Nike takes sides, tapping Colin Kaepernick for new 'Just Do It' ad

[Theo520]

He could have protested at a SF City Council meeting and raised awareness with 30 or 40 people in attendance, and maybe got a mention in a local paper that most people would not see. Or, he could do it how he did and make millions of people aware of the issue. I think he made the right choice. The fact that his enemies characterize it as disrespecting the troops in on them.

If you are protesting police brutality, then you protest where it matters. It’s irrelevant that your protest reaches millions outside of the sphere of influence.

Again, he put a booger in his sisters food to protest his brother.
All he accomplished was pissing off his sister who had no part in his brother beef.

What he did was inane and self centered, not constructive.
A city council protest affects the people who actually employ the Police, who set their directives and hire the Chief. 40 people with a celeb leader at their meetings can have a real impact.

 

[Ridgerunner]

As I recall, you live in NYC. Possibly it’s true there that sheer luck determines economic outcomes and that life choices mean nothing. But it sure isn’t true where I live. What I said is exactly correct.

 

[Inisfallen]

Possibly it’s true there that sheer luck determines economic outcomes and that life choices mean nothing.

Leaf didn’t say anything of the kind.

But it is beyond true that the poor and the middle class (even more than the poor) are being forced out of New York City.

 

[LeafByNiggle]

What RR described is essentially a median standard of living. Half below and half above that point. The implication then is that half of the people are where they are because of moral flaws, and that there is no luck in it. If someone is unlucky enough to grow up black in North Minneapolis, the schooling he will get will not be anywhere as good as someone who grows up white in Edina (a suburb of Minneapolis). We have been trying to correct the racial disparity in educational achievement, but a certain gap still remains. Even with the best moral character, a significant number of those from North Minneapolis are never going to own a boat. I refuse to blame poverty on the poor.

 

[LeafByNiggle]

As I recall, you live in NYC. Possibly it’s true there that sheer luck determines economic outcomes and that life choices mean nothing. But it sure isn’t true where I live. What I said is exactly correct.

Actually it’s Minneapolis. And I said there are many factors that determine the outcome (moral character being a big one), and another very big one is luck.

 

[Theo520]

What RR described is essentially a median standard of living. Half below and half above that point. The implication then is that half of the people are where they are because of moral flaws, and that there is no luck in it. If someone is unlucky enough to grow up black in North Minneapolis, the schooling he will get will not be anywhere as good as someone who grows up white in Edina (a suburb of Minneapolis). We have been trying to correct the racial disparity in educational achievement, but a certain gap still remains. Even with the best moral character, a significant number of those from North Minneapolis are never going to own a boat. I refuse to blame poverty on the poor.

No, that’s not what I read.

If you have a median income but you live within your means, then you will have a below median standard of living. You’ll get a new car less frequently, if at all. You can have a good standard of life on below median spending, just not regular holidays in the Virgin Islands, etc. Then year by year your savings multiply.

 

[exnihilo]

I’m not sure if this is the result of your own choices, or of poor education.

I did go to the free government schools open to everybody so I probably am exceptionally ignorant.

 

[Dr_Meinheimer]

Your post highlights why this whole thing is a failure. You refer to thos of us who oppose the kneeling as his “enemies” as though we are at war.

I get what his message is. I dont support his method of delivering it, and neither do millions of others who find his livelihood. I dont want to watch sports to have political messages sent or to feel lectured to, from any ideology. I am hardly his enemy, but he and his supporters like you view it that way, which again highlights the fact that you apparently couldn’t care less about getting to embrace his message, only to cry and moan and insist people get on board with your means of delivery.

Declaring people to be your enemy is always a great way to convince them.

 

[Inisfallen]

I dont want to watch sports to have political messages sent or to feel lectured to, from any ideology.

Same here, which is one of the reasons I don’t watch football. It’s become militaristic propaganda to a degree with which I’m seriously uncomfortable.

 

[Ridgerunner]

What I described is significantly below the “median”, at least here it is. That’s the “meat processing plant worker” level I was describing. On the bottom are the dopers.

I think you might not know what a bass boat is, or at least what they cost? On the most basic level, it’s just a sheet of aluminum punched into a boat shape, with seats and a fish well attached, and an outboard motor. Anybody can buy one of those.
Sure, there are far more expensive ones, but on a basic level, they’re cheap. springfield boats - by owner - craigslist

 

[Dr_Meinheimer]

I hear you, and it is the same thing that got Coastasnin trouble during NBCs halftime show. Sports used to be one way Americans could unite with political divisions. Colin’s actions are one of the many ways that has been taken away. For you, the heavy military influence has the same effect.

