But by all means, let's talk about Brangelina

I have been thinking of "resurrecting" the blog for months.  Different subjects have run through my mind - my mother, my journey to Hogwarts, Donald Trump.  I start, and then something gets in the way (usually homework), and I end up leaving it in "blog draft" status.  This was not a subject about which I felt it was important to blog about, and it never occurred to me that when I finally did publish one of my "new" blogs, it would be about this.  But as time goes on, I realize how very strongly I feel about this.

Rather than try to regurgitate my knowledge of events, I am including the following paragraph, which was procured from the Wikipedia entry for Colin Kaepernick:

National anthem protest

Before a preseason game in 2016, Kaepernick sat down, as opposed to the tradition of standing, during the playing of the United States National Anthem. During a post-game interview he explained his position stating, "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", referencing a series of events that led to the Black Lives Matter movement and adding that he would continue to protest until he feels like "[the American flag] represents what it’s supposed to represent”.^[45] The 49ers released a statement respecting Kaepernick's right to protest.^[45][46][47] In the 49ers' final 2016 preseason game on September 1, 2016, Kaepernick opted to kneel during the U.S. national anthem rather than sit as he did in their previous games. He explained his decision to switch was an attempt to show more respect to former and current U.S. military members while still protesting the anthem after having a conversation with former NFL player and U.S. military veteran Nate Boyer.^[48]

So let's see.  Kaepernick feels that people of color are being discriminated against in the US today (a reasonable and fair assessment), and in a manner of bringing attention to the matter, he chose to shoot someone?  No...that's not it.  Umm...he chose to go looting?  No.  Turn to drugs?  Don't think so.  Oh, wait.  I know what it was.  He sat down during the National Anthem.  In a preseason game.

Now - the following is, in reality, only my opinion, but it's a strong one.  I watch football, and baseball, quite often.  I am aware that watching it on television is not the same as being there live, but let's be completely honest - during the National Anthem, most of us are either flipping channels, getting a beer, going to the bathroom, outside smoking a cigarette, or putting more sweet and sour meatballs on our plates.  In my experience, the only people actually watching the National Anthem are theater people, and that's only so they can go on social media and trash whoever sang it.

But that's neither here nor there.  What IS here AND there is that people are quite upset that Colin Kaepernick chose to do this.  Let's see.  There's the "He is showing no respect for the military" line, the "He's just trying to get attention" line, and my personal favorite, "there are other ways he could have protested."  Sure - what would you suggest?  By all means, let's ask those against whom he is protesting what method THEY would prefer.  Perhaps a note?  "You are cordially invited to stop treating us like lower class citizens?"  I mean, come on, people.  IT WAS A PROTEST.  It's supposed to make us uncomfortable.  Do you think sending Ruby Bridges walking into that school made people comfortable?  Even people who supported her were uncomfortable.  Protests are supposed to bring attention to issues that are not being given proper attention.  So Kaepernick chose this as his method of protest.  This was his bus, and he wasn't getting off of it.

So - he is disrespecting the military - well, obviously he's not, because he spoke to a teammate who was in the military and deliberately changed his behavior.  So he is trying, at least, to show respect for the military, while at the same time making his statement.  Also, I'm confused. Did our forefathers only fight for our freedom of speech if we're saying something the majority wants to hear?  The military fought - and died - for our RIGHT TO STAND OR SIT during the Pledge, during the Anthem, or any other damn time we choose.  Please don't get me involved in a debate about the US Constitution.  You will not win.

"He's just trying to get attention."  Um...yeah.  I mean, he doesn't need to do it to get attention for himself.  He led the 49ers to their first Super Bowl since 1994.  He's a damn good quarterback. He gets plenty of attention just doing his job.  Clearly he was trying to get attention for something else.  Again, I'm confused.  In my eyes, Kaepernick did everything you're supposed to do if you're going to be an activist and bring attention to a subject.  He was peaceful, quiet, nonviolent, and when asked, had a rational and logical reason for doing what he did.  And yet, we're still not happy.  Evidently we just want people of color to shut up and deal with life the way it is.

