A little news on the NFL’s stance on National Anthem protests. Meanwhile ESPN can’t seem to support Jemele Hill. I’ve written about this anthem thing before, and I’m not at all shocked that Kaepernick is filing a grievance given that my beloved Colts started the season with Scott “Walking Interception” Tolzien at QB (if you don’t recognize that name, join almost everyone).
I just want to make sure that anyone who listens to what I have to say (or reads what I have to type) understands what you’re seeing. This anger from people like the President and the VP who stormed out of a Colts game like a five-year-old, is NOT about respecting the flag and our military.
No one kneeling during the anthem is anti-military, at least not anti-troops. As one of my favorite comics, Jeff Davis, said of Toby Keith, “support the troops” is such a useless thing to stand up for. He mockingly sang, impersonating Keith “and I support the troops/what a bold fucking stance that is/I’m a modern hero/gonna put a flag on everything.”
I am anti-war. But I still have the deepest respect for members of the military who have given their lives. And I’m willing to bet that the NFL players who are taking a knee during the anthem feel the same way. This isn’t about being anti-troops or anti-America.
Here’s what it is about (from here):
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick told NFL Media in an exclusive interview after the game. “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.”
Kneeling during the Anthem is meant to be a commentary on police brutality.
Why would an NFL player feel the need to do that? Maybe because that’s where they can find visibility. Maybe because IT WORKS. The level of upset we see from decidedly white, decidedly powerful people is a surefire sign that this type of protest works.
And, more importantly, to protest in such ways is the very essence of being an American. It’s what this country was founded upon (that and genocide, which is what people kneeling are trying to avoid).
This is another case of conservative America– a small, rich, white collective– trying to manipulate the majority of us from understanding what is actually happening. It’s like “collateral damage” or “family values,” a bait-and-switch way to get people to ignore what is happening.
Don’t be confused. Kneeling during the anthem is meant to bring attention to stuff like this or this or this. The last link there is where I snagged the featured image on this post.
Know your enemy. It’s not a guy taking a knee. It’s the one with his finger on the trigger.