 

[LeafByNiggle]

I dont want to watch sports to have political messages sent or to feel lectured to, from any ideology.

How does the fact the CK kneels during the national anthem detract from your enjoyment of the game, or even the anthem? He did not interrupt it. He didn’t make noise. He didn’t prevent you from standing right there in your living room with your hand on your heart and singing along if you wish. It did not delay the game. I honestly don’t see how you were inconvenienced at all.

 

[Inisfallen]

Sports used to be one way Americans could unite with political divisions. Colin’s actions are one of the many ways that has been taken away.

There’s some truth to what you say, and I’m pretty much basically with you.

I’d add, though, that, as I said above, that standing for the anthem means nothing if one is not free to not stand.

Other than that, you’ll notice that I haven’t taken a position one way or the other on what Kaepernick does, or did, or didn’t do.

 

[Ridgerunner]

How does the fact the CK kneels during the national anthem detract from your enjoyment of the game, or even the anthem? He did not interrupt it. He didn’t make noise. He didn’t prevent you from standing right there in your living room with your hand on your heart and singing along if you wish. It did not delay the game. I honestly don’t see how you were inconvenienced at all.

Nobody dies because of Kapernik, and that’s true. But what he does is really a signal to the great majority of people that they are not as spiritually pure as he is. He is saying “you people don’t know or perhaps don’t care that blacks are sometimes killed by police wrongly, and so I’m taking this opportunity to dramatically correct your ignorance or racism by telling you this when you expected simply to honor your country…”

 

[Inisfallen]

He is saying “you people don’t know or perhaps don’t care that blacks are sometimes killed by police wrongly, and so I’m taking this opportunity to dramatically correct your ignorance or racism by telling you this when you expected simply to honor your country…”

Putting it a little less harshly, he might be saying (hey, I can put words in his mouth as well as you can) “there’s a problem in this country that’s experienced by people many of you don’t know much about, i.e., the poor and non-white. I’m not telling you what to think, but I’m saying that maybe, if you looked into this a bit, you might see something going on that you didn’t know about before, and that, as Americans, and as brothers and sisters, you might be concerned about. Now, enjoy the game!”

 

[LeafByNiggle]

LeafByNiggle:

How does the fact the CK kneels during the national anthem detract from your enjoyment of the game, or even the anthem? He did not interrupt it. He didn’t make noise. He didn’t prevent you from standing right there in your living room with your hand on your heart and singing along if you wish. It did not delay the game. I honestly don’t see how you were inconvenienced at all.

Nobody dies because of Kapernik, and that’s true. But what he does is really a signal to the great majority of people that they are not as spiritually pure as he is. He is saying “you people don’t know or perhaps don’t care that blacks are sometimes killed by police wrongly, and so I’m taking this opportunity to dramatically correct your ignorance or racism by telling you this when you expected simply to honor your country…”

And what is wrong with that?

 

[Kmcicco2000]

When my husband and I got married in 1980 we both had minimum wage jobs . We were able to support ourselves-tight times but we could do it. Today that is not true. Minimum wage is no longer a wage that supports you. If you think this is okay i disagree.

 

[LeafByNiggle]

When my husband and I got married in 1980 we both had minimum wage jobs . We were able to support ourselves-tight times but we could do it. Today that is not true. Minimum wage is no longer a wage that supports you. If you think this is okay i disagree.

I don’t think that’s OK. I’m on your side.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Putting it a little less harshly, he might be saying (hey, I can put words in his mouth as well as you can) “there’s a problem in this country that’s experienced by people many of you don’t know much about, i.e., the poor and non-white. I’m not telling you what to think, but I’m saying that maybe, if you looked into this a bit, you might see something going on that you didn’t know about before, and that, as Americans, and as brothers and sisters, you might be concerned about. Now, enjoy the game!”

He could say that without insulting the flag and anthem the way he does. it’s not a friendly or helpful gesture. he could buy ads on TV to do that. When you poke somebody in the to get his attention, it’s not friendly.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Not being unfriendly, but you were both working. You couldn’t have made it on just one salary then anymore than you can at minimum wage now.