In 1980, 66 countries, including the United States, boycotted the Summer Olympics in protest of the Soviet Union's invasion of (ironically enough) Afghanistan.  It was hardly a quiet protest, although it was not violent.  Did we not show disrespect to those athletes that trained for years with the hope and plan of representing the United States in the Olympics?  Could there not have been a better way for us to protest?  Were we doing it just for attention?

In 1996, my son's schoolteachers went on strike for a week.  It so happened that it was a year when we ALSO lost a lot of days due to snow, ice, and various other issues, resulting in the last day of school being something like 11:59 pm on June 30.  The teachers, and their signs, lined up and marched in front of the home of one of the Board of Ed members - someone who (again, ironically) sent his children to parochial school.  Once again, how disrespectful to this man's wife and family!

The point of a protest is to bring awareness of an issue to the forefront of everyone's mind.  It's kind of hard to do that if you constantly have to worry about offending or angering the very entity against which you're protesting.  You can't protest the country's actions without, well, offending the country.  Believe it or not, that's kind of the point.  To say "there are other ways they could have protested" is to say "I am uncomfortable with THIS way" - but in reality, it's not about you, is it?

I realize it's uncomfortable to acknowledge that, as the default race, we experience life from a less frightening standpoint.  I can't imagine what it's like to walk into a room and have every single person there immediately make some sort of judgement (either positive or negative) based on the way you look.  Even as a woman, my experience is minimal compared to that of someone of color.  I, of course, want everyone to experience the world the way I do.  When I apply for a loan, I expect to be judged based on my income and credit rating - not the color of my skin.  I barely even worry if I will be judged as a woman (and yes, I am aware that that still happens).  I blissfully float through life in my whiteness, knowing that the whole world recognizes me as the norm...and barely thinking about what is recognized as "not the norm."  With a family that consists of white, black, and Hispanic, I have to backpedal to think about the fact that any one of these could be considered "other."  But those considered "other" don't have to backpedal.  Ever.  Their otherness is there for them - and the entire world - to see.

So what to do?  Well, the first thing we need to do is stop telling people other than ourselves how they should feel and what should or should not offend them  If you are a white person, you have no right telling an African American that someone in blackface shouldn't offend them.  It's not your place.  We need to LISTEN to people.  When they tell us we've offended them, we need to hear that - and understand that - and look at how we can avoid doing that in the future.  This idea of "people are too sensitive" or "get over it" is ridiculous.  You shouldn't have to "get over" someone saying something that offends you.  They just shouldn't say it.

Second - remember that little girl in the car seat?  "Worry about yourself!"  STOP worrying about what other people do in protest of their perceived injustices, whether or not you agree with those perceptions.  If Colin Kaepernick doesn't stand up for the Anthem, it has absolutely no effect on you (and here's a secret - it doesn't affect a single veteran either).  But it MIGHT raise ONE person's awareness to the cause he's addressing.

Thirdly - STOP MAKING IDOLS!  You that are perceived Christians - isn't that a commandment?  What, then, is the flag, if not an idol of the country?  Stop worshipping idols. (On that note, if Lin Manuel-Miranda is reading this, dude, can you try a Bible story next?).

Finally, rather than looking at Kaepernick in horror, listen to what he has to say.  Read.  Research.  People are not being "overly sensitive" or ignoring other issues.  They are quoting real facts, and real statistics.  Keep the dialog going.  Read actual news reports.  Pay attention.

Now - let me address something.  I have the UTMOST respect for police officers.  I cannot imagine a job where every single day brought with it the possibility that I might not survive my shift.  However, as with any other entity, the demographics will generally mimic the demographics in the environment and community; thus, you will have racist people, homophobic people, and other angry and prejudice people on the police force - perhaps fewer, due to psychological examinations, but still some.  At the same time that we have to be wary of categorizing all of any entity as bad, so can we not categorize it all as good.  Read the statistics, listen, and try not to get defensive when the thought hits you that we are more a part of the problem than of the solution.

An unarmed black man was shot and killed in Oklahoma yesterday.  Two weeks ago, a blond haired, blue eyed college student was released from prison after 3 months - after serving half his sentence - which he got for raping someone.  You tell me there isn't a problem.

But by all means, let's discuss Brangelina.