An Open Letter to Colin Kaepernick,
Dear Colin guess you have been pretty busy these last few days. For the record I don’t think any more or less of you for not standing for the National Anthem. Honestly, I never thought that much about you, or any professional athlete for that matter, to begin with. I’ve read your statement a few times and want you to know I am one of the reasons you are protesting. You see I am a retired police officer that had the misfortune of having to shoot and kill a 19-year-old African American male. And just like you said, I was the recipient of about $3,000 a month while on leave which was a good thing because I had to support a wife and three children under 7-years-old for about 2 months with that money. Things were pretty tight because I couldn’t work part time. Every police officer I’ve ever known has worked part-time to help make ends meet.
You know Colin the more I think about it the more we seem to have in common. I really pushed myself in rehab to get back on the street, kind of like you do to get back on the field. You probably have had a broken bone or two and some muscle strains and deep bruising that needed a lot of work. I just had to bounce back from a gunshot wound to the chest and thigh. Good thing we both get paid when we are too banged up to “play”, huh? We both also know what it’s like to get blindsided. You by a 280- pound defensive end, ouch! Me, by a couple of rounds fired from a gun about 2 feet away, into my chest and thigh. We also both make our living wearing uniforms, right? You have probably ruined a jersey or two on the field of play. I still have my blood stained shirt that my partner and paramedics literally ripped off my back that cold night in January. Fortunately, like you I was given a new one. Speaking of paramedics aren’t you glad the second we get hurt trainers and doctors are standing by waiting to rush onto the field to scoop us up. I’m thankful they get to you in seconds. It only took them about 10 minutes to get to me. By the grace of God, the artery in my thigh didn’t rupture or else 10 minutes would have been about 9 minutes too late. We also have both experienced the hate and disgust others have just because of those uniforms we wear. I sure am glad for your sake that the folks who wear my uniform are on hand to escort you and those folks that wear your uniform into stadiums in places like Seattle!
I guess that’s where the similarities end Colin. You entertain for a living, I and almost 800,000 others across this country serve and protect. Are there some bad apples within my profession? Absolutely and they need to be identified and fired or arrested! But you know what, the vast majority do the right thing, the right way, for the right reason. Did I mention that seconds before I was shot, an elderly African American gentleman walking down the sidewalk, turned to my partner and I as we rode past and said, “Get them.” Get who you ask? The thugs terrorizing an otherwise good and decent neighborhood, home to dozens of good, decent African American families trying to raise those families in communities not protected by gates and security guards. No these folks and families depend on America’s Law Enforcement Officers.
Colin I have buried 7 friends, killed in the line of duty and three others who have committed suicide. I have attended more funerals than I care to remember of neighboring departments who have lost officers in the line of duty, during my career. Law Enforcement Officers with different backgrounds, upbringings, and experiences united by their willingness to answer the call to protect and serve their fellow citizens.
Colin I am sorry for the endorsement deals you may lose and the dip in jersey sales, but please know you will NEVER lose what these men and women and their families have lost. And so whether you stand or sit during the National Anthem or not means very little to me. As for me and the men and women on whose team I was privileged to serve, we will put on our ballistic vests, badge, and gun, kiss our loved one’s goodbye, for some tragically for the last time, and out into a shift of uncertainty we will go. We will continue to protect and continue to serve and we will be standing at attention Colin, not just for the playing of our National Anthem, but far more importantly for the playing of Taps.
V/R
Chris Amos
Word has it, Colin may be cut by the 49ers. purely a business move.
"Purely a business move". Yeah. I imagine that 49ers management is not feeling real rosy about this.
I don't agree with his methods, but why do some people think he's talking about himself? Obviously he's a privileged athlete. He never said America is unfair to him. He's saying America is unfair towards others. He's saying America ain't so great. Maybe he just wants to make America great again?
