Nike was wrong to even consider what Ramirez is unhappy about, shoes patterned with Old Glory. The US Flag Code- http://www.usflag.org/uscode36.html -states :176 (d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. They were correct to drop the idea, and MAGAts are wrong to think that plastering the flag inappropriately is patriotic.
“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”
The NFL dishonors the American flag by using it to promote commercial gain. Colin Kaepernick showed us all what happens when Americans try and exercise the freedoms that our flag stands for: Your boss is your master, and you are his slave.
You just don’t want to get it, Ramirez; Kapernick and the rest of us aren’t offended by the Flag. We are offended by racism and bigotry. We are offended by abducting, caging and abusing children. We are offended by what Trump and enablers like you have done to our country.
As usual, Ramirez not only misses the point, he actually goes further and devolves into racism, stupidity and ignorance.
At least Nike is making an attempt to honor aspirational American ethics about liberty and equality vs. the racism and stinky, oozing, nasty bs spread by somebody like Ramirez.
Tiny’s psychopathic essence offends ME deeply, and he would have deeply, deeply offended George Washington as well. You can take that to the bank.
Kapernick’s objection is not to the ‘Betsy Ross’ flag. His objection is to the supremacists/racist/bigots who use that flag for their own lies, hatred and hypocrisies. Better would be to recruit Kapernick and all REAL Americans to take that flag back to what it really stands for, and finally rid this Nation of all who oppose “all men are created equal”.
Just about all the comments about black soldiers and the Revolutionary War are dead wrong. Both sides enlisted black soldiers, offering them freedom at the end of their enlistment. (How many of these promises were kept is a different matter.)
Washington initially ordered that the Continental Army stop enlisting black soldiers, particularly slaves, for fear of angering slave states and dividing the colonies. Fairly quickly, it became clear that his army needed the troops, and the ban was lifted, at least for northern regiments.
Ironically, while the British made more generous offers to southern slaves, they more rigorously segregated their troops and relegated blacks to menial roles.
If you examine the famous painting closely, it apparently depicts a black soldier near the front of the boat, on Washington’s right. Some sources identify him as Prince Whipple, a slave owned by a New Hampshire general and aide to Washington, freed for his military service. Others find this unlikely, and suggest the painter was depicting the regular presence of black soldiers in northern combat.
The bizarre coloring in Ramirez’s cartoon, showing Kaepernick in “white” skin tones, makes it impossible to determine whether Ramirez intended to depict the black soldier in the boat. The cartoon soldier is not shown as clearly.
Ah, yes, the old Leutze painting, Washington Crossing the Delaware.
There is so very much wrong with this painting in the first place, no wonder Ramirez is comfortable with it.
The painting itself is inaccurate historically, all it can do is conjure emotions. It was done in 1851, long after everyone involved was dead. Leutze, a German immigrant, just used stories to paint it. Much like Ramirez!
This event took place Christmas Eve, 1776. Washington & Co are crossing the Delaware River to battle and defeat Lord Cornwallis’ Hessian mercenaries at the Battle of Trenton. It, and the Battle of Princeton will be Washington’s first victories of the war and their success helps him maintain the Continental Army through the winter of 1777 at Valley Forge.
While many of the facts concerning the Betsy Ross flag are uncertain we know that it was not in use until 1777. The painting showing her making it is titled “Betsy Ross 1777”.
The Betsy Ross flag, no matter what Leutze drew, did not cross the Delaware River with Washington and the Marblehead Men.
To me Ramirez’ use of this image captures perfectly the problem with the current Kaepernick controversy. We put too much faith in symbols, and care little for their true history and meaning.
Does it matter that Christ was a Middle Eastern Jew? No, we all grew up with the paintings of European Jesus. Christ was a white boy.
Does it matter that the story of Washington and the cherry tree is just a story? Nope. Dude never told a lie.
Does it matter that fascist, racist thugs have appropriated a symbol of American history? Yes. Because if we don’t say anything now, we won’t say anything the next time, and the time after that.
Let’s see. This would be 1778, when Washington was headed to the battle of Monmouth and Kaepernick’s ancestors would have been slaves. Sounds like valid grounds to take offense to me. (and that’s before we talk about the 21st century usurpation of the flag of independence as a symbol of white supremacy)
DangerBunny almost 5 years ago
Nike was wrong to even consider what Ramirez is unhappy about, shoes patterned with Old Glory. The US Flag Code- http://www.usflag.org/uscode36.html -states :176 (d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. They were correct to drop the idea, and MAGAts are wrong to think that plastering the flag inappropriately is patriotic.
• Thomas almost 5 years ago
“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”
The NFL dishonors the American flag by using it to promote commercial gain. Colin Kaepernick showed us all what happens when Americans try and exercise the freedoms that our flag stands for: Your boss is your master, and you are his slave.
Zebrastripes almost 5 years ago
Whining for attention, corporations caving….this is all boiled down to political correctness….get a life
Stephen Runnels Premium Member almost 5 years ago
You just don’t want to get it, Ramirez; Kapernick and the rest of us aren’t offended by the Flag. We are offended by racism and bigotry. We are offended by abducting, caging and abusing children. We are offended by what Trump and enablers like you have done to our country.
Radish the wordsmith almost 5 years ago
Republicans want to control every capitalist move Nike makes.
twclix almost 5 years ago
As usual, Ramirez not only misses the point, he actually goes further and devolves into racism, stupidity and ignorance.
At least Nike is making an attempt to honor aspirational American ethics about liberty and equality vs. the racism and stinky, oozing, nasty bs spread by somebody like Ramirez.
Tiny’s psychopathic essence offends ME deeply, and he would have deeply, deeply offended George Washington as well. You can take that to the bank.
