Kaepernick's 1st Amendment rights have not been violated yet. I'm just saying that the train of thought exhibited opens him up to that possibility. That's why I asked what if questions. And some of you might be okay with him being fined or fired.

The 1st Amendment doesn't protect you from being fired by a private organization, but it should in a scenario like this. That's part of why 1st Amendment law in the United States is crap. The other reason why it's crap is that the government and courts inconsistently violate established First Amendment law at their whim on a case-to-case basis such that it's meaningless. Just like how courts don't give a crap what the text of the 2nd Amendment says.

There is case law regarding what you can and cannot be fired for when you are employed in government jobs. You can be fired for calling your boss names, but supposedly cannot be fired for speech on matters of public concern, such as political speech. Of course, judges break the established case law in this area all the time, at their whim.

I didn't make the established case law regarding what kind of speech can or cannot get you fired by a government employer. Extending such restrictions to private companies would only put them in the same boat. We already force private companies to hire without discriminating by race, gender, etc. Before we forced that upon them, which perhaps we should not have, we should have forced them to hire without discriminating based on political ideology.

That's correct. Not only do private companies do that, I'm sure our government does that too.

That's why I first said "I approve of Kaepernick's actions as I dislike this country as well, but for different reasons. Both the 1st Amendment and 2nd Amendment are shams as both our populace and government intrude on them whenever and however they please."

Whether or not the current trends are illegal or unconstitutional is semantics. They are legal because Americans allowed it. If the government officially repealed both the 1st and 2nd Amendment today, which they already have in secret, then the trends likewise become constitutional.

An Open Letter to Colin Kaepernick,

Dear Colin guess you have been pretty busy these last few days. For the record I don’t think any more or less of you for not standing for the national anthem.
Honestly, I never thought that much about you, or any professional athlete for that matter, to begin with. I’ve read your statement a few times and want you to
know I am one of the reasons you are protesting. You see I am a retired police officer that had the misfortune of having to shoot and kill a 19-year-old African-American
male. And just like you said, I was the recipient of about $3,000 a month while on leave, which was a good thing because I had to support a wife and three children
under 7 years old for about 2 months with that money. Things were pretty tight because I couldn’t work part-time. Every police officer I’ve ever known has worked
part-time to help make ends meet.

You know, Colin, the more I think about it, the more we seem to have in common. I really pushed myself in rehab to get back on the street, kind of like you do to get
back on the field. You probably have had a broken bone or two and some muscle strains and deep bruising that needed a lot of work. I just had to bounce back from
a gunshot wound to the chest and thigh. Good thing we both get paid when we are too banged up to “play,” huh? We both also know what it’s like to get blindsided.
You by a 280-pound defensive end, ouch! Me, by a couple of rounds fired from a gun about 2 feet away into my chest and thigh. We also both make our living wearing
uniforms, right? You have probably ruined a jersey or two on the field of play. I still have my blood-stained shirt that my partner and paramedics literally ripped off my
back that cold night in January. Fortunately, like you I was given a new one. Speaking of paramedics aren’t you glad the second we get hurt trainers and doctors are
standing by waiting to rush onto the field to scoop us up. I’m thankful they get to you in seconds. It only took them about 10 minutes to get to me. By the grace of God,
the artery in my thigh didn’t rupture or else 10 minutes would have been about 9 minutes too late. We also have both experienced the hate and disgust others have
 just because of those uniforms we wear. I sure am glad for your sake that the folks who wear my uniform are on hand to escort you and those folks that wear your
uniform into stadiums in places like Seattle!

I guess that’s where the similarities end, Colin. You entertain for a living, I and almost 800,000 others across this country serve and protect. Are there some bad
apples within my profession? Absolutely, and they need to be identified and fired or arrested! But you know what, the vast majority do the right thing, the right way,
for the right reason. Did I mention that seconds before I was shot, an elderly African-American gentleman walking down the sidewalk, turned to my partner and I
as we rode past and said, “Get them.” Get who, you ask? The thugs terrorizing an otherwise good and decent neighborhood, home to dozens of good, decent
African-American families trying to raise those families in communities not protected by gates and security guards. No these folks and families depend on America’s
law enforcement officers.

Colin, I have buried 7 friends killed in the line of duty and three others who have committed suicide. I have attended more funerals than I care to remember of neighboring
departments who have lost officers in the line of duty, during my career. Law enforcement officers with different backgrounds, upbringings and experiences united by
their willingness to answer the call to protect and serve their fellow citizens.

Colin, I am sorry for the endorsement deals you may lose and the dip in jersey sales, but please know you will NEVER lose what these men and women and their
families have lost. And so whether you stand or sit during the national anthem means very little to me. As for me and the men and women on whose team I was
privileged to serve, we will put on our ballistic vests, badge and gun, kiss our loved ones goodbye, for some tragically for the last time, and out into a shift of uncertainty
we will go. We will continue to protect and continue to serve and we will be standing at attention, Colin, not just for the playing of our national anthem, but far more
importantly for the playing of Taps.

