Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2017 23:06:28 GMT
The article above I just quoted introduces a very essential point in this story - one that I believe the author did not notice that he was making.
It has to do with timing and intentions.
I was never very comfortable with Kaepernick's protest. When he started, I thought, where were this guy before when the injustices he is protesting were being committed? Not a peep. Then when there were rumors he'd be cut, he started it.
At the time I thought "maybe he thinks that by doing this, the Niners will not dare to cut him or else they'd appear biased and prejudiced."
I don't exclude that this was his initial calculation, but then it got a life of its own and he couldn't walk it back.
Now, look at this article: the author says he's been silent for one year, waiting for a chance to get a contract. Now that it is clear he won't, he filed the grievance. In it, he protests that he's not being hired.
It's not a protest against police brutality targeting black men.
So the article said, now that he has nothing else to lose regarding the league, he'll be able to go back to social activism.
Really?
Because if this wasn't about getting an NFL job, he wouldn't have stayed quiet for so long. He would have been, well, speaking up about his social activism, regardless of his job prospects.
So, it's about the job after all? Yeah, I thought so from the beginning.
marsexplorer was spot on in his comment.
Let's suppose Kaepernick were actually interested in social activism, nothing to do with an NFL job. Then, he'd have used his fame and prestige (at a time when he still had some), and would for example, organize through social media a gathering, say, after the game, in front of the stadium, where he would call the press and supporters, and speak up in favor of equality.
During the game, he'd stand up for the anthem, play his best, and wouldn't mix his politics with his athleticism.
Is this guy known for his social consciousness and activism? Not that I know. So, the timing is suspect.
What I strongly suspect he is, is a narcissist that opportunistically tried this move with the calculation that it would benefit him, but it backfired.
I have strong doubts if Kaepernick actually cares for equality and for black men being shot by cops. I think he is using this cause to prolong his claim to fame.
Finally, while the cause (if genuine) is worthy (who wouldn't want to have equality in our society?), the way he chose to go about it is plain stupid (in case he actually wanted to promote it), because instead of making people talk about the cause, he made people talk about the anthem and the flag. Wrong targets.
Now, do I think the NFL colluded against him? Absolutely. Even with the baggage, even with the nasty girlfriend, even with the controversy, he is still much better than many back-ups and even starters who are playing out there. It makes no sense to hire a Michael Vick with two-thirds of the country hating him for what he did to those dogs, and refrain from hiring Kaepernick, if the only reason was avoidance of controversy. So I suspect that there is collusion, but also agree that he will never prove it.
Is it OK for an employer to decide not to hire someone, not because of the person belonging to protected classes (sex, national origin, religion, etc.), but because the employer thinks that what he brings to the table is not worth the trouble or the money? Absolutely.
But is it OK for even just two NFL franchises to collude in order to avoid hiring someone? No, it is not. It's against the CBA. It is due to this issue that he is filing a grievance; it's not an employment discrimination lawsuit based on federal laws. His grievance is a CBA one, and he is likely right about it. Proving it, though, is another matter.
So, what will Kaepernick do next, after he inevitably loses his grievance?
Will he run for office? Will he become a true advocate for equality and against police brutality towards black men? Well, if he does, he will grow in my respect.
But I suspect he won't. He'll just keep whining that he wasn't hired by the NFL, because I strongly suspect that *this* is his real agenda.
It has to do with timing and intentions.
I was never very comfortable with Kaepernick's protest. When he started, I thought, where were this guy before when the injustices he is protesting were being committed? Not a peep. Then when there were rumors he'd be cut, he started it.
At the time I thought "maybe he thinks that by doing this, the Niners will not dare to cut him or else they'd appear biased and prejudiced."
I don't exclude that this was his initial calculation, but then it got a life of its own and he couldn't walk it back.
Now, look at this article: the author says he's been silent for one year, waiting for a chance to get a contract. Now that it is clear he won't, he filed the grievance. In it, he protests that he's not being hired.
It's not a protest against police brutality targeting black men.
So the article said, now that he has nothing else to lose regarding the league, he'll be able to go back to social activism.
Really?
Because if this wasn't about getting an NFL job, he wouldn't have stayed quiet for so long. He would have been, well, speaking up about his social activism, regardless of his job prospects.
So, it's about the job after all? Yeah, I thought so from the beginning.
marsexplorer was spot on in his comment.
Let's suppose Kaepernick were actually interested in social activism, nothing to do with an NFL job. Then, he'd have used his fame and prestige (at a time when he still had some), and would for example, organize through social media a gathering, say, after the game, in front of the stadium, where he would call the press and supporters, and speak up in favor of equality.
During the game, he'd stand up for the anthem, play his best, and wouldn't mix his politics with his athleticism.
Is this guy known for his social consciousness and activism? Not that I know. So, the timing is suspect.
What I strongly suspect he is, is a narcissist that opportunistically tried this move with the calculation that it would benefit him, but it backfired.
I have strong doubts if Kaepernick actually cares for equality and for black men being shot by cops. I think he is using this cause to prolong his claim to fame.
Finally, while the cause (if genuine) is worthy (who wouldn't want to have equality in our society?), the way he chose to go about it is plain stupid (in case he actually wanted to promote it), because instead of making people talk about the cause, he made people talk about the anthem and the flag. Wrong targets.
Now, do I think the NFL colluded against him? Absolutely. Even with the baggage, even with the nasty girlfriend, even with the controversy, he is still much better than many back-ups and even starters who are playing out there. It makes no sense to hire a Michael Vick with two-thirds of the country hating him for what he did to those dogs, and refrain from hiring Kaepernick, if the only reason was avoidance of controversy. So I suspect that there is collusion, but also agree that he will never prove it.
Is it OK for an employer to decide not to hire someone, not because of the person belonging to protected classes (sex, national origin, religion, etc.), but because the employer thinks that what he brings to the table is not worth the trouble or the money? Absolutely.
But is it OK for even just two NFL franchises to collude in order to avoid hiring someone? No, it is not. It's against the CBA. It is due to this issue that he is filing a grievance; it's not an employment discrimination lawsuit based on federal laws. His grievance is a CBA one, and he is likely right about it. Proving it, though, is another matter.
So, what will Kaepernick do next, after he inevitably loses his grievance?
Will he run for office? Will he become a true advocate for equality and against police brutality towards black men? Well, if he does, he will grow in my respect.
But I suspect he won't. He'll just keep whining that he wasn't hired by the NFL, because I strongly suspect that *this* is his real agenda.