6.6TA almost 5 years ago
Actually, the slave would not be allowed in the boat.
Bookworm almost 5 years ago
If patriotism is merely displaying a piece of cloth, there’s not much hope.
ncorgbl almost 5 years ago
Kapernick’s objection is not to the ‘Betsy Ross’ flag. His objection is to the supremacists/racist/bigots who use that flag for their own lies, hatred and hypocrisies. Better would be to recruit Kapernick and all REAL Americans to take that flag back to what it really stands for, and finally rid this Nation of all who oppose “all men are created equal”.
thomaspryan almost 5 years ago
As depicted, it was a bad winter; large snowflakes all around.
phredturner almost 5 years ago
Washington wasn’t a “quick to shoot blacks cop”. He dis however have them slaving away on his farm
DrDon1 almost 5 years ago
Sad … In the mind of Ramirez, this is the most important issue on July 4th!
braindead Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Cool, another LIE by Trump Disciple Ramirez.
Kap was never protesting the flag, but rather the treatment of blacks by police.
.
Another example of Continuous Campaigning by Republicans — another LIE.
DonnyTwoScoops almost 5 years ago
I was more offended when 5X draft dodger Trump mocked our POWs for being “captured”.
streetbeater almost 5 years ago
Double, double, toil and trouble,
Leave me in my FOX news bubble.
guyjen2004 Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Leaving politics aside, those shoes offend me because they’re tacky and ugly looking. Nike should have pulled them just on that. :P
NeoconMan almost 5 years ago
Hey, Ramirez; what’s a black man doing in Washington’s boat?
(NOW do you get it…?)
brit-ed almost 5 years ago
Except if he had been there, he would have been a slave.
Grayhair, The Pirate Formerly Known as Tom Powell Premium Member almost 5 years ago
OMG! Hilarious!
Concretionist almost 5 years ago
Kaepernick, being black, would not have been armed, much less going on a raid. He’d have been a slave. (high probability)
Judge Magney almost 5 years ago
Just about all the comments about black soldiers and the Revolutionary War are dead wrong. Both sides enlisted black soldiers, offering them freedom at the end of their enlistment. (How many of these promises were kept is a different matter.)
Washington initially ordered that the Continental Army stop enlisting black soldiers, particularly slaves, for fear of angering slave states and dividing the colonies. Fairly quickly, it became clear that his army needed the troops, and the ban was lifted, at least for northern regiments.
Ironically, while the British made more generous offers to southern slaves, they more rigorously segregated their troops and relegated blacks to menial roles.
If you examine the famous painting closely, it apparently depicts a black soldier near the front of the boat, on Washington’s right. Some sources identify him as Prince Whipple, a slave owned by a New Hampshire general and aide to Washington, freed for his military service. Others find this unlikely, and suggest the painter was depicting the regular presence of black soldiers in northern combat.
Judge Magney almost 5 years ago
The bizarre coloring in Ramirez’s cartoon, showing Kaepernick in “white” skin tones, makes it impossible to determine whether Ramirez intended to depict the black soldier in the boat. The cartoon soldier is not shown as clearly.
David P S Premium Member almost 5 years ago
At that time period, there would be much more reason than today for a black person to feel less than positive about the flag.
dandye almost 5 years ago
Kapernik and BLM offend me! Does that mean they are going to go away? :-)
Durak Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Ah, yes, the old Leutze painting, Washington Crossing the Delaware.
There is so very much wrong with this painting in the first place, no wonder Ramirez is comfortable with it.
The painting itself is inaccurate historically, all it can do is conjure emotions. It was done in 1851, long after everyone involved was dead. Leutze, a German immigrant, just used stories to paint it. Much like Ramirez!
This event took place Christmas Eve, 1776. Washington & Co are crossing the Delaware River to battle and defeat Lord Cornwallis’ Hessian mercenaries at the Battle of Trenton. It, and the Battle of Princeton will be Washington’s first victories of the war and their success helps him maintain the Continental Army through the winter of 1777 at Valley Forge.
While many of the facts concerning the Betsy Ross flag are uncertain we know that it was not in use until 1777. The painting showing her making it is titled “Betsy Ross 1777”.
The Betsy Ross flag, no matter what Leutze drew, did not cross the Delaware River with Washington and the Marblehead Men.
To me Ramirez’ use of this image captures perfectly the problem with the current Kaepernick controversy. We put too much faith in symbols, and care little for their true history and meaning.
Does it matter that Christ was a Middle Eastern Jew? No, we all grew up with the paintings of European Jesus. Christ was a white boy.
Does it matter that the story of Washington and the cherry tree is just a story? Nope. Dude never told a lie.
Does it matter that fascist, racist thugs have appropriated a symbol of American history? Yes. Because if we don’t say anything now, we won’t say anything the next time, and the time after that.
clayusmcret Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Then get out of the boat. No one has you tied in, demanding you stay.
NeoconMan almost 5 years ago
^ Chained, perhaps, but not “tied” in….
streetbeater almost 5 years ago
Let’s see. This would be 1778, when Washington was headed to the battle of Monmouth and Kaepernick’s ancestors would have been slaves. Sounds like valid grounds to take offense to me. (and that’s before we talk about the 21st century usurpation of the flag of independence as a symbol of white supremacy)
StackableContainers almost 5 years ago
Of course, the flag wasn’t actually flying when they crossed. The depiction of the flag is from a painting about 75 years later.
Ralph Cor almost 5 years ago
Throw him over
MarkStuartHopkin almost 5 years ago
At that time, Mr. Kaepernick would not have been recognized as a citizen, so he would have had good reason to find the flag offensive.