Page 22 - aruba-today-20170819

A22 sports
Saturday 19 auguSt 2017

Column: We need Colin Kaepernick more than ever in troubled times

By PAUL NEWBERRY events of the past week,
AP Sports Columnist only sharpen his belief that
It’s been a terrible week in Kaepernick’s actions were
America. justified.
Maybe if we had just fol- “He made himself vulner-
lowed the lead of Co- able,” Baldwin said, turn-
lin Kaepernick, who had ing emotional as he spoke.
hoped the simple, non- “Especially about a topic
violent act of taking a that he feels so deeply
knee during the national about, that I feel so deeply
anthem would move us about.
to talk more about some Injustice and inequality,
of the serious problems whether you agree with it
plaguing this country. or not — that’s irrelevant.
Maybe if we had just fo- Somebody believes
cused on conversation in- something, so I definitely
stead of condemnation, think the way that he ap-
it would’ve been a much proached it was excellent,
better week. very methodical but also
“I’m not anti-American. very brave.”
I love America,” Kaepe- As grim as things seem at
rnick said nearly a year the moment, it’s never too
ago , in the early days of late to start the healing.
his passive but powerful Philadelphia Eagles’ Malcolm Jenkins raises his fist during the national anthem before the team’s We can start by talking
protest against police bru- NFL preseason football game against the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, in Philadelphia. with each other, instead of
Associated Press
tality and a justice system yelling at each other.
that treats people of color people Friday on the took to Twitter to mock the called for an even stron- Take a cue from Philadel-
unfairly. streets of Finland. idea that both sides were ger stand, with the Atlan- phia Eagles defensive end
“I love people. That’s why Sports figures have at fault in Charlottesville: ta chapter of the NAACP Chris Long, who grew up in
I’m doing this. I want to weighed in on all the dis- “On one hand you had urging a boycott of games Charlottesville.
help make America bet- cord. the Nazis who were violent if the quarterback isn’t When teammate Malcolm
ter, and I think having LeBron James referred to & on the other the allied signed by a team before Jenkins thrust his right fist
these conversations helps Donald Trump as the “so- soldiers were very violent. the opening weekend. in the air during “The Star-
everybody have a better called president.” So it’s a draw. Many sides “We will take a knee, and Spangled Banner” at an
understanding of where Kevin Durant of the NBA you see. we will continue to take a exhibition game Thursday
everybody is coming champion Golden State ”Meanwhile, Kaepernick’s knee on the NFL until they night, Long put his right
from.” Warriors said he won’t be continued blackballing act with one voice,” said hand over his heart, his left
Unfortunately, far too accepting an invitation to from the NFL has drawn Gerald Griggs, vice presi- hand on Jenkins’ shoulder.
many people didn’t hear Jenkins is black. Long is
what he was saying. white.
They only focused on what It was a powerful symbol of
they saw as an act of de- unity , one that was badly
fiance, a blow against all needed in these troubled
that America stands for. times.
The non-violent tone of his “I think it’s a good time for
actions was lost on them. people that look like me to
Look where we are now. be there for people that
In the past week, Nazis and are fighting for equality,”
KKK members marched Long said.
through the streets of There is no doubt that Kae-
Charlottesville bearing Tiki pernick should be playing
torches and chanting anti- quarterback in the NFL.
Semitic slogans, a display His ample qualifications
that would’ve made Jo- have been fully docu-
seph Goebbels proud. mented by numerous sta-
A woman who came to tistical sites and media
protest the bigotry and outlets .
hatred was run down by a There is also no doubt the
car in those same streets. point he made still reso-
The president cast racists nates — civil discord with-
and those who oppose out coming to blows, or
them as being equally re- worse.
sponsible for the violence , So let’s try listening — really
all while defending monu- listening — to what he was
ments to those who re- In this Dec. 24, 2016, file photo, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick prepares to saying.
belled against this country throw during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams in Los Angeles. Next week might be a
Associated Press
in support of slavery. whole lot better.q
Beyond our shores, a ter-
ror attack in Barcelona visit the White House be- the ire of some fellow play- dent of the local branch.
claimed more than a cause he doesn’t “respect ers, who have carried on Seattle Seahawks receiver
dozen lives, while a knife- who’s in office right now.” his protest by kneeling or Doug Baldwin said the divi-
wielding man randomly Los Angeles Dodgers raising fists during the na- sive issue of race in Amer-
killed at least two more pitcher Brandon McCarthy tional anthem. Some have ica, and especially the