Colin Kaepernick

[Gasface]

What's everyone's take on a guy that makes millions off a system he obviously overcame to flourish in.

[Shade]

men and women have died so that we could sit on our asses at home an enjoy these liberties

i understand he has his freedom of speech but would he have it if these noble individuals didnt sacrifice it all for us?

he refuses to stand for a flag that represents a country of opportunity, of sacrifice; and this crybaby piece of shit claims to be oppressed?

less privileged people would give everything up to live here and make a mere fraction of his salary

[Drob]

Ok as a veteran and a black man from America i dont mind it one bit...ive had friends die just so he can exercise his right of freedom of speech. And im sorry but i hate that people are pulling vets into this..colin didnt even mention the words soldier, vets, war or anything like that..his protest was about police brutality and the fact that you have a disproportionate number of minorities in this country being killed by those swore to protect them..alot of times unarmed..not only that a large percentage of times these cops arent charged and they're put on administrative(paid) leave while the case gets handled. That was his protest. To stand or not to stand during the national anthem( an originally racist song btwn) doesnt make u unpatriotic. He said that when he feels we live up to our ideals and values as a nation put forth in the bill of rights that he will stand. There is nothing wrong with what he did at all..Had he been protesting a war or something then fine. But he was protesting a very serious issue happening in our country and exercising his freedom that many people have died for. That in and of itself is what makes America great. Many places he would literally be killed for what he did. We are better than those places..far from perfect but better and just like people have a right to dislike it..he has a right to do it till he feel it changes

[Drob]

Me personally i stand for the national anthem..but i don't mind people that dont..that's theyre right....dont bash us call us stupid for signing up or anything like that then whatever a person does is they're business.

[Beeper]

I don't get upset when people do not stand but his supposed reasoning is not a valid or legitimate excuse. Seems like such a waste of talent

[Chance]

He's about 50 years too late on this being a protest I could respect.

As a veteran myself I just see this as a protest that was executed in all of the wrong ways - and sends a lot of mixed signals. Normally we view these protests as anti military as well as anti establishment. Many veterans view the flag and the anthem as a symbol of what our sacrifices are represented through - and so protesting it because he's upset with the police would include the veteran who would literally die for those symbols alone. Either way - every single athlete who has done this has received a ton of flack and this attitude is nothing new. Although 50+ years ago when Jackie Robinson protested it - it was during a key time during the civil rights movement and not during the millennial SJW protests. Naturally a lot of veterans and army rangers alike will be upset by it though and that shouldn't surprise anyone when you look at the context of the situation.

And Drob is right about a few things
1. he has the right to protest the flag for whatever reason - but shouldn't be surprised if it effectively makes him a household name for various reasons.
2. the national anthem was not only written by a racist but in a verse we have never recognized as a part of the national anthem had a racist section in it. He is wrong however when he says our national anthem used to be racist. It in fact never was and was widely debated when selected because of it's history and many times has the anthem been challenged with other alternatives.
3. it's annoying that veterans get dragged into SJW politics when we really don't care or give a shit about to begin with.
4. america is a great place and there's many other nations who really face true oppression.

[Niklas420]

as a decorated veteran with 3 tours in Iraq and 2 tours in Afghanistan + 1 tour in Bosnia, I only know that respect to the flag and to this nation is absolute. Protests, demonstrations and burning of flags shows me nothing more than ignorance and disrespect. This chump, Colin Kaepernick, obviously lacks any respect and for him to protest the flag because of what "some" police officers do is a slap. I might as well demonstrate because I did not get good grades in school because there is a bias on dumb ass white kids, right? Or lets have a party and burn half the town because I did not get what I wanted when I wanted. The last few years, I have seen too many kids not taking responsibility and any sense of accountability on their lives. Instead they are a bunch of pussies and need coddling from everyone because they are #discriminated. Bull Shit - I have been discriminated too. I have had police draw guns on me ---- however, I knew to show respect to the law and to the badge. Simple shit. Same in the marines - you respect the stripes not the clown that might be wearing them. Now about digging up anything racist... fuck, I guess that I am racist? I am racist because I dont flaunt what Black Lives Matter or other prejudiced and divisive groups like them and others (KKK, Black Panthers, Aryan Nation, Triads, etc.... ) I love the fact that in America we have DIVERSITY!!!! Yeah, my black negro brothers and my hispanic wetbacks and my asian brothers are the ones I love to this day!! Don't fuck with us when we are together! How that works? simple in that we all *acknowledge* that we are diverse and we got lots of respect for each other - to the point that I will take a bullet for my brother. Something that in the real world dont know shit and politicians and ignorant protestors dont give a fuck on. If I could, I would go back and do another tour --- because when I am in Iraq or Afghanistan -- I know who the enemy is

