Colin Kaepernick & The National Anthem

[Classic-Xer]

(08-29-2016, 06:42 PM)Eric the Green Wrote:

(08-29-2016, 04:31 PM)TnT Wrote: It seems to me that to have some kind of coherent country, we need to have something in common from a cultural perspective.

We were just discussing this on another thread. Culture comes from inspiration, I said, not from race or nationality. If America has a "common culture," it means that we have access to some of the same media and cultural heritage. But we don't all have to like the same songs, even if we have a national anthem and a few other virtual ones.

Anyway, Colin's statement does not need to be taken as dissing the national anthem. He was "speaking" in favor of human rights. And therefore, he was expressing what we have in common in that way (see below).




"Somewhere I read, that the greatness of America is the right to protest FOR right!"

Quote:If we decide to disagree about EVERYTHING, what kind of culture can we gather around?  Must we be nothing more than a thousand armed camps, all hating all the others?

We gather around our RIGHT to disagree and hate each other!

Well, we don't have to "hate" each other, exactly. But what binds us is our Declaration, our Constitution (including its amendments, and our ability to amend it), and perhaps great speeches like the Gettysburg Address, "I Have a Dream," "Ask what you can do for your country," "the only thing we have to fear," etc.

He's dissing the American flag which he has the right to do in America. I don't stand to listen to the national anthem. I stand up, remove my hat and place my hand over my heart to honor the American flag as the nation anthem is played or performed. Do you see why I don't think you're a good fit for America? Do you understand why I don't view you as an American? What binds us is the American flag (our flag) which represents our Declaration, our Constitution, our freedoms, our history and the all the sacrifices and the progress that have been made since the beginning of our nation.