V/R (very respectfully),

Chris Amos

For whatever its worth, I did not, nor was referring to you.  So relax, no need to panic.

I simply stated, as in my post, that position statements and counter statements leading to debate are healthy examples for 1st Amendment fitness.  It is only when statements that call for immediate actions that lead to violence against an individual or group(s) are when people are crossing the line and can be argued to be abusing their 1st Amendment Rights.


Kuleana

Amen.

The problem is that this has become an attack Kaepernick topic instead of disprove Kaepernick's position topic. Emotions are flaring instead of intellect.

She has a number of excellent points.  However, is that an AK that is being held by the Statue of Liberty on her shirt?   If so, it is kind of ironic that although she abhors and, rightfully so, dictators, the weapon of choice for many of those regimes was the AK, but I digress.

On the serious side, she really needs to educate herself with dictators of the 20th century.  In her commentary, she goes on a tirade on how it is very distasteful to wear anything that shows any likeness to dictators of the 20th century.  She is morally justified in her in position as in her legal right to do so. 

She needs to be reminded, however, that it is totally American to support dictators.  The US has and still supports some of the most oppressive regimes on this planet.  Need we remember America's support of Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines, the Shaw of Iran, and Saddam Hussein of Iraq prior to loosing favor to President Bush?  All of these human butchers were politically and financially supported by the US, even with the knowledge of the dictatorial nature of their rule as well as the police state apparatus that they employed in their respective regimes.

Consequently, in light of these facts, the only thing Kaepernick is guilty of doing in the aftermath of wearing the likeness of Fidel Castro on his shirt is that he should have worn a shirt that depicted one of America's past or present supported dictators.  So the lesson for today boys and girls is: "Human butchers supported by America are GOOD, while human butchers not supported by America are BAD."       

Very Orwellian indeed...


Kuleana

She has a number of excellent points.  However, is that an AK that is being held by the Statue of Liberty on her shirt?   If so, it is kind of ironic that although she abhors and, rightfully so, dictators, the weapon of choice for many of those regimes was the AK, but I digress.

On the serious side, she really needs to educate herself with dictators of the 20th century.  In her commentary, she goes on a tirade on how it is very distasteful to wear anything that shows any likeness to dictators of the 20th century.  She is morally justified in her in position as in her legal right to do so.

She needs to be reminded, however, that it is totally American to support dictators.  The US has and still supports some of the most oppressive regimes on this planet.  Need we remember America's support of Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines, the Shaw of Iran, and Saddam Hussein of Iraq prior to loosing favor to President Bush?  All of these human butchers were politically and financially supported by the US, even with the knowledge of the dictatorial nature of their rule as well as the police state apparatus that they employed in their respective regimes.

Consequently, in light of these facts, the only thing Kaepernick is guilty of doing in the aftermath of wearing the likeness of Fidel Castro on his shirt is that he should have worn a shirt that depicted one of America's past or present supported dictators.  So the lesson for today boys and girls is: "Human butchers supported by America are GOOD, while human butchers not supported by America are BAD."       

Very Orwellian indeed...


Kuleana

No. all human butchers are bad. unless you are a cannibal. No country , society or past populations are perfect.
But going back to topic.
I still think Kaepernick is an ungrateful idiot.
If I was left by black parents to be raised by white parents and given the opportunities he had - I'd be extremely grateful.
Not many Americans are afforded his opportunities. Not many people on this planet are as fortunate as he is.
But its OK.
I hope one day he realizes how fortunate he is to be an American.

Curious Kuleana - given your disdain for America - I'm glad you exercise your 1st amendment rights. But do you exercise your 2nd? What kind of firearms do you own? I'm guessing you are an AK guy.

Outside of the proud American Ruger family of firearms I own, I tend to favor foreign manufactured firearms.  While the highly battle proven AR may be THE weapon of choice in the First World, it is the Kalashnikov family of rifles that is THE immortal weapon of the Whole World.  Long live the AK!     

Kuleana

Outside of the proud American Ruger family of firearms I own, I tend to favor foreign manufactured firearms.  While the highly battle proven AR may be THE weapon of choice in the First World, it is the Kalashnikov family of rifles that is THE immortal weapon of the Whole World.  Long live the AK!     

Kuleana

Ah The AK. Same instrument used by the butcher Saddam Hussein

OK. I understand whole wheat bread - what is the "Whole World"?
The AK is not legal in the Whole World so it is not so immortal.
I don't think you can own one in Japan, Australia, UK...they are mortally banned.
but...
you can still own one in the good ole USA 
isn't this country amazing?