[Drob]

I don't get upset when people do not stand but his supposed reasoning is not a valid or legitimate excuse. Seems like such a waste of talent

He has an excellent reason..u can argue the execution..as its something i wouldn't have done because he opened himself to these very type of conversations

[Drob]

He's about 50 years too late on this being a protest I could respect.

As a veteran myself I just see this as a protest that was executed in all of the wrong ways - and sends a lot of mixed signals. Normally we view these protests as anti military as well as anti establishment. Many veterans view the flag and the anthem as a symbol of what our sacrifices are represented through - and so protesting it because he's upset with the police would include the veteran who would literally die for those symbols alone. Either way - every single athlete who has done this has received a ton of flack and this attitude is nothing new. Although 50+ years ago when Jackie Robinson protested it - it was during a key time during the civil rights movement and not during the millennial SJW protests. Naturally a lot of veterans and army rangers alike will be upset by it though and that shouldn't surprise anyone when you look at the context of the situation.

And Drob is right about a few things
1. he has the right to protest the flag for whatever reason - but shouldn't be surprised if it effectively makes him a household name for various reasons.
2. the national anthem was not only written by a racist but in a verse we have never recognized as a part of the national anthem had a racist section in it. He is wrong however when he says our national anthem used to be racist. It in fact never was and was widely debated when selected because of it's history and many times has the anthem been challenged with other alternatives.
3. it's annoying that veterans get dragged into SJW politics when we really don't care or give a shit about to begin with.
4. america is a great place and there's many other nations who really face true oppression.

Well said...its just sad people pull vets into it when that has nothing at all to do with it.people dont go and die for a fucking anthem or a fucking flag..they go and risk they 're lives for the ideals that those are supposed to represent. Liberty freedom pursuit of happiness etc. The fact that he feels at this point in time the country isn't representing that is his right and he shouldn't be bashed as being unpatriotic for it

[Drob]

as a decorated veteran with 3 tours in Iraq and 2 tours in Afghanistan + 1 tour in Bosnia, I only know that respect to the flag and to this nation is absolute. Protests, demonstrations and burning of flags shows me nothing more than ignorance and disrespect. This chump, Colin Kaepernick, obviously lacks any respect and for him to protest the flag because of what "some" police officers do is a slap. I might as well demonstrate because I did not get good grades in school because there is a bias on dumb ass white kids, right? Or lets have a party and burn half the town because I did not get what I wanted when I wanted. The last few years, I have seen too many kids not taking responsibility and any sense of accountability on their lives. Instead they are a bunch of pussies and need coddling from everyone because they are #discriminated. Bull Shit - I have been discriminated too. I have had police draw guns on me ---- however, I knew to show respect to the law and to the badge. Simple shit. Same in the marines - you respect the stripes not the clown that might be wearing them. Now about digging up anything racist... fuck, I guess that I am racist? I am racist because I dont flaunt what Black Lives Matter or other prejudiced and divisive groups like them and others (KKK, Black Panthers, Aryan Nation, Triads, etc.... ) I love the fact that in America we have DIVERSITY!!!! Yeah, my black negro brothers and my hispanic wetbacks and my asian brothers are the ones I love to this day!! Don't fuck with us when we are together! How that works? simple in that we all *acknowledge* that we are diverse and we got lots of respect for each other - to the point that I will take a bullet for my brother. Something that in the real world dont know shit and politicians and ignorant protestors dont give a fuck on. If I could, I would go back and do another tour --- because when I am in Iraq or Afghanistan -- I know who the enemy is

