There’s no question that disgraced former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is arguably the most divisive figure of the 21st century.
It’s been almost three years since he first kneeled during the National Anthem and while most flew to the defense of his protest because they claimed it was in response to police brutality against minorities – others found his actions to be a slap in the face for any American who puts their life on the line for our freedoms.
And Colin Kaepernick finally just proved he’s anti-American by doing this outrageous thing just before July 4th.
Go figure. Colin Kaepernick is in the news again.
If there was never another story about the Kaepernick then it would be too soon, but unfortunately it seems like he and “his team” consistently manipulate stories so that they become national worthy news sensations. His divisiveness is that powerful in American culture.
Just when you think we’ve heard the last of Kaepernick he pops back up like a whack-a-mole.
And this story was just in time for America’s Independence Day, July 4th – especially horrendous timing because it was also right before the United States women’s national team beat down England in the World Cup semifinals on Tuesday.
Nike had ambitious plans to create a USA-themed Kaepernick sneaker in honor of Independence Day. Which Nike executive thought that was a good idea?
It was called the Air Max 1 USA and looked like a typical, yet bulky, Nike running shoe with grey, red and black (not blue for some reason).
But they also wanted to feature a Betsy Ross flag on the heel.
And Kaepernick’s camp was solely responsible for nixing that idea. Not only was he responsible for yanking the shoes, but they also had already been sent out to retailers.
The reason the disgraced anti-American quarterback didn’t like the Betsy Ross flag?
They claimed it was offensive and carried slavery connotations.
Nike agreed and halted its release.
Here’s a picture of the shoes.
#Nike pulls shoe after Kaepernick expresses issue with ‘Betsy Ross Flag’ https://t.co/xzLP8nztDL
@stavrostc
#ColinKaepernick#BetsyRossFlag#4thofJuly#AirMax1 pic.twitter.com/gxHavDW9iO— RT America (@RT_America) July 2, 2019
;
The Wall Street Journal reported, “After images of the shoe were posted online, Mr. Kaepernick, a Nike endorser, reached out to company officials saying that he and others felt the Betsy Ross flag is an offensive symbol because of its connection to an era of slavery.”
And then a Nike spokesperson said, “Nike has chosen not to release the Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July as it featured the old version of the American flag.”
What’s completely ridiculous about Kaepernick and “his team’s” assertion is that it’s not literally emblematic of a representation of slavery – although, to be fair, slavery was definitely going on at the time.
The Betsy Ross thirteen stars represents the thirteen colonies fighting back against England in the Revolutionary War.
That would be like if someone made a heritage 1990s tribute to Los Angeles and then someone said “oh, you can’t do that because of the 1992 Los Angeles Riots invoked racism and police brutality against African Americans. So you can’t tribute Los Angeles in the 90s in any way whatsoever.”
Nobody is saying that isn’t true but it’s not the whole story. Ross’ symbolic flag was strictly about the American Revolution.
And to do this right after the USWNT beat England in the semifinals makes this even more ironic.