Colin Kaepernick: Power and Responsibility

As a self-diagnosed hopeless political junkie, I find I have little time left for sports. It’s just never been “my thing”.

Instead of 3 hours of Monday night football, I find more enjoyment in history, current events or the Federalist Papers. Now, while this does make me somewhat of a pariah at Super Bowl Parties (I mainly attend for the artichoke dip), it gives me a unique perspective.

I know next to nothing about football, and a whole lot about America.

Therefore you can be sure I hold no grudge against Colin Kaepernick or any player or team for that matter. I don’t have a dog in the football fight.

My concern with this is celebrities’ apparent unwillingness to educate themselves prior to spewing forth opinions and views with no basis in truth.

Abusing the National Platform

My concern is high visibility celebrities running their mouths without an ounce of knowledge regarding actual facts. My concern, nay, my boiling fury, is America's “idols”, respected and adored by millions, hating on the very nation and freedoms that have granted them the success that allows them their national platform.

Colin Kaepernick is merely the latest addition to an ever-growing list of famous, cognitively impaired individuals who capture the national spotlight with a statement or an action that goes to the edge of insanity and then jumps off headfirst.

Matt Damon, Johnny Depp, George Clooney, Natalie Portman, Liam Neeson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Michael Jordan, Kanye West, and the list goes on and on. Anti-Second Amendment, global warming evangelists, Black Lives Matter proponents, Obama and Clinton supporters/donors/fundraisers/voters. Hollywood is full of them, as is nearly every other arena of entertainment, news media, and sports.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Everyone has the right to be wrong. However, the disgusting part of this is celebrities abusing this right and utilizing their national platform to warp the minds of their fans.

Facts Before Opinion

In other words, before you go saying that America ought to have a mandatory gun buyback program like Australia, (*coughMattDamoncough*) maybe you should take the time to understand the original intent of the Second Amendment, how it is the right designed to protect all our other rights, how our Founding Fathers realized that even if government didn’t respect that right it didn’t negate the fact that it is still your God-given right.

Before Mark Ruffalo, Leonardo Dicaprio, and Cameron Diaz start lecturing us “regular people” about how we must limit our “carbon output” in order to “save the planet”, perhaps they should do a modicum of research on the subject. If they did, they would find that there is no consensus among scientists, the climate is constantly changing and man has little to nothing to do with it, and it’s never government’s place to mandate behavior based on unproven “science”.

(Side note: Seriously, if you’re going to lecture us on “carbon output” there Leo, at least get rid of one of your multitude of houses, or start taking public transportation instead of your private jet. Come on, do your part.)

Before you publicly state that your supporting one hypocritical liberal Democrat or another because it’s the chic, popular thing to do, do your homework. Understand the basic purpose of government, understand what it means to support and uphold the Constitution, understand the proper role of the federal government and how your vote will affect those around you and generations to come.

It’s really the least you can do.

Kaepernick

"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color." ~Colin Kaepernick

Through his social media activity, it has become apparent that Kaepernick is parroting the beliefs of Black Lives Matter and is in support of groups like the Black Panthers. The wonderful and talented Katie Pavlich expertly points out what Black Lives Matter really is: “a racist, violent hate group that promotes the execution of police officers.” (read the whole article here)

Kaepernick decided to use his national platform to send a message. A message that America is racist, cops are killing innocent people of color, and no one should honor or support a country like that. Despite a complete absence of facts, despite the fact that his beliefs are based solely in lies, Kaepernick decided to make a statement.

Great Power, Great Responsibility

Colin Kaepernick’s actions are grossly irresponsible. If your average citizen felt the way Kaepernick does, and chose not to stand during the National Anthem, nobody would bat an eye. However, Kaepernick has an audience. Celebrities across America have an audience. And with an audience comes a duty.

There is no doubt that celebrities have an enormous amount of power to influence people.  “With great power comes great responsibility” may sound cliche, however, it encapsulates what is wrong with celebrities in America today. A national platform is a wonderful thing that celebrities have and can employ for a number of good things.

However, with that national platform comes a duty and a responsibility. A duty to seek truth and use your influence only for good. A responsibility to do your homework, understand the facts, and never say anything just because it’s the popular thing to say.

Colin Kaepernick, along with a long list of celebrities, has failed in this duty that accompanies his superstar status. And sadly, I don’t see that state of affairs changing anytime soon.

Therefore, it’s up to us, the audience, to be even more dedicated to truth. Even more skeptical of what celebrities say until we can verify. Even more fervent in our pursuit of facts and evidence.

Truth is always worth the effort.

Truth is always worth the pains necessary to bring it to light.

Jonathan Paine

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