Colin Kaepernick By Rory Riggins
Today’s guest comic about the whole Colin Kaepernick situation is brought to you by my good friend Rory Riggins. Thanks for your help, Big Rig!
I’ll start off with his artist statement before adding my own thoughts:
To put things in context, I am a huge fan of the Washington foot ball team. I have been watching them religiously since I could be confused as to why the sport is called foot ball, when the foot only touches the ball for punts and kicks. My last name is Riggins, and John Riggins was always a hero of mine (fun fact: I just learned in 1985, he drunkenly made sexist comments to Sandra Day O’Connor, then fell asleep under a table. She later bought him a dozen roses). I love this sport of running and throws and kicks. I’m not telling you to support Kaepernick or Black Lives Matter. I’m asking you to put into context the behavior of NFL players in general, our reactions to them, and the league’s reaction to them. Many players act out in terrible and criminal ways, and we let them slide. Kaepernick is using his fame to stand up [insert a funny sit down joke here] for a cause that he believes in. He hasn’t (to my knowledge) sexually assaulted any one or killed any dogs for sport. He is a practicing Christian and has a pet tortoise named Sammy, who weighs 115 lbs.Further reading:
The Redskins’ reaction to Kaepernick’s protest: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dc-sports-bog/wp/2016/08/29/jay-gruden-the-redskins-will-stand-and-give-respect-during-the-national-anthem/The best article I’ve found defending Kaepernick: http://theundefeated.com/features/kaepernick-is-asking-for-justice-not-peace/The 44 active NFL players (as of 2015) who have been accused of physical and/or sexual assault: https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/2015-nfl-report
There are a lot of talking points brought up by this whole Kaep thing but I like Rory’s point because it’s something I often rally against here, the hypocrisy in the fandoms and the league. Whether you agree with Kaep or not, all he’s doing is sitting down during the national anthem to bring awareness to a subject he feels is important, and so many people are trashing him for it, meanwhile lots of players do much worse and get defended and forgiven. It’s sad.
I stand (sit? lol) with Kaep. When I heard about what he did, my first thought was “well here comes a shit7torm” and I avoided the internet for several hours. I do think that he probably could have picked a better way to protest, because this sort of thing is guaranteed to cause a lot of people to ignore your message and focus on your actions, which is exactly what is happening. So many people are hung up on how he’s protesting they aren’t paying attention to why. If you haven’t yet, I heartily endorse listening to his entire press conference on the whole thing where he details why he’s doing this. Try your best to ignore his Sideshow bob hair.
How he’s protesting isn’t even that bad! First off, protesting is a great American tradition! Protesting is part of our heritage. Remember when we threw a bunch of perfectly good tea into Boston Harbor just so we could tell England to go fuck itself? I hate all the people who see what he’s doing and immediately rush to crush him for “DISRESPEKN DA FLAG” and whatnot. Or tell him that he should be grateful. Or that he should stick to #sports, or that his opinion doesn’t matter because he can’t beat Blaine Gabbert for the starting job. Or that he’s taking a dump on the military, even though he explicitly says it’s not about the military at all, but about domestic problems. ARE TROOPS THO. The same heroes the country frequently leaves out to dry after they get home.
People who claim Kaepernick hates America because he dares protest problems in America completely miss the point that you can love America and still think America could be better. I’m sure Kaepernick is very grateful for what he has gotten in life. You can love a thing and still want that thing to be better, and that doesn’t make you a member of ISIS. I criticize the NFL here a lot, but it’s because I love football, and I want to see football improved. I imagine Kaep is a proud American, but he thinks America could be better. You don’t have to agree with his point, but at least give him the benefit of listening to his argument first instead of jumping on him because DA FLAG. The Flag represents the ideal America; by sitting down, he’s saying America isn’t there yet. That’s a fair statement to me. No one in this country can believe this country is truly perfect. Everyone here thinks things could be improved. This is Kaep’s way of showing it about the parts he feels need fixing. America is not perfect and it’s not a crime to acknowledge that. If you insist nothing is wrong when things blatantly are, nothing will get fixed.
But seriously he looks like Sideshow Bob with that damn hair
And this is STILL nowhere near the dog’s abuse that Gabby Douglas got for not doing the whole hand-over-the-heart thing when she won gold in Rio.
