech against government, specifically speech government doesn't like. The fact that some citizens may not like the speech notwithstanding those who would deny Colin Kaepernick the right to express his sentiments freely deserve that same right not for themselves. Either you believe in the core American liberty of freedom of conscience or you don't. If you don't then you have no grounds to exercise freedom of religion, speech, or press. The entire purpose of freedom of conscience is to allow ideas to gain acceptance in the competition of the marketplace. If you disagree with the ideas of someone else the remedy is to enter your own ideas into the marketplace. It is not to say that their speech has no value because you don't like the content of their message.riggofan wrote:We need more empathy in this world. Period.
I try like hell to stay away from anything not directly related to how much the Redskins organization disgusts me on this site but I think it's extremely important we all take a step back and examine the big picture with regard to Colin Kaepernick. We don't have to agree on the content of his speech but we damn sure better agree on his right to speak because that is a Constitutionally protected natural right, not a privilege restricted to those whose ideas with which we agree. I fully understand why perceived disrespect of the flag bothers some people, especially some military veterans. I have half a dozen immediate family members buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Bath National Cemetery, and a few other locations reserved for combat veterans. I have the flags of two others whose bodies were never found. They believed in the flag. They believed in for what the flag stood. They believed the flag stood for the Constitution. They believed the ability to dissent with the actions of government was one of the Constitutional rights for which they fought and, in some cases, died. Knowing what I know of them each would have been appalled by the notion that they fought to have the rights of citizens stripped. One-half of my family is from parts of the Middle East which continue to be at war to this day. They came here seeking a better life right before World War I. They became American citizens through naturalization and voluntarily enlisted in the armed forces because they would rather have died for American liberties than lived for the hell that was their country of origin. If you want to know how they felt about free speech take a look at any country where it is prohibited, where people are jailed or executed for speaking freely.
Colin Kaepernick can say anything he wants because that is what for what people fought, to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution, even the parts they don't like.
