Chargers to Greet Colin Kaepernick with a 'Salute to the Military' on Thursday Night - Breitbart

When protests turned violent in some cities, everybody said that they agreed with the right to protest peacefully, just don't be violent. Above is a picture of Kapernick during the national anthem. Could there be a more peaceful, nonviolent manner of protesting than that? And the appeals to the flag code are just BS. Take a look at the picture. Look at all the people who don't have their hands over their hearts! Many have their arms behind their backs! That is a spit in the eye to every veteran who ever lived, and all those assholes must be completely anti miitary! OMFG!

But actually, what angers most people wasn't his actual act of protest. Most people probably never even noticed it. In reality it was his words after the act, when asked why he did it. That pisses some people off, so they attack him. And they say stupid stuff like why doesn't he spend money on the community! Since when is an Americans right to protest against an action of the government contingent on spending money in the community.

And especially, if the government action you are protesting is police brutality towards black people and racial discrimination, who exactly is he supposed to give money to in order to stop that? The police unions? Hardly. When citizens feel an armed organization of the government with extraordinary authorities to use violence against citizens is allowing incidences of misconduct and illegal killings to go uninvestigated or covered up, with no accountability for the officers involved, that's not a problem the citizens have to throw money at to get fixed.

It is a problem that only will get fixed when the entire population, not just the small segment facing the discrimination, is made aware of it and demands corrective action by their elected officials. That's exactly the way our system is designed to work. So a person like Kapernick uses a completely peaceful act to raise awareness of the problem, and he is chastised for it. It is especially hypocritical, IMO , to be chastised by those claiming to be disrespected by the protest because they fought for the right to protest. What kind of bizzaro world are we living in?

In North Korea I'm sure everyone stands for the national anthem, likely under penalty of death. Fortunately we don't live in a system like that, and countless veterans have died to insure we don't. But if we pressure those with a grievance to stand and show respect even when they aren't feeling it, isn't that just as phony as all the NK people wildly cheering Kim? Even some people on this board are trying to say "everyone must stand, it's the law!! ", implying that respect is mandatory whether believed or not.

I believe the real issue is that people are uncomfortable with the fact that the racial discrimination that exists is being brought more to the forefront. It's like "why can't they just be quiet about it?" Just like people not all that long ago said "why are they making such a fuss and disrupting things? There are chairs in the colored section for them to sit in! Why do they have to protest and cause trouble? And what's wrong with the back of the bus? They just want to ruin everything!"

Double standard?

We always want a person who "protests" to conform to how we want it to happen. Whether or not I agree with how he protests or what he is protesting, I am glad to see a citizen use his right to do so. We took or swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States. Do you have to agree with his protest? Nope, not one bit. Can you think the rich guy doesn't know what he is talking about and is totally disconnected from the "real world"? You sure can. But I am glad that my service and the service of everyone of you has allowed this man the ability to do this. Does it rub me the wrong way? Yes it does. Of course people are going to say he did it the wrong way or at the wrong time, but that is his choice. You can protest the 49ers now if you want, but that is the great thing about this country is that you have that right (as does he) to do that very thing. If we as service members and veterans are upset that someone is doing what the Constitution allows him to do, then why did we join and serve our country?