Few things on that, because it boiled my piss at the time and I’ve been away since the Olympics ended:
• The heart is only SLIGHTLY left of centre, not squarely behind the left breast – unless you’re a mutant. Or maybe a Time Lord. And even then you should do the whole Bohemian Rhapsody crossed hands thing
• Douglas is from a military family – and she stood to attention; perfectly acceptable, I’d have thunk
• The women’s 4×100 relay team didn’t hand-nowhere-near-the-heart when they won gold – did THEY get any of this BS? I’m guessing not. Did anyone else who chose not to? Or was it just a bunch of MRA/SJWs being their usual dickhattish selves?
I agree with you there, but I do have to point out that this isn’t really an MRA/SJW issue. At least from what I can tell.
You’re supposed to stand at attention unless you’re wearing a hat. What she did was technically more correct than standing with her hand over her heart would be.
I don’t really have an opinion on Kaep. I think it’s an extremely important issue but the way he did it just created controversy around himself (see Rodney Harrison) and not the issue. Plus it’s just kinda something I think you should do.
I’m behind Kaepernick. I never thought he was wrong for sitting during the national anthem, but at first I did think he made his statement poorly. Over the last week, I’ve decided that, instead of it being ham-handed execution of a noble protest, he actually did get his message out.
I still don’t understand what sitting for the national anthem has to do with the military. He said he wouldn’t honor the flag of a country that maintains an injustice; he never said anything about the military and the military doesn’t run the government.
I’m not one of those people who will say “Oh, at first I thought it was disrespectful….” because as soon as I read the news, it made perfect sense to me. It’s the exact definition of a protest, and imo it’s a good one. If American people were stepping all over my race, I would be pretty damn pissed. I wouldn’t have enough courage to sit down during the national anthem though; people would just yell at me to stand anyway. Rather I would stand with them, and think about how disgusting the country treats my kind. I would feel forced to stand, even though I can’t be proud of a nation that includes some very racist people.
It’s a political thing. People are going to automatically stand by their respective side on the topic (a dumb topic as time goes by.) You can’t persuade a conservative minded man who loves Trump and drives very liberal that Kaepernick is right, and that Black lives matter, TOO. But I’ve also stayed away from the internet recently, I actually learned a lot here.
I kind of wish this would’ve been posted a couple of days earlier, so I could’ve pulled out of the Patreon subscription before it went by another time. Enjoy the last month, I guess.
In a week with actual stories pertaining to football (such as Bridgewater, Sanchez, Siemian, Las Vegas Raiders, etc.), I am cringing so hard that this actually made you go “Sure, I’ll be associated with this”. Really? Useless, ignorant political conversation about a backup QB, and the most overdone, useless tirade on a meaningless team name? With no humor? No wit? Terrible art? This is what TDP is about now?
Can you never do these fan comics things again? The past comic was kind of bad, but this one is terrible in every single aspect you can judge.
PS. “He is a practicing Christian”
Oh wow, I guess that must make him a better person. I forgot the stat… 90% of the people in jail are Christians?
This has always been a comic that talks and brings up the political and social issues surrounding the sport just as much as it’s been puns and Sexy Rexy jokes, so I’m not sure why it’s bothering you so much now after two comics I didn’t even make. I haven’t exactly been shy with my beliefs on other issues like Michael Sam or the Skins name. But if BIG UNCOMFORTABLE ISSUES on your comics make you unhappy, I can assure you none of the other scheduled guest comics are about that stuff.
I gave the guest artists free reign to do a comic on whatever they wanted. You could always make one too. The normal comics will resume mid-September.
Because it’s the most boring circlejerk around, and in not even a witty fashion. This is a downright TERRIBLE comic, with nothing insightful, or witty, to add to even start a conversation. It’s basically a “omg dae redskins terrible such hypocrisy” from a guy who is, ironically enough, investing his time on it.
You’ve had your political views on them, and I understand that. It’s your personal preference. I don’t always agree with what you say, and some times you are wrong, but hey I was a fan of the wit, art and talent you bring to your comics. But this shit? You support this shit? Just ew.
lol, “i supported your other stuff so kew, didn’t support this so ew”
Personally, I found the art style hilarious. It’s obviously something I don’t want to see regularly, but I got a good chuckle out of these drawings, especially the sneaky Vick faces.
lol @ “This is what TDP is about now?”
How much were you giving to his Patreon, because I want to give twice whatever it was just to spite you.
I think it was either 18 Japanese Yen or 1 Mexican Peśo
I agree, the art is terrible.
I can’t believe you would withdraw your subscription after two comics. I expect people to have a little more patience and be less impulsive than that, and I often find I give people the benefit of the doubt too often.
lol
He reminds me of Councilman Jamm from Parks and Rec.
