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Why is Kaep protesting symbols of the federal government -- the flag and anthem -- when the text of his interview focused on abuses by state and local officials (police)? The federal government is his biggest ally in this cause. It's the DOJ that leads investigations into civil rights abuses by local agencies (pattern-or-practice, https://www.justice.gov/crt/conduct-law-enforcement-agencies ). It's the federal government that honors MLK through law and flag practice ( http://www.legion.org/flag/code ). It's the federal government that has advanced equality in the last 50 years through Supreme Court decisions, executive action, and legislation. To many people, it really does matter that the flag is a federal symbol ( http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2016/08/29/steeler-on-kaepernick-sitting-during-natl-anthem-minorities-are-fighting-for-the-flag/ ). It's state and local governments, rather, that have been the problem during Kaep's lifetime ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrFOb_f7ubw ). By protesting the flag and anthem, he puts himself in the same camp as the confederate flag / 'War of Northern Aggression' crew: broadly-ranging anger against the federal government. I support the right of both to their freedom of expression: lovely thing, our Constitution. Kaep, myself, and most right thinking people agree that systemic police racism and brutality is horrible. Protesting the feds, Pizza Hut, baseball, tiny dogs in purses, or any number of random things is not a sensible or useful way of bringing about change. It's poor symbolism, and he would be well-served to redirect his protest.
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Aug 30, 2016 00:49
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Cruel and Unusual posted:Well, protest is about pushing your allies as much as it is about challenging your enemies. Should MLK have held off on the "I Have a Dream" speech because Kennedy was president? I only wish the dialogue was at that level. I love MLK's speeches, about 12 years ago I bought a set of them on CD and have often listened to them on MLK day. Check out the text: http://www.drmartinlutherkingjr.com/ihaveadream.htm He often mentions individual repressive locales. "Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair." His wonderful philosophy of non-violent direct action had specific tests to be met that are largely forgotten by some protesters today: http://www.thekingcenter.org/archive/document/address-mlk-american-jewish-committee (see pages 4/5) Even as a young college student ( http://www.drmartinlutherkingjr.com/thepurposeofeducation.htm ), MLK valued clear thought and specific facts more than general broad-ranging propaganda: "To save man from the morass of propaganda, in my opinion, is one of the chief aims of education. Education must enable one to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal, and the facts from the fiction." Kaep didn't mention anything about his allies in federal government in his interview. He broadly associated police with an oppressive government, which he is protesting.
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Aug 30, 2016 01:01
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Cruel and Unusual posted:MLK pointed out specific examples of injustice. He did not spend his time listing all the good things the government did, for balance. Neither did Thomas Jefferson include another section in the Declaration of Independence listing all the good things the British had done for the colonies. MLK did dedicate two of the first four paragraphs in that speech to good things the government had done, but they were not being fully realized by local governments. TJ is a weird analogy to make because the DoI was specifically opposed to the British government. The entire point of my first post was that Kaep's gesture is opposing an entity that is actually his ally; he is missing the mark by grouping all levels of government as one. He ends up opposing the federal government much as in the same way as racists that still fly the confederate flag.
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Aug 30, 2016 01:35
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Cruel and Unusual posted:I really don't think that local police are looking at this protest and thinking that Kaep's leaving them off the hook. Sure, but he's insulting Obama and Loretta Lynch's DOJ. The DOJ has been very active in the past few years to help make progress on this exact issue.
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Aug 30, 2016 02:15
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Mel Mudkiper posted:y'all mother fuckers falling for the worst concern troll in awhile Nope, sorry, sincere disagreement. Amazingly, it sometimes happens on the internet!
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Aug 30, 2016 02:42
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