Getting the Point Across, the Colin Kaepernick Way

COLIN KAEPERNICK HAS THE COURAGE of his convictions, the willingness to back up what he says, through an act of self sacrifice, if nothing else. Being an NFL quarterback, you'd expect him to have good character, strength, and toughness, to be able to take the heat. He has that, in spades. Even though I'm a football fan, before the story of his protest broke, I couldn't remember his ethnicity, because I don't have a television, and without that, there's no way of knowing anyone's race. They don't mention details like that on the radio. To do so would be politically incorrect. You have to see for yourself. That he's black fits in with human nature; we tend to care more about those groups with which we more closely identify as members. More than mental toughness, Colin has compassion for those who do not receive equal treatment, and never did get a fair shake in American society - minorities. He has spent the entire preseason sitting down during the national anthem in protest, not against the police, government, or conservatives, but against the whole country, against American society, against all of us, and the way we allow discrimination against minorities to exist throughout our society institutionally, as every study proves. We all contribute, if only by default and inaction. Vegas is probably taking odds on whether he'll stand up when the regular season begins. Your best bet is that he will, because by then he will have made his point, and his behavior is reportedly having an adverse, divisive influence on his team. Plus, if he doesn't stop, look for the NFL powers that be to come down heavy on him, which thus far they have not. You could argue his case either way. The best argument against what he's doing is that there are plenty of opportunities to register one's opinion without disrespecting the national anthem, which, after all, is something which can unify us, if we allow it, and which stands for all that is good about America, including the progress that has been made towards equality. True enough, but there is also the matter of being heard, and how to do it. One can write letters to the editor, or start a blog, or talk to people one to one. But sitting down during the Star Spangled Banner not only sends a message, it sends one that is definitely going to be heard, without making a fuss, without actually disrupting anything anybody else is doing, without even speaking. The proof is in the fact that everyone is talking about some bask up NFL quarterback sitting on a bench for two minutes, when we think he should stand. All things considered, that's a pretty tame and innocuous way of making a statement, simply by non participation, passive aggressively, getting the attention any important and true message deserves. I can think of a lot worse ways of getting the point across.--------PUBLISHING A VARIETY OF THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS IS WHAT THIS WEBSITE IS ALL ABOUT. PLEASE SHARE IT WITH A FRIEND. THANKS!!!