Normally my posts are friendly and outgoing; I invite ALL to engage in my offerings. As it stands, my comments about Colin Kaepernick did not go down so well on my Twitter account last night. They blew up and went viral when I made the statement, "Why make this idiot rich?" (This question was attached to an article from ABC News that I tweeted that showed sales of his jersey were sky rocketing because of his refusal to stand for our National Anthem.) I have been officially branded a White Conservative Racist. A Cracker. An Idiot. A Closet Racist. An Oppressor and even an Anti-American. Seriously! I even have teenagers attempting to give me lessons in American History. These people do not follow me or know me personally, but have labeled me a racist. As it is, and has always been, name-calling does not offend me in the slightest; these folks are wasting their creative energy and powers on labeling me. Most of these people have twitter accounts where they call themselves musicians and writers and poets and not one of them has a MAJOR record contract or book signing deal, like MOST of the people on twitter. (All wannabes!) It means NOTHING to be published these days; you can get a Twitter account, a blog and there you are! Abracadabra, you're a published author! Right? That's how it works now! It used to mean something remarkable to be published!
At any event, what astonishes me the most is why our society glorifies athletes and entertainers so much the way we do! Why are their opinions and juvenile demonstrations taken so SERIOUSLY and GAIN such UNDESERVING attention? Does anyone REALLY CARE what Mr. Kaepernick thinks? I doubt it. I AM NOT DENYING HIS RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH, NOR I AM OFFENDED. However, when I express a disagreement or a difference of opinion to that of his, I AM LABELED A RACIST! You see, I am not permitted to exercise my 1st amendment rights because it is contrary to this man! Mr. Kaepernick is correct. America does have problems; it is not a perfect country. Racism does exist and I am not BLIND to it. Although I do think his actions were acrid and sloppy in approach. He has the right(though others before him and myself have earned it for both of us)to say and act as he pleases. WHAT A BLESSING DEMOCRACY IS! I just wish he was a bit more APPRECIATIVE and PROFESSIONAL of what others have sacrificed so that we can 'demonstrate.' AMERICANS are ALL RACES and COLORS; the FLAG is for EVERYONE HERE, Mr. Kaepernick, even you, even if you think 'SMALL' of the country that has made you wealthy and famous. Happy Labor Day to ALL AMERICANS!
