I was called all three last week, all because of one very small Twitter post. Fox & Friends posted the new Nike Just Do It campaign ad, and asked for thoughts. As you may know, it featured Colin Kaepernick with the slogan “Believe in Something. Even if it Means Sacrificing Everything”.
In 140 characters, or less, I managed to set off a string of likes, retweets, and really nasty responses. All I said was “So glad I switched to New Balance, I would have hated to have to burn all my running shoes. Bad call @Nike!”
One of my detractors came in with a long bit ending with the line “stick with prez bonespurs - a true american - DRAFT DODGER!” Atypically for me, I engaged this person and asked where, anywhere, in my comments did I mention the President, or support for the President, or anything that would link me to the President. Here, some folks jumped in and quickly devolved whole discussion into a political mess with conversations of the military service of the last four or five presidents. Really not relevant. Another one, staying with the Republican theme here, just flat out offended me by saying he doubted that me or most people even knew about Colin Kaepernick before the President made it a political football. I just responded to him with the link to my blogpost (https://deanne-randomthoughts.blogspot.com/2016/09/when-should-equals-must-but-can-does.html) that was originally published in September 2016 where I discussed this topic. One month after the initial incident.
Then some others jumped on the bandwagon and that was when the racists comments started. Again, I asked where in my comments I had ever mentioned Mr. Kaepernick’s race. I was told I brought race into it when I was offended that Colin Kaepernick kneeled during the anthem but not when Tim Tebow did it, therefore I was a racist. What did Tim Tebow have to with this? How does this person labeling me a racist know what I did or did not do with this alleged kneeling by Tim Tebow (who, by the way, kneels in prayer all the time on the sidelines of a game and any picture from the internet can be pulled to “support” this theory that he kneeled in disrespect.). I asked them why it was not possible for me to disagree with Mr. Kaepernick’s message itself, and not the messenger? Which is what I was doing. Silence. And today there was another one that called me a “simp” and told me that if Colin Kaepernick was protesting something like animal abuse, I would be standing right there beside him. So I thanked him for making my point for me, because he was right. If Mr. Kaepernick was protesting animal abuse I would be right beside him protesting as well because that was a message I could agree with, so surely this tweeter could see my point – protesting the message and not the messenger himself. (But I still would never do it by kneeling during the National Anthem, ever.)
Although the tweeter meant it as a slam.
And the third one was this:
Maybe I am misinterpreting it, but I think “redneck” was the message behind the photos.
And several more questioned the sanity of burning your perfectly good, purchased with good money shoes, just for effect.
So, how about a reminder of what started this brouhaha to start with. The following is quoted from an interview posted on CNN’s website:
"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick, then 28, told NFL.com's Steve Wyche, the man who broke the story.
"To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way.
"There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."
I have nothing but the utmost respect for law enforcement. And that is why I have a problem with his statement. And with him wearing pig socks (cartoon pigs wearing police caps). His comments were aimed at a profession, not a person. Are there bad police officers, sure. There are also bad CPAs, teachers, doctors, clergy, football players, investment bankers, you name a profession and you can find one. (And, before the haters jump in and tell me “death” is not a result of one of these other professions being bad I respectfully disagree – errors in health can result death, financial ruin has caused people to take their own lives, and so forth.)
His comments came at a time when there were several conflicts with young black men and police officers. There was rioting in Missouri and in Maryland when the police officers were found to not be guilty of murder but instead justified in their actions. It became open season on police officers, black and white. And folks like Mr. Kaepernick weren’t doing anything to help matters. Again, he had the right to disagree, to protest, to make his voice heard but there is a time and a place and a manner to do so. He chose none of the right ones.
He became a polarizing figure.
Now, back to the ad.
Believe in something. Even if means sacrificing everything.
As one of my Facebook friends (thank you, Jean Gay) pointed out, perhaps former Arizona Cardinal Pat Tillman would have been a better choice – giving up a football career to join the military after September 11, 2001, and ultimately dying in Afghanistan. How about that as a face of believing in something to sacrifice everything?
What, exactly, did Mr. Kaepernick sacrifice? He was already riding the pine in the NFL. I know I hadn’t heard of him before all this so he wasn’t a huge shining star in the sport.
I know that Nike executives didn’t lose any sleep over the fact that I won’t buy any more shoes or workout wear from them. MAC Cosmetics didn’t shutter their door when I emailed them I would no longer buy their products after they chose Miley Cyrus as one of their faces. They responded they were sorry but there was no way they could have found a representative that would make everyone happy. Now, for me, giving up MAC cosmetics was a much big problem, but I did it. I haven’t thrown out what I had, no, but I’ve not bought anything since then either.
I know I’ve asked before but why do these conversations always seem to be reduced to name calling? I made no references to anyone, and I never responded by calling anyone anything – not a liberal or a Democrat or noted the color of anyone’s skin. No one knows how I voted in the last election. No one knows how I feel about the President because I’ve never said it. Why can I not disagree with someone who happens to be a different gender/race/political affiliation without it making me one, or more in this case, of the Three Rs?
Why can’t we just say our peace and then agree to disagree?