"There I was, the black grandson of a slave, the son of a black sharecropper, part of a historic occasion, a symbolic hero to my people. The air was sparkling. The sunlight was warm. The band struck up the national anthem. The flag billowed in the wind. It should have been a glorious moment for me as the stirring words of the national anthem poured from the stands. Perhaps, it was, but then again, perhaps, the anthem could be called the theme song for a drama called The Noble Experiment. Today, as I look back on that opening game of my first world series, I must tell you that it was Mr. Rickey’s drama and that I was only a principal actor. As I write this twenty years later, I cannot stand and sing the anthem. I cannot salute the flag; I know that I am a black man in a white world. In 1972, in 1947, at my birth in 1919, I know that I never had it made."
Jackie Robinson - from his autobiography
Kapernickis has embraced the BLM movement and its making people incomfortable bringing it to the forefront by his protest. For those championing the BLM cause, is he your new role model?
I guess I'm just confused as to why he is being demonized. Is it because he wants to make America greater? Is sitting during the anthem worse than saying how horrible this country is while running for President?
Kapernickis has embraced the BLM movement and its making people incomfortable bringing it to the forefront by his protest. For those championing the BLM cause, is he your new role model?
Some folks are more bothered by someone who sits during the anthem. Others are more bothered by racial inequality. Which are you?
He's being demonized because demonization is the modus operandus now. Very little of reasoned discussion - reason doesn't sell papers or, now, draw mouse clicks or titillate talking heads on the tube for ratings. Kaepernick isn't shooting cops or advocating violence - he's simply sitting down as a civilized gesture of protest and speaking his mind, which is his absolute right and deeply ingrained into the American fabric. I applaud the officer's letter for its tone and substance and his (her? Chris could be a woman) point of view must also be accounted for in discussing and dealing with a real issue facing the country now. Beautifully expressed.
Kapernickis has embraced the BLM movement and its making people incomfortable bringing it to the forefront by his protest. For those championing the BLM cause, is he your new role model?
Some folks are more bothered by someone who sits during the anthem. Others are more bothered by racial inequality. Which are you?
I think BLM is misguided and adding to the racial divide. I have no real outrage because some highly paid jock sits for the anthem but I respect his attempt at individual protest
Goober, I think you are highly confused. The chart clearly states "blacks killed by whites". But the BLM movement is about unarmed blacks killed by white police officers. Do you not see the difference? Hope to hear from you buddy.
Goober, I think you are highly confused. The chart clearly states "blacks killed by whites". But the BLM movement is about unarmed blacks killed by white police officers. Do you not see the difference? Hope to hear from you buddy.
Goober, since you seem to like charts here's one that describes what BLM is about:
So Goober deleted his chart. That's a shame. Why Goober? Can you please answer? I'd love to chat.
So Goober deleted his chart. That's a shame. Why Goober? Can you please answer? I'd love to chat.
These numbers mean nothing. Whites would go ballistic and murder each other if they were locked into cramped ghettos. Outrage at a few cops who are half-crazed from stress, or applauding or booing a sports star's reaction to the national anthem does not begin to scratch the surface of deep-rooted, institutional racism, and the economic and social forces that perpetuate it.
[Edited on 8/31/2016 by BrerRabbit]
"You don't fight for freedom of speech then criticize someone for actually using it. #VeteransForKaepernick"
Colin Kaepernick says America is not great, people tell him GFY and leave the country.
Donald Trump says America is not great, he gets cheered and nominated for President.
These are effed up times we're living in folks.
agreed. And you won't hear any conservatives addressing these hypocrisies.
At least some veterans get it...they don't have to agree with him, but they can support his right to do what he is doing with being told to leave the country...
Man, I served 4 years for his right to protest and freedom of speech, not to stand for a song #VeteransForKaepernick
@Kaepernick7 I served 25yrs in the AF to protect everyone's 1st Amend rights. I support you #VeteransForKaepernick
#VeteransForKaepernick Some of the most brave people I served with so he could SIT! Freedom is a gift;please accept
#VeteransForKaepernick Because he's fighting for what this country should be. What it can be. And what it will be.
