Aug 29, 2016 With the recent events of Kaepernick not standing for the national anthem and the outrage it has caused, I figured this could be an interesting discussion. Most schools in the U.S. have students recite the pledge every morning but students have been allowed to opt out of it since the 1943 Supreme Court case of the West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnette. But what happens when an employee of a private employer refuses to recite/stand for the anthem? Colin Kaepernick refused to stand during the National Anthem before a game Friday, when asked why he did not after the game, he replied, "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder." The National Anthem was written during American Slavery. There's a third stanza of the song that few have heard or read the lyrics to, "No refuge could save the hireling and slave / From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave." In the War of 1812, the British were trying to get slaves to leave their owners to join them and in result, they would be given freedom. Francis Scott Key, the man who penned the National Anthem is basically saying that he is glad that those who were able to free themselves were dying. After all of this, can you really fault Kaepernick for trying to take a stand? I mean s---, Kaepernick's career is almost hanging on a string right now and this definitely will not make things better for him but he still chose to do it. His twitter mentions are full of people calling him a "n----" as well.
Aug 29, 2016 but on the serious side i find this issue to be really dumb if he doesnt want to stand he doesnt have too.
Aug 29, 2016 People that refuse to stand should commit harakiri right then and there during the pledge and bleed out
Aug 29, 2016 Was reading the op, wait do 'most schools' really still have kids read the pledge every morning? Thought most got rid of that a long time ago, none of the schools in my area ever did it.
Aug 29, 2016 we have similar issues in Australia. For some reason some muslims aren't standing for the national anthem (to be completely honest, i really think its just a case of them not knowing, majority of the time). People are getting pretty butt blasted over it, one woman+her family in particular that all sat during the national anthem at some sports game. All I gotta say about this is learn from Kanye West. He once saw a member of the crowd not standing so he chanted him on and tried to make him stand. guy was a paraplegic. so like, just dont make someone stand ever for anything, because it's not PC and what if they can't physically stand? its the only way to make everyone happy.
Aug 29, 2016 which is the dumbest thing ive ever heard this happened in the nba too in the 90's with chris jackson his whole career was derailed cuz he wont stand
Aug 29, 2016 Look at me! I have the right to Freedom of this and Freedom of that! I can do whatever I want bro! Don't impeach on me! I'll have you arrested! It's my right to sit! I don't have to show basic human awareness if I don't feel like it! I dance to the beat of my own drums! f--- yea! I'll worship no flag! I worship myself b----! Sometimes I worship Dolly Partons t-ts! That's about it! That's my pledge.
Aug 29, 2016 Imagine living in a country where you don't have to stand for the National anthem if you don't want to in 2016
Aug 29, 2016 This also is the same country that allows him to make $19 million a year playing a kids game. If you look at his Twitter it is filled with retweets of left wing bs. This is the same guy who was adopted and raised by a wealthy white family.
Aug 29, 2016 I agree with Kaep's message, but not the execution. I think it undermines the military. He can do what he wants though. I really don't care about the whole situation if I'm being honest.
Aug 29, 2016 You don't even have to support the country... it's like, basic manners... like not chewing with your mouth open. Kaepernick wouldn't even have a career if it wasn't for "this country" so what the f--- is he smoking? Like pledging yourself to the flag magically makes you racist lmfao f--- outta here
Aug 29, 2016 Not trying to be a d-ck but what does that have to do with anything? The whole notion that innocent blacks are targeted by the racist white cops is bs. Yes there are cases when people shouldn't have been shot but also many of these cases involved fighting the police which ended in a shooting. He certainly has the right to feel the way he does but I think the way he is going about it is absurd
