Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman took that position in remarks to reporters on Monday. The three-time NFL MVP and actor is also an outspoken activist on social issues.
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“You’re not a freedom fighter leading your people out of bondage”, Crigger wrote. Colin Kaepernick is a black man raised by a white family who gave him the life skills necessary to make a principled stand about the need to protect all peoples’ human rights and dignity. Both athletes are in fine company of others who have shown their patriotism in unconventional ways. He’s also, whether by design or not, questioning the NFL’s insistent but narrow definition of patriotism, shining a harsh light on its red-white-and-blue wallpaper. As much as we love the sacrifices the late Muhammad Ali made during his career, it’s easy to ignore the fact that that he was guided by his Muslim faith and heavily influenced by Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Nation of Islam.
“There’s people with that mentality that still exist, and that needs to change”.
“There is some depth and some truth to what he was doing”, Seahawks star Richard Sherman said of Kaepernick.
Last year, an internal investigation into the San Francisco police department revealed that over a dozen officers had exchanged abhorrently racist text messages and emails with each other, which forced the District Attorney to review approximately 100,000 cases that might have been influenced by the racial bias of the officers involved.
Sherman then pointed out that society at large could learn from the color blindness that occurs naturally in competitive sports. A full-on trend seems unlikely, given the lack of job security for the average football player and the strictness of the coaches and executives in charge of teams, but even a minor scuff to the league’s patriotic sheen may prove significant. You’re concerned about playing for the next guy, playing for your brother. “It’s not the words that count – I guess the words lead to the action – but once they take action they will reach out into the community, deal with the gangbangers there, make these communities the way they should be and use their money in a proper manner”. “Acts of ignorance don’t represent this country but all the people that fight for this country, for the freedom of this country, that’s what this country is all about”. They’re supporting them. They’re supporting their country and that’s how it should be all the time regardless of circumstance.
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“For us, I think it’s more about recognizing you’re part of an organization and you’re representing our organization and our organization believes you should pay respect to the flag”, Del Rio said.