I serve to protect your freedoms, not a song #VeteransForKaepernick
#veteransforkaepernick Freedom of speech is and will always be your right to exercise✊🏾
Don't ever use my service to justify racism or shame someone for exercising their rights. #VeteransForKaepernick
Don't speak for me...I support Collin decision to exercise his rights! #VeteransForKaepernick
I Was Wounded in Iraq. Here’s My Message to Colin Kaepernick — And His Critics
By Jason Redman
This week Colin Kaepernick has made a bold statement, using his celebrity status and elevated platform within the NFL to do so. I found out through the social media world, which started tagging me and other wounded warriors on Facebook with posts about how “he would stand if he knew sacrifices like [mine].”
Mr. Kaepernick strongly believes that our nation oppresses people of color and in support of his beliefs, he will not stand for the flag of the United States of America or the National Anthem. Needless to say, the vitriol against him was swift and fierce. Now, I’m sure this is the point where anyone would expect the 21-year retired Navy SEAL to start talking about what I would say to condemn Mr. Kaepernick for his disrespect – but they would be wrong.
While I don’t agree with how he decided to protest his beliefs, I want to remind everyone who is attacking him of one fact: we live in a free nation and one of our greatest gifts of freedom is our freedom of speech.
I fought and sacrificed mind and body for that precious gift, which gives American citizens the ability to openly bad-mouth leaders in government, oppressive federal institutions and even law enforcement; the right to openly protest against things with which we disagree without fear of imprisonment, persecution or intervention.
Every citizen of this great nation is guaranteed this freedom through an amazing document known as the Constitution. It reads: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
Mr. Kaepernick is exercising his right to stand up for what he believes. If he lived in China or North Korea and he decided not to stand, he would most likely find himself arrested. Had he lived in Germany seventy-five years ago, he probably would have found himself dead. But thankfully, he lives in America. Our nation is a free nation, whether you agree with everything occurring in it or not.
Putting the merits of his grievances aside, I do not agree with Colin Kaepernick’s method of protest. I personally feel that as a man who has reaped some big rewards of growing up here in America and being paid millions to play the game he loves, Kaepernick probably could have found a more effective method to protest and create change. But hey, it’s America, Colin, and you protested in the manner you saw best fit. And in a strange twist of irony, you celebrated what makes America wonderful while calling out her flaws.
So Kaepernick can go ahead and sit. Thankfully, there are hundreds of thousands of brave men and women of all colors who will stand and fight for his right to do so. I just hope the next game that he is sitting down for the American flag and the National Anthem, he will take a moment to think of the hundreds of thousands of warriors who sacrificed everything and were buried under that flag for his right to sit there.
Are there some bad apples within my profession? Absolutely and they need to be identified and fired or arrested!
This is the population Kaepernick was protesting, and often the officers are identified and not fired. Protesting some doesn't mean protesting all - or the military for that matter, which isn't at all what he was protesting against at all but people decided to get their undies in a bundle over anyways (the anthem isn't just a celebration of the military). Whether you agree with him or his methods or not, people could at least focus on the correct issue. Any time some one is able to protest freely and peacefully, it's a victory.
Are there some bad apples within my profession? Absolutely and they need to be identified and fired or arrested!
This is the population Kaepernick was protesting, and often the officers are identified and not fired. Protesting some doesn't mean protesting all - or the military for that matter, which isn't at all what he was protesting against at all but people decided to get their undies in a bundle over anyways (the anthem isn't just a celebration of the military). Whether you agree with him or his methods or not, people could at least focus on the correct issue. Any time some one is able to protest freely and peacefully, it's a victory.
Exactly. And given the amount of conversation going on these past few days I'd say his protest has been effective.
Are there some bad apples within my profession? Absolutely and they need to be identified and fired or arrested!
