The NFL season is entering its 3rd week with two of the biggest names at the quarterback position Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisberger out for half of the season and the rest of the season respectively.
Roethlisberger, twice accused of rape prior to the #metoo era back in 2009 and again in 2010 has continued to play for the last decade with the only penalty being a league ordered four-game suspension. However, Colin Kaepernick is still unemployed for merely using his platform for the betterment of his community and communities like his across the United States.
With the success of RPO’s (Run/Pass Options) a big, strong, mobile quarterback like Kaep would thrive in the new NFL, and if the Steelers want a shot at making the playoffs this season Kaep is their best bet. I’ve heard a lot of opinions on this topic, and no matter how much I try to see the opposing perspective from the sightline of the person I’m speaking with, it just all sounds like ignorant bullshit masking racism in the end. Let’s break it all down right now.
Disrespecting the Military
This one’s easy. First off, the issue that Kaep is protesting is POLICE BRUTALITY not the military, or the goddamn Vietnam war. There is a problem in the US where innocent black kids, fathers, brothers, sons, cousins, friends have been murdered by the people who are employed to protect them. This is important to grasp. If you are a law-abiding citizen, no matter the colour of your skin, the police are employed to serve and protect you.
Opposition: But not standing for the anthem/flag is disrespecting the military
WRONG! The anthem and flag aren’t the sole property of the military. The flag and the anthem are symbols of the ideals that the society is founded upon. In the US that’s Life, Liberty, Freedom, Justice, Equality, and the Pursuit of Happiness. If these ideals aren’t being upheld by an institution of government (which law enforcement is), then it is a citizens duty to protest so that those military service people who made the ultimate sacrifice to uphold those ideals didn’t do so in vain. And what better way to peacefully protest than to do so in front of the symbols that represent those ideals.
Taking A Knee
As far as peaceful protests go the act of taking a knee is full of symbolism. In football taking a knee is a sign of respect, it means you are listening. Coach says “Take a knee” when he’s got something significant to say. Kaep is effectively listening to the unheard voices of his community and being the vessel for them to be heard. He’s also kneeling in front of the flag and during the anthem-like one kneels when a coach is speaking. It is the most respectful, peaceful way to protest the heinous social injustice that he is attempting to bring awareness to.
If none of this makes sense to you then I ask you to consider the following. What if it were Tom Brady or Drew Brees taking a knee? For the same cause or another. Would you be so angry? Colin Kaepernick is no Brady or Brees (actually those two along with Montana are in my opinion the GOATs), but he is an NFL starting quarterback. He should be employed. Blackballing a black baller (see what I did there) for using his platform to effect change in social justice issues is so entirely autocratic.
In the end Kaep’s method was effective was it not?
Jason Gonsalves
Jason Gonsalves is a blogger and podcast personality at deanblundell.com.
