Colin Kaepernick: SJW taking the road easily travelled

Mike Freeman overreached on the parallel he wanted to draw between Muhammad Ali and Colin Kaepernick for his latest piece on the San Francisco 49’ers quarterback. He’s not even close. But in this day and age where we’ll make any athlete or celebrity a social justice hero, Freeman casts Kaepernick in a role he’s poorly suited to fit.

For the record, I don’t care much for what Colin Kaepernick did, but then again, I don’t care much for Colin Kaepernick.

Think for one moment of this guy’s misfire; we are talking about him NOT for his exploits on the field, but for those on the sideline, where he’s been for quite awhile now.

This is his sole accomplishment since his career went off the grid because of bad play.

But in all the words spoken in the last day or so, and all the headlines he’s generated, the most egregious come from those who would cast him as some modern day Ali and Social Justice Warrior for “the cause”.

Is that how low the bar is?

Or is it better said that, he’s how low he’s reset the bar?

This is how he stands up for those he believes are oppressed; he sits down.

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Colin Kaepernick should pay attention to history for both perspective and inspiration.

I’d suggest reading about someone who actually took a stand. He should read about someone, an NFL alum no less, who chose to make a sacrifice by standing up for his country and its flag by giving up the game and the financial benefits Colin Kaepernick so readily takes for granted.

Pat Tillman stood for something bigger than the 49’ers QB ever will. He left his NFL career and his family to join the US Army, become a Ranger, and do tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan before being killed by friendly fire.

In the aftermath of 9/11, Tillman chose patriotism and service to country. He took a stand for all those who were killed that September morning. He took a stand for the innocent lives of those lost in Manhattan, at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, PA.

Can you compare the stand Kaepernick has taken to that of an icon like Muhammad Ali, or a genuine hero and patriot like Pat Tillman?

I mean seriously, can you?

Colin Kaepernick is the textbook definition of Social Justice Warriors in 2016. And for their apathy of anything requiring ACTUAL courage and sacrifice, they and their advocates demand your respect them and their “fight” on the social media platforms of Snapchat, Instagram, and the 140 characters on Twitter.

Tillman chose to fight the real battles in the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq.

How’s that for the contrast of today’s self created media heroes and those who take a path Kaepernick would never travel.

But you see, that IS the difference.

How many ways could Kap chose to REALLY make a difference?

He could put his name on a ballot.

He could join the ranks of law enforcement and make a difference on the streets of the inner cities.

He could go the route of community organizer, and fight his battles in depressed neighborhoods and on cable TV.

But he won’t do that. THAT requires real sacrifice. It requires a discipline likely difficult to adapt to after living a much more privileged and lucrative lifestyle.

Colin Kaepernick has a nice view of oppression from the cushy dais of an NFL quarterback. He has the benefit of TV cameras and a sports media who will make him a social advocate via his athletic celebrity.

That can be a nice gig.

Certainly better than the one a mountain in Afghanistan offers. That’s where real warriors do the work.

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