U make valid points and i cant attack anyone that disagrees with it. My only point is this aint about patriotism. Its about the police...true enough the vast majority of police arent trigger happy bigots who see a black person or mexican and automatically assume theyre dangerous...but even that small percentage of police officers is an issue..and colin just feels strongly enough to protest that...that should be ok with all vets..what the hell else did we fight for but so people idiotic or not can have the FREEDOM to do stuff like this

[Drob]

But i will say chance hes not 50 years late...if one unarmed person is killed by a police officer no matter the color an argument can be made that its time to protest....this is still a very racist country...better than the past of course..but mr Colin does have a valid point

[Niklas420]

U make valid points and i cant attack anyone that disagrees with it. My only point is this aint about patriotism. Its about the police...true enough the vast majority of police arent trigger happy bigots who see a black person or mexican and automatically assume theyre dangerous...but even that small percentage of police officers is an issue..and colin just feels strongly enough to protest that...that should be ok with all vets..what the hell else did we fight for but so people idiotic or not can have the FREEDOM to do stuff like this

if it aint about patriotism then why the hell disrespect the flag and put down the US? If you got a complaint against the police -- take it to their supervisors. I got a problem with the damn garbage truck not picking up the garbage when I dont put the trash at the exact spot. Should I say fuck it and go after AMERICA? Hell no! I got a lot of ex-marines buds of mine that are now police and troopers --- some of them are.... *BLACK* ... wow?! Anyways.. I am fed up with the shit in trying to create every problem as a race problem because people cant be accountable nor do they want to hold any responsibility. This goes for any person, any color, any sex and anything (bruce jenner included.). I fought for freedom and SAW many fuckin die for FREEDOM... freedom for people that dont give a fuck in places like Faluja, Nawzad, Bagram Airbase, and Ramadi (my best buddy - he was black .. and bled to death) So fuck I am pissed that guys like Duke, Ted, Neil, Marcus, Jerry, Kareem, Lewis, Rick, Jose, and Iron MIKE ..... all fuckn DIED in defending their brothers under ONE FUCKING FLAG and ONE FUCKN NATION. we are one.... again, I like to know who my enemy is and I see them more and more in this country.

[Eli_462]

I just want to point I have never signed up to serve in the military.

as for Colin, I feel it's a little grandstanding from him but I have a black friend and he does that all the time so I kinda expect it. If you have a big problem with this or think it's some kind of disrespect to the military all I can say is this shit wouldn't stand in North Korea.

[Drob]

if it aint about patriotism then why the hell disrespect the flag and put down the US? If you got a complaint against the police -- take it to their supervisors. I got a problem with the damn garbage truck not picking up the garbage when I dont put the trash at the exact spot. Should I say fuck it and go after AMERICA? Hell no! I got a lot of ex-marines buds of mine that are now police and troopers --- some of them are.... *BLACK* ... wow?! Anyways.. I am fed up with the shit in trying to create every problem as a race problem because people cant be accountable nor do they want to hold any responsibility. This goes for any person, any color, any sex and anything (bruce jenner included.). I fought for freedom and SAW many fuckin die for FREEDOM... freedom for people that dont give a fuck in places like Faluja, Nawzad, Bagram Airbase, and Ramadi (my best buddy - he was black .. and bled to death) So fuck I am pissed that guys like Duke, Ted, Neil, Marcus, Jerry, Kareem, Lewis, Rick, Jose, and Iron MIKE ..... all fuckn DIED in defending their brothers under ONE FUCKING FLAG and ONE FUCKN NATION. we are one.... again, I like to know who my enemy is and I see them more and more in this country.

When did he disrespect the flag? A anthem isn't a flag..he didnt burn a flag. As per his words..his protest was about overzealous police officers shooting unarmed miniorites..that has absolutely nothing to do with the military

[Chance]

But i will say chance hes not 50 years late...if one unarmed person is killed by a police officer no matter the color an argument can be made that its time to protest....this is still a very racist country...better than the past of course..but mr Colin does have a valid point

Well -- I won't deny that there is a problem with racism and that Colin does have a valid point. However I don't think we live in a time where protesting the anthem makes a lot of sense. We live in a time where black people can run for public office. To include the city council that helps regulate the police.