This is the population Kaepernick was protesting, and often the officers are identified and not fired. Protesting some doesn't mean protesting all - or the military for that matter, which isn't at all what he was protesting against at all but people decided to get their undies in a bundle over anyways (the anthem isn't just a celebration of the military). Whether you agree with him or his methods or not, people could at least focus on the correct issue. Any time some one is able to protest freely and peacefully, it's a victory.
Exactly. And given the amount of conversation going on these past few days I'd say his protest has been effective.
but will it bring about meaningful change?.
Based on our country's history I would have to say no. What Kaepernick is doing is nothing compared to what the civil rights activists in the '50's and '60's did, yet our country still suffers from racial injustice. It may never change, but I admire the people who don't give up.
Are there some bad apples within my profession? Absolutely and they need to be identified and fired or arrested!
This is the population Kaepernick was protesting, and often the officers are identified and not fired. Protesting some doesn't mean protesting all - or the military for that matter, which isn't at all what he was protesting against at all but people decided to get their undies in a bundle over anyways (the anthem isn't just a celebration of the military). Whether you agree with him or his methods or not, people could at least focus on the correct issue. Any time some one is able to protest freely and peacefully, it's a victory.
Exactly. And given the amount of conversation going on these past few days I'd say his protest has been effective.
but will it bring about meaningful change?.
On it's own? Probably not. But I don't think he (or anyone else) would expect to on its own.
I don't agree with his methods, but why do some people think he's talking about himself? Obviously he's a privileged athlete. He never said America is unfair to him. He's saying America is unfair towards others. He's saying America ain't so great. Maybe he just wants to make America great again?
"I don't agree with his methods"...Me as well.
Maybe this Jackass could donate some of his 19 million dollar salary to a "Cause he really believes in"...That would get people's attention.
Colin Kaepernick says America is not great, people tell him GFY and leave the country.
Donald Trump says America is not great, he gets cheered and nominated for President.
These are effed up times we're living in folks.
Kapernick is a rich athlete. I know more want to hear an athlete's political views at a game than I do a musician's at a concert..
Colin Kaepernick says America is not great, people tell him GFY and leave the country.
Donald Trump says America is not great, he gets cheered and nominated for President.
These are effed up times we're living in folks.
Mr Trump never said America is not great, he just agrees with you that things are effed up right now.
Colin Kaepernick says America is not great, people tell him GFY and leave the country.
Donald Trump says America is not great, he gets cheered and nominated for President.
These are effed up times we're living in folks.
Mr Trump never said America is not great, he just agrees with you that things are effed up right now.
What??? That's a truly bizarre statement. His campaign slogan, which he wears on a hat almost all the time, is "Make America Great Again" which is another way of saying American Isn't Great Now. He's also said over and over against how horrible it is to live in America now.
In any case, if you really want to split hairs, Kaepernick didn't use those exact words either, but the point remains the same...and the double standard at work here is striking....
Colin Kaepernick says America is effed up right now, people tell him GFY and leave the country.
Donald Trump says America is effed up right now, he gets cheered and nominated for President.
Kaepernick says America is effed up right now, people tell him GFY and leave the country.
Any athlete (Pinhead) who refuses to stand during the National Anthem claiming "oppression"...and then shows up to a press conference wearing a Fidel Castro shirt can move to Cuba tomorrow for all I care....
Colin Kaepernick says America is not great, people tell him GFY and leave the country.
Donald Trump says America is not great, he gets cheered and nominated for President.
These are effed up times we're living in folks.
Mr Trump never said America is not great, he just agrees with you that things are effed up right now.
What??? That's a truly bizarre statement. His campaign slogan, which he wears on a hat almost all the time, is "Make America Great Again" which is another way of saying American Isn't Great Now. He's also said over and over against how horrible it is to live in America now.
In any case, if you really want to split hairs, Kaepernick didn't use those exact words either, but the point remains the same...and the double standard at work here is striking....
Colin Kaepernick says America is effed up right now, people tell him GFY and leave the country.
Donald Trump says America is effed up right now, he gets cheered and nominated for President.
If Trump's hat and slogan said, "Make America Great" I might be inclined to agree with you.
