Yup. Kaepernick shaded the flag that draped my dad’s casket and will drape mine. If he felt so strongly about his cause, then he should do something meaningful outside of the stadium, not symbolic and meaningless inside. No player has alienated so many fans from a single sport. He’s done more damage with his protest than he did good. Self-centered punk.
Colin is anything but a jerk. He made a stand in a public forum and brought attention to a serious issue. Not a jerk at all. His haters? Yeah, they’re jerks.
Gotta land me on the disagree side here too. I personally have a patriotic streak and would never not stand for the the anthem. However, what Kaep did was legal, respectful, and non-violent and drew a great deal of attention to an issue that clearly exists. Everyone gets so bent out of shape about how come people can’t bring attention to something in a non-violent way, but then when someone like Kaep does it, he’s vilified. He started sitting, he discussed that with some veterans and they said we don’t like it but we understand your right to do it; if you don’t mind, we’d prefer if you took a knee rather than sitting. So he switched to taking a knee. Ultimately, the protest had everyone talking about it for months (and still are) and nobody got hurt (except maybe the feelings of a few far right wing “patriots”). By any measurement, I would consider that a success, even if you don’t agree with him.
He has the right to express his feeling in a peaceful manner; others have the right to agree OR disagree with his actions peaceably. That is freedom of speech. However, in my opinion your right to free speech does NOT include rioting, property damage or harming other persons—in other words, your right to your opinion ends BEFORE your fist hits my nose!
A surprising choice, but perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised. I wouldn’t even have nominated Mr. Kaepernick. But the old Vietnam-era war cry of “America: Love it or leave it!” has never really died. Blind support of anything, even in the face of its flaws, is never the moral choice.
I haven’t stood for it in years. Opening concerts is about the only time I hear it and in those cases, musicians are seated. (Percussion are not musicians?)
Had no problem with his freedom of speech activities, though I wish we could separate sports and politics. My biggest concern is that he left it open-ended by saying he’d stand when America got better. That’s a very vague criterium. America nor any other country is ever going to be perfect, so by leaving out quantifiable specifics that could satisfy Kaep’s concerns he’s left himself a means to always be a discontented player taking a knee on the sideline. It’s not unpatriotic…it just lacks a viable exit strategy.
ACW1 over 7 years ago
Kaep? Really? I disagree (well, except for the not voting stuff; I respect his protest though).
pdking77 over 7 years ago
Yup. Kaepernick shaded the flag that draped my dad’s casket and will drape mine. If he felt so strongly about his cause, then he should do something meaningful outside of the stadium, not symbolic and meaningless inside. No player has alienated so many fans from a single sport. He’s done more damage with his protest than he did good. Self-centered punk.
Polsixe over 7 years ago
At least Tank gets to exercise Freedom of Speech.
gmartin997 over 7 years ago
I choose to hate him. Societies aren’t created overnight, they evolve. Everything in its own time.
Darsan54 Premium Member over 7 years ago
Colin is anything but a jerk. He made a stand in a public forum and brought attention to a serious issue. Not a jerk at all. His haters? Yeah, they’re jerks.
Linguist over 7 years ago
Poor Collin. Always a bridesmaid, never a bride !
He’s doomed to go through life as a second stringer, an also ran.
Darren Danforth over 7 years ago
Gotta land me on the disagree side here too. I personally have a patriotic streak and would never not stand for the the anthem. However, what Kaep did was legal, respectful, and non-violent and drew a great deal of attention to an issue that clearly exists. Everyone gets so bent out of shape about how come people can’t bring attention to something in a non-violent way, but then when someone like Kaep does it, he’s vilified. He started sitting, he discussed that with some veterans and they said we don’t like it but we understand your right to do it; if you don’t mind, we’d prefer if you took a knee rather than sitting. So he switched to taking a knee. Ultimately, the protest had everyone talking about it for months (and still are) and nobody got hurt (except maybe the feelings of a few far right wing “patriots”). By any measurement, I would consider that a success, even if you don’t agree with him.
roberta.forbes.pyle over 7 years ago
He has the right to express his feeling in a peaceful manner; others have the right to agree OR disagree with his actions peaceably. That is freedom of speech. However, in my opinion your right to free speech does NOT include rioting, property damage or harming other persons—in other words, your right to your opinion ends BEFORE your fist hits my nose!
Liverlips McCracken Premium Member over 7 years ago
A surprising choice, but perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised. I wouldn’t even have nominated Mr. Kaepernick. But the old Vietnam-era war cry of “America: Love it or leave it!” has never really died. Blind support of anything, even in the face of its flaws, is never the moral choice.
Hippogriff over 7 years ago
I haven’t stood for it in years. Opening concerts is about the only time I hear it and in those cases, musicians are seated. (Percussion are not musicians?)
BTO over 7 years ago
If Kaep is #2, surely Tom Brady is #1.
After all, what has HE done lately?
Jim Kerner over 7 years ago
Shows you how long I’ve been reading this strip. This used to be a week. And we’d see the winners? accept the award.
Papared25 about 7 years ago
Had no problem with his freedom of speech activities, though I wish we could separate sports and politics. My biggest concern is that he left it open-ended by saying he’d stand when America got better. That’s a very vague criterium. America nor any other country is ever going to be perfect, so by leaving out quantifiable specifics that could satisfy Kaep’s concerns he’s left himself a means to always be a discontented player taking a knee on the sideline. It’s not unpatriotic…it just lacks a viable exit strategy.