Stop Burning Your Nike Clothing! Or not…?

I have to say that I find this new trend of people burning their Nike gear rather absurd. This is going to be a quick and easy rundown of why you should stop doing that, and realize that Colin Kaepernick’s protest is not, in any way shape or form, insulting the flag or the troops.

All you famous people who keep making videos about how Kaepernick is famous and needs to shut up… Well… You get it, right? You see the hypocrisy? No?   *sigh*

Here we go…

1. Kneeling is a sign of respect. You kneel to ask a woman to marry you. You kneel before the queen. Soldiers kneel to honor their wounded. NFL players kneel when another player gets hurt. Kneeling is a sign of respect! Kap is kneeling – respectfully – for all the people who have been killed unnecessarily by the police.
2. All you famous people who keep making videos about how Kaepernick is famous and needs to shut up… Well… You get it, right? Surely you see the hypocrisy? No? *sigh*
3. It doesn’t matter if he’s the richest man in America or the poorest. It doesn’t matter if he’s never had a single interaction with a cop. It doesn’t matter if he’s spent his entire life on a bed of clouds getting fed grapes by Aphrodite herself. None of that matters. He’s a man who is standing up for what he believes in. He’s standing up for those less fortunate than him. He’s using his position to give a voice to those people who don’t have one and can’t get one. If you think standing up for people is a bad thing you might want to re-evaluate your whole stance for a second. Because at this point, you’re just trying to find any excuse you can to shit on this guy.
4. Three was really long so I’m going to make four short for ya, but then add more items so my list looks more impressive… Win – Win!
5. “Believe in something. Even if it means you have to sacrifice everything.” He stood up for what he believed in and lost his dream of playing in the NFL. Most people won’t even stand up to their spouse, yet he stood up to half the nation screaming at him, racists (not YOU… the real racists) threatening him, and even the president calling him names. All of it, and he keeps on fighting. That’s heroic. That’s some “Braveheart” shit right there.
6. Forcing people to stand for the flag is the opposite of freedom. Telling people how to be patriotic is the opposite of freedom. Attacking a man who is trying to help other US citizens is the opposite of patriotism.
7. You made it about the troops, not him. He sat at first, and was told afterward by a service member that kneeling was more respectful. So he listened and did that. But, really, it was never about the troops. It’s about cops killing people. He just wanted to do what he could to make people aware… of…          Hmmm.  Wait a second…
8. I don’t know why I’m complaining, actually. The people going on and on about this have, despite their wishes, made Kap’s protest far more successful than it ever could have been without them. So, thanks! I can’t speak for him, of course, but I truly appreciate you making what he’s doing more successful. He may never play another down in the NFL, but he’s going to be remembered longer than nearly every other player out there. He’s already secured a place in history, and it’s all thanks to you fine folks.

He may never play another down in the NFL, but he’s going to be remembered longer than nearly every other player out there

This really did start out as a post trying to get people to understand that it wasn’t about the troops and all that. But, as I wrote, I legitimately realized that the protests of the protest are truly helping the cause more than the initial protest.

I’m serious. Thank you to everyone who has thrown a fit over this. Thank you for all the people burning your Nike gear (although you should really donate it). Thank you for helping Colin Kaepernick be more successful in this than he probably could have ever imagined.

All of you are the real MVPs!