I used to think I "loved" this country, sweet land of Liberty; but I don’t. I love the idea of America, but I don't love my country, or necessarily the flag of imperialism (and corporatism) that it represents. I want to Love America for what she stands for. And nah, before your mind jerks & says "well, leave this country," no, I won't, that's not what this is about.
In regards to the notion that we "must" rise & respect those that have fallen...they surely may have, but it wasn't for our country's desire or actual need. It was for political leaders of State & government. I'm at a loss for those who have lost their lives and loved ones to US involvement in wars; I support out troops, but not our missions. I don't like war. I don't know what it's good for.
I call bullshit on "having to stand up" during the National Anthem or in raising my hand to my chest during our Pledge of Allegiance.
With respect & love... please. We're literally brainwashed in a nationalist sense, & engrained this idea and sense of patriotism in kindergarten-12th grade. Your elders command you/teach you, "Do as you're told, respect authority, know your place, and stand at attention for your country, chant this cultish 'pledge of allegiance'" (as if our kindergarten sense of allegiance--if it even exists formatively at that age--is even up for grabs), for no reason other than because that's what they've been told since kindergarten.
What about the millions of Natives slaughtered, the hundreds of thousands Africans enslaved, the lynched Mexicans, the stolen lands? This country has never been shining beacon of light upon a hill. 'Murica is shit. That blind patriotism isn't patriotism. Dissenting is the essence of America.
Which flag? The flag that our elder Chicanos bore in Vietnam & Korea? Where the largest casualties were that of Raza & Brothers fighting other oppressed peoples, only to return to America, to a racist second class citizenship in the 60s, helping to create the Civil Rights & Chicano Movements, giving way to a not yet fully realized, equal opportunity in this great nation?
And of this great nation? A nation that has killed and enslaved? A nation that claims exceptionalism, freedom, and liberty, yet incarcerates the highest proportion of its citizens than any liberal democratic free country or even than that of China & North Korea, supposed "evil communist States"? A nation that claims equality, yet no real equality exists for supposed "minority groups": Women, LGBTQ, African American, & Xicanx? A nation that destroys its social services safety net & public education system to create an assimilated idiocracy that is now on the cusp of sending Trump to the General Election? A nation that thinks education is a commodity and not a right? A nation where those with Bachelor's degrees have to hustle with side jobs & literally hustle because the economy, labor market, and wage levels are stagnant? A nation that worships the dollar, yet claims the one true God? A nation dominated by the Neoliberal Global Economic Order, where profits matter more than democracy & people do? Whatever.
Back to Colin, just take Oliver Stone's (Any Given Sunday) argument via Steamin Beamen's critiques about Black players & the disparity of Black coaches & owners, and as an extension the metaphor of the modern gladiator, as valid. The NFL & most leagues' teams are run by white cronie families like The Joneses, Rooneys & Krafts, a bunch of 1%ers & their "properties"... Occupy.
Then take account of the truth of what I have previously said and all that Colin said, combined with the fact of The New Jim Crow, in conjunction with the corporate military-industrial complex/police state that we live in, which drone-strikes like there's no tomorrow...and also think about the farce & illusion of invisible lines called borders created & divvied by White European imperialists who seized & pillaged our native land, daughters & sons. Again, I support his decision & my stance against "that we owe so damn much to warriors," and against this false American mythification of an ultra-moral warrior", as if Captain America Steve Rogers is real (even he's fkn HYDRA). And which doesn't presuppose inherently that war is just & we must always thank our military & those that died for it. Citizens serve in different ways, not exclusively for the Armed Forces. Our People (of Color) die every day in this very country at the hands of the State of which we are Sovereign, and we're not thanking them for their lives lost or acknowledging their death most times, unless we finally make enough noise, get it all on tape, and let the pig walk. fuck that. We can't ignore the countless that have also died at the hands of US Armed Forces: not limited to, but just to name an atrocity--Japan & the Atomic decimation. And as far as warfare & killing goes, let us not forget about Black Ops, assassins, CIA sleepers, the NSA hacks, the militarization of the civilian police forces, and all that shit that the Media & Hollywood sensationalize, desensitizing and numbing our collective consciousness to a false sense of patriotism...under the whim of the corporate politicos & state regimes.
Peoples don't go to war; megalomaniacs do as do their bizarro good guy counterparts. And to even think, albeit unlikely, it’s possible that this Nation could be led by Trump; the military under that Administration is not something I even want to fathom, let alone thank in advance for. Are we still proud then, to wave the Red, White, and Blue? For this nation, where justice is not served at all, supposedly indivisible, has been divided by race & socioeconomics, and treated unfairly. Another world is possible.
Or simply, alternatively, as another way of looking at what Colin did, what about religious groups, whose members also reserve the right to the pledge of allegiance to America because of their belief in Dominion? Or the members of the original Nations of this Land--our Native American familia? Where's the shade then? It’s not warranted. And for those throwing shade at Colin, but claim to represent and support Muhammad Ali, then you're hypocrisy shines brightly. Much love & respect to Colin for not taking Cam Newton's lead in that GQ article this summer. Props for Colin "standing up" for in what he believes in. America, land of the Free & the Brave.
