Kaepnerick feels strongly about a social issue and has chosen a peaceful method of political protest that hasn't harmed or even inconvenienced a soul. Not a problem as far as I'm concerned.
I can't see the point of trying to guess at his "real" motivation or to impugn his character based on these actions. Is he ungrateful, spoiled, trying to avoid getting cut, trying to impress his new Muslim (egad) girlfriend? Who knows? Nobody here is going to figure this out without talking to the guy at some length or having ESP. I don't think the fact that he makes a lot of money playing football disqualifies him from having or stating an opinion or peacefully participating however he chooses in the political process.
I don't really know much of anything about his upbringing. The notion that being abandoned by your parents and then as a result being raised by white parents is some sort of advantage strikes me as odd to say the least. Those who disagree with CK's viewpoint are certainly entitled to do so; using that disagreement to judge him as a person? I try to avoid that - it's called attribution error. Most often when someone does something you disagree with, it is not because of a moral failure on their part. It's simply because they disagree with you.
A very good poster who feels strongly about this issue said something to the effect that he allowed his sons to wear their hats and not put their hand over their heart as long as they stood during the anthem. No problem, but isn't this a subjective standard? Some things are okay, but crossing the line he has drawn (must stand up) is met with very harsh disapproval. I guess it depends on where each of us draws the line. In my experience, I've seen lots of inattentive and potentially disrespectful behavior on the part of fans at the game during the anthem. All I control is my own behavior so what others do is not of much concern to me at all.
The idea that Kaepernick should not protest in this fashion because such actions are not permitted in other societies collapses under its own absurdity. He lives here, he can do it and so can you.
By the way, this was heartfelt but has passed with little comment:
I agree with everything KAP has said.
He is speaking for Black Americans who do not have a voice nor, the platform that kap is on.
America has came a long way but racsim is still alive and well.
America was founded on it period.
As young Black man I know we have opportunity but at the end of the day
African Americans Are Still Treated as Second-Class Citizens By the Law.
From the comments I have read I am ashamed to be a pats fan with you guys.
You all can debate about what he did but he was right this is how every African american feels.
You tell us to go back leave America, If you have taken are history made us slaves for over 300 years were do we go? We do not not were we come from just like Arian foster said
". Am I from the Congo? Am I from Kenya? Am I from the Ivory Coast?"
I hope the Pats have a great season but please do not comment on the lives of blacks in this land.
This is truly hard I love America but to my own country my people are nothing.
I hope that better days are coming for you, my friend.
I learned a long time ago that I get more out of trying to understand than trying to judge. The internet connects us and allows us to communicate in ways that were previously unthinkable. It is a source of sadness to me that so much of this communication is too often hyper-judgmental and so divisive. We can disagree and still like and respect each other, can't we?
