Colin Kaepernick and other American Heroes

This morning I saw one of the most absurd memes I’ve seen in a long time. The picture showed football player Tim Tebow taking a knee in prayer before a University of Florida football game and the dopey caption read: “Tebow took a knee in prayer and was too controversial. Now they #TakeAKnee in protest and are considered hero’s [sic]. #LiberalLogic”

“They”. Gotta love it, huh? Who are “they” anyway?

I’m sorry, but anyone who makes that comparison and who honestly believes that type of garbage, anyone who refuses to recognize and acknowledge police violence against African Americans and who is happy to bury that important issue under this type of nonsense is someone who I have no interest in talking with.

Someone who can sit back and refuse to recognize social – and racial – injustice, who is so blissfully unaware that he or she believes that NFL players who take a knee during the National Anthem are out there protesting the flag, who can – like some anonymous poster commenting on a news article sarcastically thanking NFL players who kneel during the National Anthem for “ruining football”, is . . .  well . . . deplorable.

Go away.

I saw another meme that read: “Thinking NFL players are ‘protesting the flag’ is like thinking Rosa Parks was protesting public transportation.”

That’s a great comment, but I’m not sure the people who believe the players kneeling during the National Anthem are protesting the US flag actually know who Rosa Parks was.

You want to keep on misrepresenting the issue and hiding behind the US flag? “There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people for a purpose which is unattainable.” – Howard Zinn

When did the brains of so many Americans turn to mush?

To Colin Kaepernick and every every other football player, coach, or team owner, singer or friend, to the Minnesota Lynx and the Los Angeles Sparks, to Bruce Maxwell of the Oakland A’s, to Stevie Wonder, to all who rally against divisive statements, who recognize diversity and tolerance and acceptance, and who, through their peaceful protest, bring the horror and tragedy of injustice to our awareness; to all of you who aren’t afraid to stand up: you’re all heroes.

To those who rant against and misrepresent the good intentions of others and who would deny the constitutional rights of those same people to peacefully express their beliefs, who think a peaceful protester is a “son of a bitch” who should lose his or her job: just go put on your MAGA caps and go away.

“It’s a shame and disgrace when you have the president of the US calling citizens of the country sons of a bitches.” – Minnesota Vikings running back Bishop Sankey