Kaepernick the Cry Baby: Just Shut Up and Play
The media’s misguided defense of Colin Kaepernick’s indefensible grandstanding is shameful (“Kaepernick scolded by birth mom on Twitter,” Aug. 31).
On the surface, Kaepernick’s anti-American punk protest is pathetic compared to Tommie Smith and John Carlos’ heroic, symbolic gesture on the Olympic podium in 1968.
And that’s just a surface comparison.
Dig just a bit deeper and it’s easy to see how dramatically different America is today versus 50 years ago.
Granted, there’s still a long way to go before our country achieves true equality, but dismissing (or ignoring) our country’s remarkable progress over the past 50 years is dishonest at best. Michael Sanchez Laguna Beach, Calif.
Kaepernick may have a right to sit during the national anthem.
But this is a freedom other players have served in the military to defend — including Cardinals star Pat Tillman, who was killed in action. Uri Burstein Flushing
Everyone is saying Kaepernick disrespected the military, his country and others who put their lives on the line for the United States.
I find it funny that no one read deeply into his reasons for making this statement.
Blacks are being murdered by police and no one cares; the criminaljustice system is corrupt and Donald Trump is promoting hate.
This brings us to why Kaepernick is taking a stand against the flag.
He hit it on the head when he went after the government. He never said he hated the military or his country.
Wake up, people. Kaepernick did his sitdown to hold his country accountable for its actions and to try and change the ways the United States treats people of color. Matt Reid Manhattan
Our flag and anthem represent the decent majority and acknowledge that we aren’t perfect.
In that same spirit, Kaepernick should be treated without harshness and simply ignored whenever possible as he slinks into history. John Brindisi Manhattan
After reading about Kaepernick’s disrespectful treatment of the American flag, I was unsure how to protect myself from this offensive act.
So I decided to take the progressive route, even though it left me in a quandary.
I was offended by Kaepernick’s actions and now need a safe space.
Is the National Football League going to afford me an area in the stadium where I can be protected from people who offend me, or should I just not go to any more NFL games? Michael Patracuolla Bloomfield, NJ Shame on NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for not having a rule against sitting down during the national anthem.
Kaepernick embarrasses the entire league and country by not standing up for the national anthem.
Goodell had better modify league policy and make players respect the national anthem. Matt Engel Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Shame on Kaepernick and anyone who enjoys the rights and freedoms this country offers, yet doesn’t revere our flag and all that it means.
I hope Kaepernick remembers this when he’s cashing his paycheck and enjoying all that life has to offer. Brian Donnelly Highland Mills