Maybe this conversation has been conversated to death in your view, and that's OK. I'm sure you're fine in your bubble of white, male privilege.

picture from pixabay. you're welcome

Trigger Warning

Yeah, usually the trigger warning goes before the thing that's about to do the triggering but let's be honest... of course I'm trying to piss you off and get you talking. I'm not here to do anything but the same as you are and part of that is to get you to read my stuff so... are you still here?

So, Why?

Why are NFL players taking a knee during the National Anthem? Let's break it down, shall we? First of all, why is the National Anthem being played so fucking often? Maybe you guys are not only white and male but also young and therefore not yet sick and tired of the American Government shoving how great America is down your throat every time you turn around, but I am. It's weird you guys. For a country that was founded by the craziest white people (arguably) in history, people who were so hell bent on NOT following the status quo they chose to travel for months on wooden boats across the OCEAN... and now someone waves a bit of cloth and we all snap to attention and recite a mantra... it's weird. But ok, it happens, it's our version of 'history' so fine. Pledge your allegiance and all hail the flag.

baagain, pixay. did your nuts just tighten up?

All of that up there :waves_hands_at_paragraph: is all me and my opinion. When asked back in August of 2016 about why he was protesting, Kaepernick said that he was "...not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color"

So, maybe you don't agree that people of color are being oppressed in this country. I understand that there are people from all over this country on this platform and so perhaps you don't see it where you are; your friends of color say everything is fine, nothing to worry about. Why is it still so difficult to accept that others, in different places than where you are, have a different experience? Why the venom and the hate? Kaepernick is an American and a peaceful protest is supposedly our bread and butter... why is it, do you think, that people get so infuriated?

Because here's the thing no one seems to talk about; taking a knee is a sign of respect. If you've played sports or watched them you know this. Players take a knee when one of them is hurt - someone on their team or their opposition. You take a knee to say 'we're with you' because on the battleground of sports there is respect amongst warriors. Kaepernick is not only peacefully protesting, he's using a universal show of respect to do it.

Again I ask... why? If you've read this far, I'd bet you have an opinion. Are you angry that some players in the NFL are following Kaepernick's lead and taking a knee? Change my mind and let me try to change yours.