Leslie

Why all the overblown reaction? Why would anybody feel threatened by him? The general freak-out is much more interesting than Kaepernick's mini-protest.

Gordon Barlow

And, we've all learnt some history we didn't know before! That was a bonus.

BritInParis

Which invading British North America wasn't going make an iota of difference to.

That's what happens when you attack a stronger power, surely? If the US was going to take any military action, all of which would be inadvisable, then a spot of gunboat diplomacy and naval bombardment of the docks of Liverpool and London would've make more sense than the burning of York.

Last time I checked Canada was a Commonwealth country with the Queen as its head of state and a Westminster system of government. Canada received its gradual independence at the same speed as Australia and New Zealand and it didn't cut its final constitutional ties to the UK until 1982. It's hardly the 51st state. If anything the War of 1812 created a sense of Canadian nationhood that tied it inextricably with the British Empire and put pay to any notion of a political union or integration with the United States.

robin1234

Also, when Britain decided to cut Newfoundland adrift after the Second World War, the colony's choices, realistically, were independence, union with the U.S., or union with Canada. Suffice it to say, union with the U.S. was the first option that was rejected...

On the subject of the theatres of war in 1812-14, I think there were actions between British and American ships worldwide, not just in North American waters?

Leslie

How do you know that? Has that been happening with any frequency in the NFL?

dc koop

A collective sense of national guilt for the treatment of black Americans in the past is my theory

Leslie

No, that's the rationale behind your theory.

Your theory seems to be that white players are being treated unfairly, in comparison to black players, by the NFL. I'm just wondering if you can give some examples of that actually happening.

The (majority black) players in the NFL are the talent. They fill the seats and bring in billions of dollars in merchandising. As far as I can tell the, black and white, players in the NFL have gotten away with murder, not because of either ethnicity but because once they play at a certain level --- they are cash cows. Not because of some collective sense of guilt.

RoadWarriorFromLP

In 1812, Canada was British territory. If the goal was to wage war with Britain, then it makes sense to attack British territory. This is not that complicated.

RoadWarriorFromLP

It's the right-wing fixation on conformity. They fight for the freedom for everyone to think as they do and to be exactly like them.

Personally, I think that Kaepernick is out of line -- I think that it is disrespectful to stay seated and that there are better ways to articulate his sentiments -- but I certainly don't feel threatened by it or agitated about it.

sir_eccles

Interesting development, shame no one was there to see it.

Megan Rapinoe Joins Colin Kaepernick, Kneels During National Anthem

kimilseung

The question why the anthem is played at the drop of a hat, and why US sports authorities choose to do this (It is not played at CONCACAF club games in America), are questions that dont seem to be asked by anyone. Stop playing it and no one sits, kneels or stands.

Leslie

That's rich. The same right-wing that has, at the head of their ticket, a man who is the most anti-American and unpatriotic individual to ever run for president? A nasty hater of the USA who trashes this country, its military, its workers, its president, and its Gold Star families? Let's get this straight, the same "right wing" conformists who think it's perfectly fine to cover their necks in swastika tattoos and live in bunkers amid stockpiles of guns? The same conformists whose congressman yelled out, "YOU LIE!" at our president during his speech in front of congress?



The police are an arm of the government. They're not selfless volunteers and they're not a protected class. They have a difficult job but there are systemic problems and we are allowed to point that out, anyway we see fit.

Leslie

It has nothing to do with the song ... it has to do with controlling black bodies.

Gordon Barlow

US Defense Department paid 14 NFL teams $5.4M to honor soldiers - CBSSports.com
This is relevant to the discussion, insofar as the US military*** benefits from Patriotism-with-a-capital-P.
*** and the bureaucrats in the Department of Defense, of course.

I see that the Australian NRL has copied the practice of singing the National Anthem at its big games.

Gordon Barlow

Obama: Kaepernick ‘exercising his constitutional right to make a statement’ - Orrazz
One of the very few half-decent things Obama has done, since he was elected.