NFL player Colin Kaepernick decided to protest America by sitting down during the national anthem, but what did the world of social media make of it?
San Francisco 49er Colin Kaepernick made a stand. He kept his seat during a performance of the national anthem, citing that he was “… not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color …” before adding, “… to me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.” Kaepernick’s surmise of the issue being “bigger than football” is absolutely correct, but probably not in the definition that he hoped as his statement has been substantially muted by the gesture that underpinned it and has been leapt upon as a metaphor for whatever predeterminations that have been thrown at the quarterback.
In layman’s terms, Kaepernick’s move has jimmied the lock off the Pandora’s box marked “cray,” loosing the brutish forces of Internet insanity high above the lanes of the information superhighway. The issues of animal cruelty, his upbringing, careerism, and also his athletic ability have been questioned, but seldom the issue that Kaepernick raised.
So, the question here is a trite, What the fuck?
Is Colin Kaepernick’s opinion ruled ineligible purely on the basis that he’s Colin Kaepernick?
#Colinkaepernick was blessed🙏🏽not oppressed by his white mama & papa! Give me a freaken break🙄 @7Sirano @waynocook pic.twitter.com/z5rqZLHPzF
— Feisty☀️Floridian (@peddoc63) August 28, 2016
The above meme seems to be a popular avenue of detraction over on the rusted tripwire of Twitter. Does Kaepernick’s upbringing thereby bind him to the suburban take on the pale facts facing present-day black America? His perceived platform of privilege, moreover his wealth, seems to be another sticking point, with commentary along the lines of, “You’re too rich to complain,” or tritely:
#Colin_Kaepernick I’m sorry America didn’t do more for you. pic.twitter.com/L19KwfCEUO
— Gh0stScr1pt (@Recluse_777) August 27, 2016
Beyond the realms of “upbringing,” or the digits in his bank account, is the besmirchment of the act itself. The act of remaining shackled to his seat undermined those who stood for the flag who were physically unable to.
#ColinKaepernick needs to learn this type of respect… via @AllenWest pic.twitter.com/DP54ckE2Yo
— Dissident Patriot ن (@disspat) August 28, 2016
Those who stand for the anthem, therefore, do not respect those who do not. Which in a binary exchange is fair enough, but the reasons “why” are being whitewashed in favor of a red, white, and blue. Needless to say, there are waves of support for Kaepernick:
Burning @Kaepernick7‘s jersey means you have the same right to protest as he does sitting down during the national anthem. THINK ABOUT THAT!
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) August 28, 2016
Sometimes staying seated – is enough.#Kaepernick pic.twitter.com/TQqNsOqA2x
— Pin Head (@PiercedSkull) August 28, 2016
So football fans have no problem watching murders, rapists and wife beaters but they draw the line at a guy sitting down? #Kaepernick
— Roisin Fitzpatrick (@RoisinF) August 28, 2016
But those who disagree seem to be kicking Kaepernick toward a different goal.
Quarterback and newly minted activist #ColinKaepernick can’t even lead a scoring drive much less a protest. @NFL @49ers
— Ecklebob Chiselfritz (@RotNScoundrel) August 28, 2016
This confusion is best summed up in the effigy below. But those who burn the jersey of Kaepernick are missing an obvious point. For their act of protest, and their freedom to protest, is the same freedom that Kaepernick used when he made his point. Freedom might not be free, but on certain back patios of America, it absolutely lacks definition.
Salty 49ers fan burns #Kaepernick‘s jersey. Oh brother… pic.twitter.com/zp9aLasYAW
— Erick Fernandez (@ErickFernandez) August 28, 2016
[squerb_button]