If you can stomach 3 and 1/2 minutes straight of high-pitched ranting and raving, one thing will become clear at the end of this video: This is not about a black man sitting down; it's about a bunch of pissed off, incensed white people.
See, you can love Colin Kaepernick, or you can hate him, but at the end of the day you must pick one of only two options: Either, a) you support Kaepernick's right to hold dissenting views, or b) you do NOT support his right to hold dissenting views. It really is that cut'n dried.
If you choose, "a", congratulations, because you show that you actually understand "freedom" and how it works, in which case, you know the alternative.
On the other hand, if you choose "b", then you demonstrate hypocrony(the compound word I just made up for "ironic hypocrisy"). If, as this vapid ignoramous points out, people have fought and died for our freedom, then advocating that things like flag-pledging and standing while National songs are sung be compulsory would mean that our soldiers are fighting and dying IN VAIN. Because, after all, what's the alternative to "freedom" again??? Oh, yeah, it's oppression, aka, suppression of dissent.
You can't have it both ways, white, Christian Republicans.
4 comments:
Of course "A" is the obvious and correct answer ... I think those that are outspoken against CK just don't want to SEE dissent ... especially when it comes to our Anthem/Pledge/Flag etc. I think most of these people (and likely NON-vets) see those sacred symbols as one and the same as the military along with these symbols representing ONLY strength, good and sacrifice given that we honor our war dead with a flag draped coffin and pass on that flag to the next of kin as a solemn and sacred symbol of the deceased.
So when the flag comes out and we are asked to respect it - most people see coffins of war dead. We've sort of been conditioned for decades to think like this ... so I'm not surprised that there's a disconnect between dissent and honoring the flag. It's a knee jerk reaction "We all ALWAYS stand for the Flag/Anthem/Pledge ... how DARE someone NOT"
What they fail to know or remember is that there is no "requirement"/law that requires any of this ... but vets tend to know this more than most which is why you see the pushback by veterans that yes, the fought/died so CK COULD in fact choose to sit. I - being a vet (3 yrs peace time) agree with them and you in selecting "A". But I'll tell you, from the conditioning - I didn't initially "like" what CK did ... in my mind I thought there might be better ways - but I never believed he shouldn't sit on in any way be FORCED to conform and stand. I just didn't like the optics ... but when given a moment - I thought, when is dissent ever a "good" optic.
I think the real problem comes in that people forget that our sacred flag/anthem/pledge actually represent the USA in totality - the good and the bad - it DOES represent the genocide of Native Americans every bit as much as it represents freedom and the liberation of Europe. It also represents the slavery AND the liberation of the slaves equally.
Upon further thought - it also represents an oppression you and I, as atheists are faced with ... codified in actual laws of some States and communities are laws that forbid you and I from running for and holding public office - these are laws created specifically against our first amendment right to freedom of (from) religion. Laws created to cast our view as "anti-American".
That said - I was actually thinking, the next time I'm in a position to need to honor/respect the flag/anthem ... I may sit as well - but I think to avoid looking completely "disrespectful" I'll sit but place my hand over my heart ... as a sign that all is NOT good and right with our country ... we have some issues to resolve and more unquestioning nationalistic pride is not gonna "make America great again" ... America IS great now - but it IS flawed ... every very flawed
"but I never believed he shouldn't sit on in any way be FORCED to conform and stand"
And this is where the hard line is and why we're talking about it: If standing for a National song should be compulsory, then this not only precludes "freedom", it spits directly into the face of it. There is no grey area.
Sadly, while they might not admit it, it is pretty clear that some people believe that Kaepernick, and everyone else, should be obligated to stand for the National Anthem. These people would be hypocrites, at best. When George W's daddy said that he didn't think Atheists qualify as American citizens, he was demonstrating in no uncertain terms that he doesn't respect the 1st Amendment.
See, "freedom" means the choice to stand or sit. It means the choice to worship "God", OR not. The Trumpanzees are showing their true colors, and them colors ain't Red, White, 'n Blue.
I agree with everything you said ... I remember not finding out the Bush Sr. actually said that until WAY later - like when I was shaking the off what remained of the husk of my faith ... granted, I was a non-practicing Lutheran since the mid 80s but still considered myself a "christian", if on paper only ... but as such, even at that level I still had by in to the church propaganda regarding atheists (being commie satan worshipers and whatnot) to have not let the gravity of Bush's statements fully sink in ... I had to re-remember that this was even uttered and look at it with fresh eyes to recognize just how unbelievable the statment was ESPECIALLY coming from an American president.
That said ... this:
Trumpanzees
... is pure 24 karat GOLD!
"pure 24 karat GOLD!"
Thx, but I can't claim copyrights on this one. And besides, chimps are actually pretty smart. So, it might actually be an insult to chimps?
This is not to say that all Trump supporters lack intelligence, though. But being intelligent doesn't preclude being a racist or bigot. What we have right now is people who love Trump because, as they claim, he's says all the things that no one else will say. Lol! Um, no sh*t? Of course no one else will say the things he says, except for perhaps those who are part of white supremacy groups.
The idea of Trump sitting around in a room discussing the issues with other world leaders is truly frightening. "I was being sarcastic! And I have the best sarcasm!".......::eyeroll::
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