Hey America, you just got jammed!
“People who claim Kaepernick hates America because he dares protest problems in America completely miss the point that you can love America and still think America could be better.”
This is how I feel. Kaepernick knows he isn’t suffering, but that’s his point. He’s using his publicity to speak on behalf of the underprivileged people of the U.S. How can anybody be upset about that? I understand that the National Anthem is supposed to BRING us together, but then in which case why aren’t we being brought together?
P.S. One of these days I’m gonna submit a guest comic.
I call submitting when Jay Gruden gets fired
Because we have divisive politicians in office who persistently use the race card to divide us, and have done nothing but exacerbate racial tensions for the past decade when they could have tried to move us past it. Instead, they continue to use these divisive politics for their own empowerment.
Until we have politicians who look at all Americans as Americans, not as blacks vs whites vs anyone, and men vs women it’s not going to get any better, but we keep putting the same career politicians in office.
And L7 is no more lol
Now we’re the TSAC: Teenage Second Account Commentators
I thought you were L7 reincarnated, but I didn’t even look at L7’s comment. I iz dum
Well to be fair L7 is me. I just renamed myself
Pretty much
Although what Rapelesburger, Sharper, and Vick did was fucked up, non of them said an effective ‘fuck you’ to our country. If Kaep wanted to protest on twitter or have ‘black lives matter’ on his shoes, that’s fine. But when you don’t at least stand up for the national anthem, that’s wrong. By not at least STANDING UP FOR YOUR COUNTRY, something he has the physical capacity to do, he’s saying that he doesn’t care about the sacrifice that millions of people have made to keep his country alive.
I think you have decided a bit too much what other people think.
Seriously, what does the Star Spangled Banner, or flag protocol in general, have to do with respect for the military? I truly do not understand how one connects to the other.
There is no inherent, tangible connection.
However, both have a strong patriotic connection. The flag is a representation of the country, as is the National Anthem. Protocol toward them are in place as semi-tangible proxies for physical respect for the country as a whole. Because of their associations throughout the last century and a half with the military, they have *also* become proxies for respect for the military, and supporting the military has become tied with patriotism as a whole. When it comes to the flag, I think the can be visually understood with the flag at Iwo Jima– it is easily the most recognized military image that we have, and the narrative of “Fighting and dying for the flag” resonates very easily with that picture.
It is *certainly* true that the military has an extremely intense relationship with the flag– you do not abandon the flag, you do not disrespect it, you do not dismiss it. That flag represents the country you are fighting (and dying) for. It is the tangible portion you can see, whether you are home or abroad. It is your tether, and it matters more than your life. It’s taken on a mythological importance, but that importance is very much ingrained in you when you wear the uniform.
Somewhat after WWI and especially after WWII, that aspect got pushed through harder on the civilians of the country. WWII was such a total war with everyone impacted, and we had such a huge number of Americans in the military, that it’s spillover to civilians afterward was kind of inevitable. Parades increased, the military was at a high point in its popularity, and at every single event, there were flags flag flags flag flags. They just can’t be separated any more, though there isn’t anything in specific that *demands* that this be so. It’s just the path our history has taken, and post-WWII cemented it that, while you could separate them, you’d have to lay one to rubble first.
In my opinion, this is one example of symbolism getting out of hand. As human beings we have created certain symbolic gestures to help us communicate and show certain emotions. That is helpful. But would the individuals who first thought up those gestures really be happy to know that they are used to harshly judge other people? That they are treated so rigidly that a person’s entire attitude of “love” or “hate” for something can supposedly be deduced from them? That they are used to make claims of absolutely certainty how someone feels about something in their heart?
There’s nothing wrong with symbolism, but some people take it too far to the point where they use it as a tool of judgment. It becomes almost divisive in nature, which is the opposite of what it was created to be in the first place.
Vick said an effective “fuck you” to a bunch of dogs, and Sharper and Vick said an effective (and actually literal) “fuck you” to a bunch of women. You glossed over their deeds so quickly and then directed all of your anger towards someone who sat during the national anthem.
That is what really, really disturbs me about this incident. There has been an inordinate amount of outrage over a man who did not stand for the anthem, when other far more serious issues do not get nearly as much outrage. It’s not that respecting the country and military isn’t important. It is. But it is blown out of proportion to obsessive religious-like levels. It seems to be the one and only thing that actually gets people mad enough to raise an outcry.
Vick is still getting shit for what he did. Remember what happened when Pittsburgh signed him?
