I’m a fan of college football rather than the NFL, so I haven’t paid much attention to the controversy over players protesting against police misbehavior during the national anthem.
However, the topic is now trending. The 2018 season’s about to start and Colin Kaepernick is being featured in a new ad campaign for Nike, so I figure why not insert myself into the discussion.
The bottom line is that Kaepernick and the other players have identified a very real and very important issue.
I’ve written on many occasions about the need for better policing.
Though I don’t think the problem is systemic racism or pervasive brutality.
Some of that exists, of course, but I assume the vast majority of cops want to do a good job and treat people fairly (except when giving me traffic tickets).
The real problem is that politicians have enacted far too many laws, many of which don’t make sense or don’t have any victims, and then they expect the police to use those laws to generate more revenue.
This is a recipe for more Eric Garner tragedies.
That being said, NFL players are not going to win the hearts of middle America by actions that can be portrayed as being anti-flag, anti-police, anti-military, and/or anti-country. Heck, they’re playing into Trump’s hands with that approach.
The players would have much more success (both in terms of the issue and with respect to their own popularity) if they portrayed their cause as one that affirms and extends American ideals.
NFL players should come up with some inclusive pro-America slogan about “The Constitution Protects Everyone” or “The Principles of the Founding Fathers Apply to All Americans.” And then they should be ostentatiously patriotic (in the proper sense), standing for the national anthem, with one hand over their hearts and one hand holding both an American flag and some sort or symbol of their campaign.
Trump would have a hard time attacking that kind of approach.
More important, I’m guessing a lot of Americans who heretofore have been rejecting the message of Kaepernick, et al, may start paying attention. And that would be the ideal outcome. After all, the goal should be to change policy, not generate noise and controversy.
For all intents and purposes, I’m suggesting the football players adopt the strategy Martin Luther King used when fighting Jim Crow laws. Dr. King explained that equality of law was an American principle. He embraced the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, even though slavery and other sins meant America was grossly imperfect at that point.
But he wanted an inclusive message. I hope that today’s NFL players copy that approach. Assuming, of course, they actually want better policing and a better America.
P.S. Until and unless there’s a better strategy, Nike will probably suffer the same adverse consequences as Dick’s, which lost customers after kowtowing to the anti-gun crowd. Irritating a big chunk of the buying public is not a wise idea.
P.P.S. I believe in a tough-on-crime approach, but only if laws are just.
P.P.P.S. If you want some cop-related humor, click here, here, and here.
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it seems that many on the hard left believe that white christian males should step aside and surrender their careers… influence and social positions to more politically correct individuals… this would of course all be in the interests of cultural diversity… and the leftist Utopian dream of a more perfect multi-cultural society…
from ABC News:
“Let’s do this, guys. Let’s put the country first and our fellow humans ahead of our own egos. Let’s do this not out of a sense of insecurity that we are losing a hold on power, but out of a sense of security that others not like us can do the job better than we can at this time.”
“I for one am excited at the prospect of seeing how a whole different group of people will lead and make our country and the Earth a better place.”
“Us white male Christians need to step back and give others room to lead:” OPINION
By MATTHEW DOWD
https://abcnews.go.com/US/leadership-means-making-oneself-dispensable-opinion/story?id=58193412
[…] wrote a serious column a few days ago about Colin Kaepernick and his new Nike ad about protesting. Well, that’s […]
[…] wrote a serious column a few days ago about Colin Kaepernick and his new Nike ad about protesting. Well, that’s […]
Sorry no, Kaepernick (sp?) supported BLM assertions, it wasnt about cops killing citizens, it was about racist cops killing unarmed black men
Something not borne out by statistics – more white people are shot by cops, and more cops are shot by black people than black people are shot by cops
Lets not forget BLMs other major claim was the the US government officially kidnapped underage African American pre teens to trade as sex slaves in treaty negotiations.
And no that statement was not a joke, it was an actual claim by Black Lives Matter
Giving them the benefit of the doubt do you really think the appropriate action is to protest at their workplace? I think there are plenty of things wrong but would my company allow me to protest at work in front of their customers? For 30 seconds maybe.
It used to be that business, large and small, knew that playing politics with their business was a no-no. They knew enough not to do it, because people would respond with taking their business elsewhere. Basic economics isn’t it? Listening to the marketplace? What happened?
1: There is no such thing as a legitimate protest that takes place during the National Anthem
2: The NFL goes out of its way to stamp out any right-wing protests (see 9/11 patches, or honoring the Dallas police officers murdered by BLM supporters).
So there are no legitimate left-wing protests that can take place during an NFL game.
3: Message to the players and the NFL: STFU about politics, and play the damn game. You have nothing of value to offer besides your ability to play that game. Don’t try to force me to pay attention, acknowledge, or in any way, shape or form care about your pathetic political ideas.
You want to babble your stupidity some other time? Have fun
But if you try to force me to pay attention to you, I am going to aggressively attack everything you want, desire, and hope to accomplish
They picked a bad time and a bad method, assume that it’s only BL that M, and assume that the problem is due to the victim’s race or that the country is irredeemably racist.
Looking at those involved, and their proposed solutions, it all comes down to a classic Jessie Jackson / Al Sharpton style race hustle for graft to supporting schemes that ultimately, just funnel more tax money to well connected Democrats in the name of diversity.
NO actual solutions, only perpetuating the gravy train. The actual solution doesn’t have an opportunity for graft and getting your face on the news.
Wait. The police were misbehaving during the national anthem? I’d protest that, too.
if they really wanted to get anything done they would include whitey. they need to point out that all races are abused by the police not just blacks.whites are twice as likely to be shot then blacks,FBI stat.
“But he wanted an inclusive message.”
Yes, and this is why MLK never got along with the communists who tried to manipulate him and control him and it is why they shot him. If he wasn’t going to dance to the communist tune then he was more valuable to them dead than alive.
The communists have no sincerity. For them, politics is merely war by subversive and sneaky and underhanded means.
If only the naïve libertarians could get this through their thick skulls.
And when I say “communists” I’m now referring to Demonic Rats. The moderate Democrats are dead and gone a long long time ago.
This is a group of whinny babies that are overpaid & the worst role models ever! They wormed their way through school because of their sports ability & everyone covered for them & still do. Dumber than a bag of rocks but idols to many! Women beaters, druggies, gamblers & liars. Just listen to one of these genius during a press conference………a 1st grader is 10x’s smarter!
Good thoughts.
“Assuming, of course, they actually want better policing and a better America.” A brilliant question that should be put to those doing the kneeling.