Sunday, October 2, 2016

Disgusting

I love the San Francisco 49ers. They are the American Football team based in San Francisco. I do not love them just because they won 5 Super Bowls (Championship), I loved them even when they were 1 win and 15 losses.
 
But things are not going good for them nowadays. They have a Quarterback. He is the team leader. His name is Colin Kaepernick. All of a sudden it dawn on him that there is racial oppression in USA.
 
So what is he going to do about it? Before the start of every game, the national anthem will be played. Colin decided not to stand up when national anthem is played. He said he will sit down in the bench. Actually during last week’s game, he was kneeling (when everyone else is standing with their right hand over to their heart).
 
 
He made the following statement:
 
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. 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.”
 
The 49er management said: We recognize the right of an individual to choose to participate, or not, in our celebration of national anthem.
 
President Obama said Kaepernick is exercising his constitutional right on National Anthem.
 
This is disgusting.
 
Just a request for Kaepernick. I respect your opinion but don’t disrespect the flag.
 
Another request for Kaepernick. If you don’t like it here, then move where you like. No one is stopping you.
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34 comments:

  1. Destination InfinityOctober 2, 2016 at 11:12 AM

    I would like to disagree with you on this. I think standing up for the national anthem is an individual's choice, unless there is a law mandating them to do so. Even in this case, if a person wants to raise (what he feels is) an important issue, he should be allowed to - is what I feel.

    Destination Infinity

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    1. SGOctober 2, 2016 at 6:29 PM

      Thanks for your comments Rajesh. I respect your opinion. My points are: Why all of a sudden Colin is taking up this issue. This issue has been here in this country for many years. Second, he can show his protest in many other ways.

      Delete
  2. ShilpaOctober 2, 2016 at 11:23 AM

    I stand up for national anthem !

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  3. KParthasarathiOctober 2, 2016 at 12:46 PM

    I do not know much about American soccer and its players.I could gather that Colin Kaepernick has a genuine grouse about prevalent racial discrimination and wished to show his protest by sitting on his knees when the national anthem is played.This is perceived as disrespect to the flag and to those who are fighting for the country and caused much resentment among many.
    While the quarterback professes his love for the country and tells that the act of not standing on his legs when anthem is played is not meant to be a disrespect,this form of protest certainly hurts the sentiments of many who invest great values to national anthem and the national flag.He must express his protest,the right to which is not contested,in other ways that would attract notice of the rulers but does not offend others' sentiments.

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    1. SGOctober 2, 2016 at 6:32 PM

      Thanks for your comments Mr. KP. I agree with you. Colin must express his protest in other ways that would attract notice of the rulers.

      Delete
  4. SandhyaOctober 2, 2016 at 10:14 PM

    He seems to be sort of an VIP! He can show his unhappiness in other ways also. He is living in this country because it gives opportunities to one and all.

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    1. SGOctober 2, 2016 at 10:30 PM

      Thanks for your comments Sandhya. Yes, he is a VIP. You can call him kind of America's Virat Kohli. Can you imagine what will happen in India if Virat Kohli refuses to stand for the National Anthem!

      Delete
  5. RenuOctober 2, 2016 at 10:56 PM

    In every country there are some good things and some bad..we try to change the bad things, but we dont disrespect our national flag or national anthem and i would like to add even our prime minister for that.

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    1. SGOctober 5, 2016 at 10:13 AM

      Thanks for your comments Renu. You are correct. Don't disrespect the national flag.

      Delete
  6. Pradeep NairOctober 3, 2016 at 8:39 AM

    I was following this when it happened, recently. It's all question of what one deems to be the line that should not be crossed.
    My personal opinion is never disrespect the national anthem, national flag etc. That amounts to disrespecting the nation. There are many other ways of voicing views and opinions.

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    1. SGOctober 5, 2016 at 10:15 AM

      Thanks for your comments Pradeep. As you said, there are many other ways of voicing our views and opinions.

      Delete
  7. Sujatha SathyaOctober 3, 2016 at 8:28 PM

    I don't like it when people disrespect their national anthem or national flag. it angers me. and so can understand why you chose this title for your post

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    1. SGOctober 5, 2016 at 10:15 AM

      Thanks for your comments Sujatha. I don't like it either.

      Delete
  8. Shilpa GargOctober 4, 2016 at 8:33 AM

    Oh, that's disrespectful to one's country! I agree with your second suggestion to Kaepernick!

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    1. SGOctober 5, 2016 at 10:16 AM

      Thanks for your comments Shilpa. I am glad you agree with my second suggestion.