I think the primary reason more isn’t said regarding Sharper is that, well… what is there to say? There will be a LOT to say if he continues to receive consideration for the Hall of Fame, but for now?
There’s no controversy. There’s no one saying that what he did was right. There’s no one saying, “Well, y’know… he kind of has a point…”
No one thinks that what Kaepernick did is worse than what Sharper did. There’s no real point in being outraged by it, because dude is going to prison for a long, long time, and justice is being met. There was a ton of outrage for Vick, and justice was met. Rapistburger still gets criticism and scrutiny, and still generates controversy, but to the best of my knowledge, there was never a conviction, and without that, it’s difficult for me to justify action against him, legal or otherwise. But there were definitely heated discussions at the time.
But right now, with Kaep… the conversation isn’t bigger because it’s a more serious misdeed than Sharper, or Vick, or Roethelsomething. It’s bigger because it’s actually controversial, because it was done in the spotlight, and because it’s something *some* people support and agree with, and something that *some* people find idiotic and/or offensive. That makes it a worthy conversation to have.
I mean, what do you want to be said about Sharper?
Dude 1: “Sharper’s an evil mofo who got what he deserves.”
Dude 2: “Yep.”
Conversation’s over.
vs.
Dude 1: “Kaepernick’s an idiot and unAmerican.”
Dude 2: “I actually think Kaepernick has a valid point, and think his actions exemplify an American tradition of protest.”
That conversation continues. It’s not that hard to understand, and it shouldn’t be either surprising or disturbing.
As a military family (wife and I are both combat vets, brother who served and a son named after a buddy who gave his life in the line of duty) I think we understand the meaning of selfless service towards an ideal we believe in. But Keap’s constitutionally protected right to protest by sitting his ass down is the least of my concerns.
He doesn’t represent me, he doesn’t speak for me and neither do the boo-birds dissing him.
Kap is still cashing that dirty American money, so I don’t give a shit about his opinions about America. He’s bad at football, and should focus on not being bad at football so he can keep cashing in that dirty American money.
HEY THATS NOT FAIR, I GOT IT REDUCED TO THAT NUMBER AFTER 3!
BECAUSE BEN WAS SUSPENDED FOR THREE GAMES, YOU SEE.
He was an asshole before all this went down (Seriously, what non-asshole person is so enamored with their biceps that they feel the need to kiss them?). He’s still an asshole now, and his ignorance is on display for all to see. Wanting to bring attention to a very real issue of police murdering civilians is one thing, but you can’t cry about systemic oppression in the US and then wear a Fidel Castro shirt.
I was hoping you’d stay away from the whole kaepernick thing.
The comment section is AIDS today
We’re offically worse than uproxx
There’s a lot to say on this issue. If you want the result of my studying of the issue in Seattle particular, I can toss out an essay.
I’m not upset about Kaep particularly, because he’s not worth getting upset about. His message identifies problems, but misidentifies both causes of and solutions to those problems. His message isn’t even authentic– it’s been spoonfed to him by his girlfriend for the last year~, and it has all the depth and insight of fog on a mirror. I’m kind of sad for Kaepernick, because for the first time in his public persona, he’s inauthentic. He’s making a bold gesture, but he doesn’t have the conviction or the lived-experience of a Jim Brown or a Mohamed Ali to be taken seriously. He doesn’t bring something new to the conversation, and he doesn’t have the length of study on it to even really grasp what he’s doing or what he’s saying.
He’s just a dude in a position to be heard, saying what his girlfriend wants him to say, and he still wants that tail. He’s being used, and unfortunately, it’s for a message not worth hearing.
First of all, Kaepernick is not a practicing Christian anymore. He converted to Islam a few months ago due to the influence of his new girlfriend. Does that really matter? Ultimately no, but then I wasn’t the one using erroneous information in Kaep’s defence.
Second, I have no issue with Kaep doing what he did. He has the right to express his opinion. I similarly have no issue with the people calling him an unpatriotic berk. They, too, have the right to express their opinion. That’s the beauty of free speech. It protects you from legal action against you for what you say. It does not protect you from social backlash should you not be careful with your words. The media reports what sells and they ignore the facts that don’t fit their story. This is happening to Kaep and it’s sad to see. He essentially called Hill/Trump Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee and that has gotten very little coverage that I’ve seen.
