# Were you surprised by the backlash from Kaepernick, other athletes kneeling vs. the public **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 22, 2019, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146 "2019-10-22T17:20:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yankees_1996_Champs)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2019, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/121 "2019-10-24T16:31:19Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Apparently it’s a country of free speech, except when you exercise it during the anthem in which case you’re deprived of your livelihood. Kap is not demanding that we kneel, what justifies us to demand that he stand? Is his free speech worth less than ours? I would stand just to get it out of the way because the Coughlins and Tortorellas will erupt; but if they kneel, it is on them and they should bear the ramifications. Kap did, I don’t see him playing again. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2019, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/122 "2019-10-24T16:36:08Z")
> [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > I would stand just to get it out of the way because the Coughlins and Tortorellas will erupt; but if they kneel, it is on them and they should bear the ramifications. > > Kap did, I don’t see him playing again. So Kap should have said: “How I want to behave is irrelevant- the way I should behave is how Coughlin and Tortorella expect me to”? Did someone die and put Couglin and Tortorella in charge of all of us? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2019, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/123 "2019-10-24T17:52:19Z")
> [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > I would stand just to get it out of the way because the Coughlins and Tortorellas will erupt; but if they kneel, it is on them and they should bear the ramifications. Why shouldn’t the Coughlins and Tortorellas bear the ramifications of supporting racism? ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2019, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/124 "2019-10-24T18:09:26Z")
> [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > Just because they oppose Kap does not mean they are racists. That’s where the labeling goes wrong. I didn’t say they were, just that the racists agree with them. > [@](#): > > They don’t have to agree with him, he is not God. But we have to agree with these coaches, for what reason, exactly? > [@](#): > > Coaches do what they want, it’s their team. I’d like them to try saying that to the owner of the team. > [@](#): > > I did not have a problem with Kap’s stance, but America is a country of free speech. Cannot parse that. You say that you don’t have a problem with Kap exercising his free speech BUT, this is a country of free speech? > [@Slash1972](#): > > Because all opinions must be respected? That’s a pretty terrible opinion. My sister once told me, “It’s my opinion that we didn’t go to the moon, and opinions can’t be wrong.” I replied, “It is my opinion that opinions _can_ be wrong.” Her head exploded. > [@](#): > > HAHAHA! I crack myself up. 😃 > [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > I would stand just to get it out of the way because the Coughlins and Tortorellas will erupt; but if they kneel, it is on them and they should bear the ramifications. Ah, so we have free speech, but it shouldn’t be exercised, because some hockey coaches will get violent? > [@](#): > > Kap did, I don’t see him playing again. Likely not, as there is quite the manufactured outrage on the right about his exercise of free speech. ---
**Author:** ![Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yankees_1996_Champs)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2019, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/125 "2019-10-24T18:48:38Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Why shouldn’t the Coughlins and Tortorellas bear the ramifications of supporting racism? Most Americans agree with them; that’s why they still have jobs. Those guys are white men with authority, and they probably won’t bear any malice. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2019, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/126 "2019-10-24T18:50:39Z")
> [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > I am not white, I was not in the military. > > But I know a lot of white folk in my NJ town who despise Kap. > > I personally think the whole Kap stuff is overblown, but, it’s America. You don’t seem to realize that you are one of those overblowing it. And doesn’t it tell you something that many of us who have actually been in the military are in the opposite camp from you on this issue? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2019, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/127 "2019-10-24T18:52:21Z")
> [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > Most Americans agree with them; that’s why they still have jobs. Those guys are white men with authority, and they probably won’t bear any malice. WTF? Because you believe most Americans are racist, that makes racism right? Yeah, you’re not white. In a fucking pig’s eye! ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2019, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/128 "2019-10-24T18:52:33Z")
> [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > Most Americans agree with them; that’s why they still have jobs. Those guys are white men with authority, and they probably won’t bear any malice. Oh please – Bull Connor had plenty of popular support at the time. How well does that reflect now on his supporters? ---
**Author:** ![Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yankees_1996_Champs)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2019, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/129 "2019-10-24T19:04:41Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > So Kap should have said: “How I want to behave is irrelevant- the way I should behave is how Coughlin and Tortorella expect me to”? Did someone die and put Couglin and Tortorella in charge of all of us? No, but if you are on their team or in their way, it’s not gonna happen. You can add Bobby Knight on the list as well. Look, there are certain white coaches in this country that would accept kneeling (Popovich, Kerr) and would NOT (Tortorella, Coughlin, Knight) The Coughlin-Tortorella mentality is all over America in a lot of local teams. ---
**Author:** ![Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yankees_1996_Champs)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2019, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/130 "2019-10-24T19:05:45Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > You don’t seem to realize that you are one of those overblowing it. And doesn’t it tell you something that many of us who have actually been in the military are in the opposite camp from you on this issue? I’m not overblowing it. I agree with Kap’s stance. I just want to know if people here were surprised by the backlash. That was the point of the thread. It’s not overblown. ---
**Author:** ![Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yankees_1996_Champs)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2019, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/131 "2019-10-24T19:07:33Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > WTF? Because you believe most Americans are racist, that makes racism right? Yeah, you’re not white. In a fucking pig’s eye! No. I believe America is racist, doesn’t mean I think it is okay. Not it is not. However, that is on them. I don’t know if Coughlin and Tortorella are racist. All I know is that they are anti-kneeling. If they are, that is on them. Just because you disagree with Kap, does not mean you are racist. All I am saying is that they are both sides to the story. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2019, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/132 "2019-10-24T19:22:21Z")
> [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > …Not it is not. … You have a point. But those that disagree with The Kap also don’t seem to give much of a shit about police brutality against black people, and actively refuse to understand his protest. Likely a coincidence. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2019, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/133 "2019-10-24T20:11:42Z")
> [@Pantastic](#): > > It’s interesting to me how many video game fans that were unperturbed by or supported Kapernick getting shuffled out of the NFL and policies quietly stopping similar protests are up in arms about Blizzard banning a Hearthstone (video game) team for making pro Hong Kong statements during a streamed game. Apparently quiet and subtle protest against police brutality in the US should be silenced, but loud blatant protest on a similar topic in China should be protected. Video game fans have plenty of good games to play when they are fed up with Blizzard. Hearthstone’s popularity has already been waning anyway. Meanwhile, if you’re a fan of gridiron football, when you boycott the NFL you are stuck watching inferior players anywhere else. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2019, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/134 "2019-10-24T21:14:39Z")
> [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > You have a point. > > This is a debate that will continue for decades. If you have your way. At least through 2020, right? I’ll repeat, this issue is off the radar, and has been for years. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2019, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/135 "2019-10-24T21:20:31Z")
I was, and remain, stunned by it. I’m not surprised that there are bigots among the owners, or that there were a vocal minority of them amongst the fans. But I fully expected that a large majority of the fans would rise up in a) protest against the racial bigotry inherent to the objections, and/or b) support of his right to Free Speech. Most Americans who style themselves patriots are (IME) of the “I don’t agree with what you say but will fight to the death for your right to say it” variety. The whole thing is appalling to me, and was a real eye-opener as to just how much trouble we are in as a country. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/136 "2019-10-25T01:20:25Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > If you have your way. At least through 2020, right? > > I’ll repeat, this issue is off the radar, and has been for years. Yes. Though the USA clearly has serious racial tensions—that foreign adversaries would love to exploit and exacerbate—it’s telling that this person is trying to make use of the NFL-kneeling story, despite its age. There just aren’t a lot of high emotions surrounding this old story. The account-writer (or the person making the assignments) couldn’t come up with anything remotely explosive. Just this old stuff. That’s going to be a problem for them in accomplishing their mission. How are they going to get black Americans to refuse to vote, if all they have to gin up outrage is an old story about kneeling during the Anthem? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/137 "2019-10-25T03:14:34Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Yes. Though the USA clearly has serious racial tensions—that foreign adversaries would love to exploit and exacerbate—it’s telling that this person is trying to make use of the NFL-kneeling story, despite its age. There just aren’t a lot of high emotions surrounding this old story. > > The account-writer (or the person making the assignments) couldn’t come up with anything remotely explosive. Just this old stuff. > > That’s going to be a problem for them in accomplishing their mission. How are they going to get black Americans to refuse to vote, if all they have to gin up outrage is an old story about kneeling during the Anthem? Thread after thread, he tries. No one stops him. We’re all Russian tools now, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/138 "2019-10-25T05:05:15Z")
You can’t have it both ways. You can’t both say that you agree with Kaepernick, say that the reasons to not support him are racist, and then also support the right to silence him. You’re mixing together incompatible beliefs to be confusing and hard to pin down. And, again, this is a topic that is not currently in the limelight. You are bringing it up to put it back into the limelight and to try and get an argument going. You act like a troll, and don’t even seem to mind that people think you are one. That’s not normal. It’s tactical–hoping that ignoring the accusations will spread your message. That suggest what you are doing is calculated. There’s no reason for this thread to have even been in the Pit, unless the point was to allow people to feel free enough in their outrage to start arguments. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/139 "2019-10-25T07:56:12Z")
> [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > Not it is not… > …All I am saying is that they are both sides to the story. Can I just say in all honesty that Saint Petersburg is one of the most loveliest cities I’ve ever visited. I’ve been trying to find an excuse to go back for years now, really must get around to it. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2019, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146/140 "2019-10-25T09:36:51Z")
> [@Gary\_Kumquat](#): > > Can I just say in all honesty that Saint Petersburg is one of the most loveliest cities I’ve ever visited. I’ve been trying to find an excuse to go back for years now, really must get around to it. I hear the Hermitage is amazing. I genuinely have no opinions on whether Kap should be playing or not because my interest in professional football is so low I couldn’t tell you anything about how well he plays compared to his peers. I do have opinions on those who use the dead bodies of others who sacrificed themselves for their country to shield themselves from the effects of their petty ignorance and bigotry. I also have opinions about those who deliberately try to stir up shit by Just Asking Questions, particularly as part of a concerted and coordinated propaganda effort. But as they say, opinions are like assholes: you can find loads of them on internet messageboards. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-surprised-by-the-backlash-from-kaepernick-other-athletes-kneeling-vs-the-public/842146.md?page=8)