      Delete
  9. DeeOctober 5, 2016 at 1:58 PM

    You know initially i was going to respond something similar to what Destination Infinity Mentioned... but i also agree with your answer when the issue has been there for such a long time, why now.... maybe some ulterior motive... Inspite of all that... National Anthem and Flag .. Disrespect is a Big NO NO

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    1. SGOctober 5, 2016 at 2:15 PM

      Thanks for your comments Dee. I agree with you 100%.

      Delete
  10. Vineeta YashswiOctober 6, 2016 at 1:05 AM

    Just a request for Kaepernick. I respect your opinion but don’t disrespect the flag.

    Another request for Kaepernick. If you don’t like it here, then move where you like. No one is stopping you.

    I also agree with you SG...

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    1. SGOctober 6, 2016 at 4:23 PM

      Thanks for your comments Vineeta. I am glad you agree with me.

      Delete
  11. Avada KedavraOctober 7, 2016 at 1:39 PM

    Even I want to disagree with you SG. He must have a valid point which we are not aware of that he is trying to make by not standing up. Maybe he felt racism at some level in the sports that he is playing.

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    1. SGOctober 7, 2016 at 2:47 PM

      Thanks for your comments Ash. I respect your opinion. My points are: Why all of a sudden Colin is taking up this issue. This issue (racism) has been here in this country for many years. Second, he can show his protest in many other ways.

      Delete
  12. rudraprayagaOctober 9, 2016 at 10:37 AM

    I think the National Anthem might have been fully planned and designed by the whites and the blacks might not have had any say in that(I contain a vacuum with regard to history).So apathy against the whites may be burning in his mind and numerous occassions might have fuelled his fury.This being an acknowledgeable occasion, it caught attention. Any way the topic bagged large comments.Nice.

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  13. SGOctober 9, 2016 at 2:17 PM

    Thanks for your comments Sarala. I beg to differ with you. National Anthem was planned and designed by the whites and the blacks might not have had any say in that? Can we use the same analogy? Indian National Anthem was written by Mr. Tagore in Bengali. Others have not had any say in that in India. Therefore, is it ok if non-Bengalis do not stand up during the playing of Indian National Anthem?

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  14. RajlakshmiOctober 9, 2016 at 8:40 PM

    I guess this was a way for him to bring the issue to limelight. I don't know much about him, but I hope since he is so concerned he actually had volunteered or tried helping the victims. If not, then it's all talk. Disrespecting the national anthem, of any country, is not right. And I agree with your second suggestion.

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  15. rudraprayagaOctober 10, 2016 at 7:03 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  16. rudraprayagaOctober 10, 2016 at 7:07 AM

    I do agree with you that National Anthem should be given its deserving value.But here in India apartheid is not as dense as in the US. Of course casteism is a black mark in India's good spirit.

    What he did is traitorous and that also I agree to.But the bitter experiences of the blacks might have turned him(many others also) rebellious to go against the laws laid by the whites.When one crosses the border of traits like patriotism, he may not have any hesitation to openly exhibit his hatred.

    Here also many a man respects our flag and anthem out of fear of falling into the piece-breaking legality.I don't know SG, if I have gone wrong in my own hypothesis.

    Half of the comment only got published and so I deleted it and republished.

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  17. SGOctober 10, 2016 at 9:05 AM

    Thanks for your comments Sarala. I did not mean to disagree with you. I 100% agree behind your logic/thinking. I am just saying that there are other ways to protest.

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  18. BikramOctober 20, 2016 at 8:13 AM

    It is sad .. the country that has provided and ALSO given him the RIGHT to do what he did .. he does not respect the national flag.. Maybe he should leave the country and live where no one is oppressed etc etc

    very SAD

    Bikram's

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  19. GuriaOctober 25, 2016 at 7:59 PM

    May be he wants a way to voice dissent, and be noticed. I am not saying the national anthem saga is the way to go but may be it's his way. But it is a tad bit unfair to say that he should move, though. Can I not be a part of a country and protest something from within it?

    In other things, a man in a wheelchair got beaten up at a movie theater in India for not standing up when the national anthem was playing.

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    1. SGOctober 25, 2016 at 8:25 PM

      Guria Guria Guria, long time no see. How have you been?

      Guria, you are an out of the box thinker. You are brilliant. You are not only a maverick. You are also a trail-blazer. I agree Colin can be part of a country and protest. Thanks for pointing out that to me.

      Delete
    2. GuriaOctober 25, 2016 at 9:32 PM

      I have been out of touch with the world that means so much to me... Coming back to blogging, by reading/visiting my old friends and favorite bloggers one at a time. It's great to find the veterans still active and trail-blazing themselves :)

      Delete

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