This Xicano Panther says stand down.
#BLM #ColinKaepernick #ThinkForYourselfQuestionAuthority #ISupportColinKaepernick
In regards to the notion that we "must" rise & respect those that have fallen...they surely may have, but it wasn't for our country's desire or actual need. It was for political leaders of State & government. I'm at a loss for those who have lost their lives and loved ones to US involvement in wars; I support out troops, but not our missions. I don't like war. I don't know what it's good for.
I call bullshit on "having to stand up" during the National Anthem or in raising my hand to my chest during our Pledge of Allegiance.
With respect & love... please. We're literally brainwashed in a nationalist sense, & engrained this idea and sense of patriotism in kindergarten-12th grade. Your elders command you/teach you, "Do as you're told, respect authority, know your place, and stand at attention for your country, chant this cultish 'pledge of allegiance'" (as if our kindergarten sense of allegiance--if it even exists formatively at that age--is even up for grabs), for no reason other than because that's what they've been told since kindergarten.
What about the millions of Natives slaughtered, the hundreds of thousands Africans enslaved, the lynched Mexicans, the stolen lands? This country has never been shining beacon of light upon a hill. 'Murica is shit. That blind patriotism isn't patriotism. Dissenting is the essence of America.
Which flag? The flag that our elder Chicanos bore in Vietnam & Korea? Where the largest casualties were that of Raza & Brothers fighting other oppressed peoples, only to return to America, to a racist second class citizenship in the 60s, helping to create the Civil Rights & Chicano Movements, giving way to a not yet fully realized, equal opportunity in this great nation?
And of this great nation? A nation that has killed and enslaved? A nation that claims exceptionalism, freedom, and liberty, yet incarcerates the highest proportion of its citizens than any liberal democratic free country or even than that of China & North Korea, supposed "evil communist States"? A nation that claims equality, yet no real equality exists for supposed "minority groups": Women, LGBTQ, African American, & Xicanx? A nation that destroys its social services safety net & public education system to create an assimilated idiocracy that is now on the cusp of sending Trump to the General Election? A nation that thinks education is a commodity and not a right? A nation where those with Bachelor's degrees have to hustle with side jobs & literally hustle because the economy, labor market, and wage levels are stagnant? A nation that worships the dollar, yet claims the one true God? A nation dominated by the Neoliberal Global Economic Order, where profits matter more than democracy & people do? Whatever.
Back to Colin, just take Oliver Stone's (Any Given Sunday) argument via Steamin Beamen's critiques about Black players & the disparity of Black coaches & owners, and as an extension the metaphor of the modern gladiator, as valid. The NFL & most leagues' teams are run by white cronie families like The Joneses, Rooneys & Krafts, a bunch of 1%ers & their "properties"... Occupy.
Then take account of the truth of what I have previously said and all that Colin said, combined with the fact of The New Jim Crow, in conjunction with the corporate military-industrial complex/police state that we live in, which drone-strikes like there's no tomorrow...and also think about the farce & illusion of invisible lines called borders created & divvied by White European imperialists who seized & pillaged our native land, daughters & sons. Again, I support his decision & my stance against "that we owe so damn much to warriors," and against this false American mythification of an ultra-moral warrior", as if Captain America Steve Rogers is real (even he's fkn HYDRA). And which doesn't presuppose inherently that war is just & we must always thank our military & those that died for it. Citizens serve in different ways, not exclusively for the Armed Forces. Our People (of Color) die every day in this very country at the hands of the State of which we are Sovereign, and we're not thanking them for their lives lost or acknowledging their death most times, unless we finally make enough noise, get it all on tape, and let the pig walk. fuck that. We can't ignore the countless that have also died at the hands of US Armed Forces: not limited to, but just to name an atrocity--Japan & the Atomic decimation. And as far as warfare & killing goes, let us not forget about Black Ops, assassins, CIA sleepers, the NSA hacks, the militarization of the civilian police forces, and all that shit that the Media & Hollywood sensationalize, desensitizing and numbing our collective consciousness to a false sense of patriotism...under the whim of the corporate politicos & state regimes.
Peoples don't go to war; megalomaniacs do as do their bizarro good guy counterparts. And to even think, albeit unlikely, it’s possible that this Nation could be led by Trump; the military under that Administration is not something I even want to fathom, let alone thank in advance for. Are we still proud then, to wave the Red, White, and Blue? For this nation, where justice is not served at all, supposedly indivisible, has been divided by race & socioeconomics, and treated unfairly. Another world is possible.
Or simply, alternatively, as another way of looking at what Colin did, what about religious groups, whose members also reserve the right to the pledge of allegiance to America because of their belief in Dominion? Or the members of the original Nations of this Land--our Native American familia? Where's the shade then? It’s not warranted. And for those throwing shade at Colin, but claim to represent and support Muhammad Ali, then you're hypocrisy shines brightly. Much love & respect to Colin for not taking Cam Newton's lead in that GQ article this summer. Props for Colin "standing up" for in what he believes in. America, land of the Free & the Brave.
This Xicano Panther says stand down.
#BLM #ColinKaepernick #ThinkForYourselfQuestionAuthority #ISupportColinKaepernick