NBC reports that Colin Kaepernick’s NFL movement is spreading. Will any Duck players take a knee at today’s UC-Davis game, for “O’er the land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave”?
Two years ago two of Dana Altman’s Duck basketball players tried a Black Lives Matter protest during his national anthem. Altman chewed out his players and wouldn’t let them talk to the press afterwards. They never tried *that* again.
At UO a Duck coach can suspend a player for just about anything, by making up a “team rule” against it. The players have no freedom. So what will Helfrich do?
I like the Washington Post’s story on this: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/08/30/a-brief-history-of-the-star-spangled-banner-being-played-at-games-and-getting-no-respect/
Totally fine with Kaepernick doing whatever he wants. But I also think he’s seeking the spotlight to avoid getting fired, or change the narrative of him getting fired. He was benched and literally was about to lose his job, and not he finds a reason to protest (after he was benched, not the first preseason game). Dig into this UOmatters, there’s a long trail to suspect a conspiracy here…
I couldn’t give a shit about how good a football player he is or what his motives are. I refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance starting in 2nd grade, and to me anyone who protests that sort of false patriotism is a true American hero.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellamy_salute
Even if doing so is a diversion tactic? Pretty large blanket definition of heroism.
I’m fine with his exercising his first amendment right, but I’d be equally fine if an employer exercised theirs in the form of a pink slip.
People can earn a Bronze Star for diversionary tactics.
Many of my past colleagues got bronze stars strictly for participation. Literally awarded for breathing in Iraq for a year.
I’m no veteran, but that sounds like an accomplishment that merits some recognition.
Trust me, breathing IN country for a year in a situation where at any moment you can get blown up or attacked by an enemy that you can not see coming merits a lot more than a bronze star. While most everyone can and should be a target on UOmatters, this particular class of individual (male or female now) should always be spared any type of satirical criticism Until you have walked a few miles in these kinds of shoes, its pretty hard to understand the tremendous physical, mental and emotional stress one is under, knowing that every day your walking on the planet, could be your last.
I had to give the pledge when I was 6. I asked to leave to go the bathroom. Teacher said I could wait. I tried waiting. I asked again and said I couldn’t wait. She said I could wait. I proved her wrong.
The First Amendment does not regulate Kaepernick’s private employer’s ability to terminate or otherwise discipline him for his on-the-job (or off-the-job, for that matter) political speech.
UO athletes, on the other hand, work for a state agency regulated by the U.S. and Oregon State constitutions. Thus, on paper, UO athletes’ political speech enjoys more constitutional protection against governmental retaliation than does NFL players’ speech.
In reality? Not so much because money trumps the Constitution.