by John Stevenson
Here's the sequel to "Kaepernick---Dissing the
Anthem," which discussed the QB's
disrespect of our national anthem, our flag, and our nation. And that his anti-American butt plant was applauded
in the media and sadly was even condoned by the President of the United
States.
In the original essay, I
mentioned that I had been propelled into researching before writing (always a
wise approach) and that my research had found there was more to this story than
was revealed in the early reporting.
It turns out that, while
discussing his views and his reasoning at a post-game interview, Kaepernick
presented himself wearing a t-shirt featuring the image of the renowned champion
of human rights, Fidel Castro. Now, you
might get away with wearing such symbolism if you were shopping at the mall or
playing catch in the park. But
Kaepernick chose to wear that garb while publicly slamming America, the oppressor
of minorities.
There are some among us who
escaped from Castro's clutches. Let's
see how they feel about Kaepernick's
choice of costume.
Jose "Pepe" Hernandez,
of the Cuban American National Foundation and a Bay of Pigs veteran, said
Kaepernick's "... actions are, at best, tremendously ignorant and
irresponsible." He continued:
"As a major sports figure, for him to select the image of Fidel Castro to
represent his opposition to what is happening in the United States...is
thoughtless and an insult to all those who...have suffered the human rights
abuses of the Castro dictatorship."
Hernandez pointed out that Castro caused "deaths, disappearances,
imprisonment of people and separation of families."
Columnist Miguel Perez offered:
"I respect people's right to protest. At the same time, you identify yourself with a
monster like Fidel Castro, you lose all credibility, and you show you're
basically an ignoramus." Perez
continued: "Does he know what
Fidel Castro has been like to the Cuban people?
Does he think the Cuban people, of all races, have the right to protest
like he does? Because obviously if
anyone there, including a Cuban athlete, ever protested, they would
disappear. A Cuban athlete would never
get away with...refusing to stand for the anthem in protest of Cuba's treatment
of its people."
Orlando sports columnist George
Diaz: "There's no question that racial inequality needs to be a topic...in
the United States. But that gets us back
to Cuba, where such conversations can get you to prison." And "I find it personally insulting that
Kaepernick is oblivious...that Castro is one of the most vile dictators of
modern times with extensive human rights violations."
Sergio Sixto was imprisoned and
tortured by Castro. "...more than
100,000 people...died in Cuba because of the Castros. There are three million
in exile...If he would know what it's like living in Cuba, he would know what
it's like to be an oppressed black man."
And "If he had said anything bad about the government or the
Castros in protest of real discrimination and oppression, he might have found
himself in prison like I did for trying to speak my mind and bring about
change."
Human Rights Watch: "The
Cuban government...relies on long-term prison sentences to punish
critics...Other repressive tactics...include beatings, public acts of shaming,
and termination of employment."
In his protest against racial injustice
in the U.S., Kaepernick managed to align himself with a ruthless dictator who
would never for a moment have tolerated any such protest. Personally, I encourage him to go to Cuba and
protest the Castro regime's brutality and violations of human rights.
Possibly Kaepernick actually
understands and agrees with the Castro regime's treatment of dissidents. This interpretation would be indicated by the
caption on his Fidel t-shirt: Like Minds
Think Alike.
Or
possibly Kaepernick is just, as Miguel Perez said, an ignoramus.