Third, I understand the people who say Kaep should pipe down and focus on football. He’s making about 14.7 million dollars. That’s second-tier starter money. He is not making playing to the level of that money. As someone who is making millions and not giving the people paying him their money’s worth, as a matter of professional ethics and respect, he should try his hardest to do so. By the way, I don’t just mean ownership here. At the end of the day, the players’ money comes from the fans who consume the NFL as a product. In any case, any time he’s spending on something other than football could be spent getting better at football. If that sounds like an unreasonable demand, that would be because it is. But the reality is that you’re underperforming on a multi-million dollar contract, so the expectation is that you’ll keep your head down and try to do better rather than making waves and calling attention to yourself.
Fourth, with regards to the comparisons of the situations, I don’t think that’s fair. Especially not the players who’ve been accused of but not sentenced for sexual assault. Kaepernick is on that list, you’ll recall. The charges were later dropped. Each situation is different, but in all of them, we don’t really know and “probably” is mighty unfair both to the victim if they got away with it or the player if they are innocent. Best to just stay away from the subject.
Finally, I do think Kaep has an “easy” out of this situation. Like everyone else in football, he can silence his critics by going out on the field and balling. If Kaep looks like he did in 2012 rather than 2014, nobody will be talking about it six months from now.
Also, if it sounds like I’m talking out of both sides of my mouth, that’s only because I keep going back and forth on this topic. I do believe his heart is in the right place but I don’t know whether I agree with his protest or not.
The Kaep-conversion is a maybe. I think it’s *likely*, but he hasn’t actually said anything about converting, and it doesn’t seem to be a motivational force in his behavior (well, not his religion– his girlfriend’s, yes, and he’s basically just her mouthpiece now, but… whatever. Guys have done dumber things for tail).
I never said it mattered. In fact, I said the exact opposite. The fact that he hasn’t been denying the rumours is a bit telling in and of itself, but I still think it’s not a relevant issue. I would like to know why it is that you insist that he’s just a mouthpiece. I think it’s possible that he, as the adopted child of a middle-class suburban white couple, was never aware of the struggles of inner-city African-Americans and his girlfriend’s involvement opened his eyes to the situation. Maybe I’m just naive, but I think it doesn’t have to be about the poon. I wouldn’t fault him even if it were, though.
Why do I think he’s just a mouthpiece?
Because the ideas are identical to hers in not only subject but in content, and because the style of them smacks so much of collegiate conformity that it flies in the face of the authenticity that has been a trademark of Kaepernick’s existence. Becoming made aware of a problem is great– but her vies have not evolved beyond where they were when she started dating Kaep, and his have not varried an inch from hers.
Given how astonishingly ignorant she is about them (which is lock-step for most Millennials on these very real issues), I find it unlikely that someone as intelligent as Kaepernick has independently arrived at the same conclusions after carefully considering the evidence, weighing it against conflicting opinion, and reevaluating it in the face of new (and perhaps even contradictory) evidence.
Certainly the importance of the statement he is making deserves far more scholarship than the surface-level reactionism he has so far presented. And as far as tone, that very much fits his girlfriend’s MO.
I could be wrong. But the order of events and the cultism of collegiate-mentality Millennial philosophy fits the pattern.
I see. In that case, I find it hard to disagree with you.
As someone who thinks negatively of patriotism, I hold nothing against what Kaepernick did. I disagree with his stance based on who he’s aligning himself with, but I don’t find anything wrong with what he’s doing. It doesn’t change my opinion of Kaepernick. The ability to protest doesn’t make anyone a better QB.
You might want to put a sensor on me so yeah…
Kaep can go f**k himself
The timing of this makes me wonder if part of this protest is Kaep knowing he may very well be cut before the season. This way, he can concievably play up his stock as “a brave, but controversial, figure” cut for standing up for his beliefs, and not for being “objectively worse than Blaine Gabbert.”
“Look at me I vote democrat that makes me morally superior to anyone who disagrees with me for any reason!”
Neck yourself
I think his actions last night showed a much greater self-awareness than I gave him credit for yesterday. He said he wanted to find a way to continue his protest without it bleeding into a perceived anti-American or anti-military stance and I think he did.
Seems to me he picked a very passive-aggressive way to go about protesting. “Imma do this thing and then when people notice I can say stuff”. What if no one had noticed? What if all it got was a collective eye-roll about meathead football players?
If you want mindspace on an issue like this, if you want to be an agent of change, lead from the front.
The act itself I could care less about, I just don’t think it’s a very effective means of protest.
This shitty art style reminds me heavily of a YouTube channel called PilotRedSun. This guy makes intentionally horrible animations. It’s quite beautiful tolook at, honestly.