The most noteworthy part of a national anthem before a sporting event used to be a great singing performance or a riveting flyover. Colin Kaepernick changed that.
Josh Kastzowitz, TheDailyDot:
Though many NFL fans have burned his jersey in protest, many others have bought it, making Kaepernick’s jersey number the best-selling apparel in the entire league. As other players have stood with Kaepernick by kneeling, the San Francisco 49ers' backup quarterback promised to donate $1 million to community organizations.
Immediately after the anthem, Kaepernick and Eric Reid, who was kneeling next to him, hugged each other.
Ebenezer Samuel, NYDailyNews:
Just in time to chase one more big NFL paycheck, Colin Kaepernick's national anthem protest is done.
So much for the cause he once called "bigger than football," and so much for the anger he once had toward a flag that "oppresses black people and people of color." Kaepernick, who spent an entire season either sitting or kneeling during the national anthem, no longer planned to protest, and was done being a polarizing figure in the ongoing national struggle against police brutality and racial injustice.
"Kaepernick no longer wants the past method of protest to detract from the positive change that he believes has been created.
"I don't want to kneel forever," said Kaepernick. "I want these things to change. I do know it'll be a process and it's not something that's going to change overnight. But I think there are some major changes that we can make that are very reasonable."
Kaepernick never voted in a pivotal election, a scary example for the next generation, and he briefly defended the totalitarian legacy of the late Fidel Castro. He was always a privileged child playing at protest, and now, that child wants his allowance. Now, the child realizes the battle against racial injustice isn't easy, so he's done.
The operative word is "DONE."
Paul Murphy
Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy
Amen. Well said, Mr. Murphy.
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