School Days

Here it is already. The Night before the first day of school. Summer, for all intents and purposes, is over. The new sneakers are ready to wear and bags are packed. Heavier than I think mine ever was. There are so many items to get on the new school year lists, that you need a UHaul to carry them from the store.
Then half the stuff never gets used, and its put away until next school year, unless its needed sooner.

I can remember back to the days leading up to the new school year. My mom would take us out to the mall, either Summit Park or Boulevard (the Galleria of its day!), and we would pick out shoes, and clothes. I always had to go to the "Husky" section. My mother would then embarrass me by checking to make sure the "crotchett" was not tight. Fun times. I would wait for that first day so I could be dressed top to bottom with my new duds, capped off with the shoes. Yes, we usually wore shoes and not sneakers. Those were saved for gym. Now, it's sneakers. Are they even referred to as sneakers anymore? What are they? I guess they still are.

We didn't carry the book bags until college. We were self contained until sixth grade, and then in seventh, they tried these hideous plastic briefcases with clear lids and orange bottoms. Wilson peeps, do you remember those? They were not very practical. Schedules and homework wasn't what it is now. At least it didn't seem so.

So now, my kids are getting ready for their first day. New sneakers and t-shirts ready to wear. Supplies packed into book bags. It still takes me back to my first days, and sometimes I wish I was still going.

You Either Stand For Something, or You Sit For...Something?

    The word protest defined:

noun

ˈprōˌtest/

1. 
   

1. 

a statement or action expressing disapproval of or objection to something.

This week, the news has been all over the Colin Kaepernick situation. The San Francisco quarterback has created a stir by sitting through the national anthem before the game. He has been vilified. He has been praised. Mostly vilified. His reasoning is to bring attention to the plight of minorities in this country, AS WELL as veterans who are not receiving the proper health care that they deserve. For those who say he is spitting in the face of veterans, he is more or less saying the veterans themselves are being spit on by the very government they fought and died for. Agree or disagree, you cannot deny the fact that most any day in the news, there is a story about a veteran being denied treatment, or like last week, committing suicide because of the that denial. His protest doesn't involve physical injury or death to anyone. Past protests of different kinds cannot always say that. What he did, and is doing, is offensive to many. How dare he disrespect our country and flag. He takes the money given him without regrets. Why not just do a television spot or donate some of his millions to help his cause? Why? Because that would not draw the attention. Which is truly what a protest is meant to do. Unfortunately, no one is talking about that. Only the fact that he is sitting during the anthem. Which is unfortunate. And sad. But people ARE talking. And isn't that the point of a protest?

I've heard many opinions this week on the radio. Many veterans. Some were against. Many made the point that they fought and died for him to have the right to do what he's doing. People may not like to hear that. Sadly, his protest will most likely be remembered as disrespecting the flag, and not bringing any more attention to the problems that do exist in this country. There will always be racists and bigots. For many, it is handed down for generations like a family heirloom or grandmas' prize quilt. We live in a country where the majority party in Congress vowed to deny Obama anything and make him a one term president. Regardless of what may be best for the country. When our own elected leaders act in this way, how can we believe in change? Many will say this is a liberal thing. Or that I'm just another "libtard", a word which I abhor for a variety of reasons. This isn't a liberal thing. It's a human thing. 

I'm not here to try and agree or disagree with everything he has said or done. Had he been protesting over a hate for our country? He can give back his salary and go. Of course.  Is there a race/religion problem in this country? Yes. Is there a problem on police forces? Yes. But not all. For every "bad" cop, there are a dozen or more honest and hard working officers. Without them we would be in serious trouble. There are times where there is more to the story. Like anything, you either choose to be open minded or closed off. While what he did is considered disrespectful, it was peaceful and he has that right. Given to him by all those who have fought and died for this great country. If I had done the same thing at a Bills game, I might have gotten yelled at. Peanuts thrown at me. Maybe even a beer dumped on me. I can guarantee though, there would be no tv stations waiting to talk to me, or newspapers interviewing me. Kapaernick had the national stage. He used it. Now, I feel that since his point was made, he could begin to stand again for the anthem. Sitting will not make the message heard anymore than it was. I'm sure it's a distraction to his team, which should be taken into consideration. 

So, you can dislike the act. But you shouldn't dislike the message. I have the utmost respect for the men and women of the military. It is because of them I am able to write this and post it without fear. Colin Kapearnick is not a traitor for exercising that same right by peacefully protesting something he feels strongly about.