Colin Kaepernick Is Righter Than You Know: The National Anthem Is a Celebration of Slavery

[nhboy]

"Before a preseason game on Friday, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” When he explained why, he only spoke about the present: “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. … There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

Twitter then went predictably nuts, with at least one 49ers fan burning Kaepernick’s jersey.
Almost no one seems to be aware that even if the U.S. were a perfect country today, it would be bizarre to expect African-American players to stand for “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Why? Because it literally celebrates the murder of African-Americans.

Few people know this because we only ever sing the first verse. But read the end of the third verse and you’ll see why “The Star-Spangled Banner” is not just a musical atrocity, it’s an intellectual and moral one, too:

No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.


​

“The Star-Spangled Banner,” Americans hazily remember, was written by Francis Scott Key about the Battle of Fort McHenry in Baltimore during the War of 1812. But we don’t ever talk about how the War of 1812 was a war of aggression that began with an attempt by the U.S. to grab Canada from the British Empire."

More here: https://theintercept.com/2016/08/28/colin-kaepernick-is-righter-than-you-know-the-national-anthem-is-a-celebration-of-slavery/

 

[GURPS]

“The Star-Spangled Banner,” Americans hazily remember, was written by Francis Scott Key about the Battle of Fort McHenry in Baltimore during the War of 1812. But we don’t ever talk about how the War of 1812 was a war of aggression that began with an attempt by the U.S. to grab Canada from the British Empire."

The immediate causes of the War of 1812 were a series of economic sanctions taken by the British and French against the US as part of the Napoleonic Wars and American outrage at the British practice of impressment, especially after the Chesapeake incident of 1807. In response to the 1806 British Orders in Council, which crippled American trade, the US (under Jefferson) first tried various retaliatory embargoes. These embargoes hurt the US far more than they did Britain, angering American citizens and providing support to War Hawks in Congress like Henry Clay. In 1812, with President Madison in office, Congress declared war against the British.

http://www.sparknotes.com/history/american/warof1812/summary.html


Origins of the War of 1812

There were several immediate stated causes for the U.S. declaration of war: First, a series of trade restrictions introduced by Britain to impede American trade with France, a country with which Britain was at war (the U.S. contested these restrictions as illegal under international law);[2] second, the impressment (forced recruitment) of U.S. seamen into the Royal Navy; third, the British military support for American Indians who were offering armed resistance to the expansion of the American frontier to the Northwest; fourth, a possible desire on the part of the United States to annex Canada.[3] An implicit but powerful motivation for the Americans was the desire to uphold national honor in the face of what they considered to be British insults (such as the Chesapeake affair).[4]

[clip]

Annexation

More controversy is the question whether an American war goal was to permanently acquire Canadian lands (especially western Ontario), or whether it was planned to seize the area temporarily as a bargaining chip. The American desire for Canadian land has been a staple in Canadian public opinion since the 1830s, and was much discussed among historians before 1940, but has become less popular since then. The idea was first developed by Marxist historian Louis Hacker and refined by diplomatic specialist Julius Pratt.[24] In 1925, Pratt argued that Western Americans were incited to war by the prospect of seizing Canada.[25] Pratt's argument supported the belief of many Canadians, especially in Ontario, where fear of American expansionism was a major political element. To this day the notion still survives among Canadians.[26]

In 2010 American historian Alan Taylor examined the political dimension of the annexation issue as Congress debated whether to declare war in 1811-12. The Federalist party was strongly opposed to war and to annexation, as were the northeastern states. The majority in Congress was held by the Jeffersonian Republican party, which split on the issue. One faction wanted to permanently expel Britain and annex Canada. John Randolph of Roanoke, representing Virginia, commented, "Agrarian greed not maritime right urges this war. We have heard but one word - like the whipporwill's one monotonous tone: Canada! Canada! Canada!"[27]The other faction, based in the South, said that acquiring new territory in the north would give the northern states too much power, and opposed the incorporation into Canada of a Catholic population which it viewed as "unfit by faith, language and illiteracy for republican citizenship." The Senate held a series of debates, and twice voted on proposals to explicitly endorse annexation, neither of which passed, although the second one only failed because of a proviso stating that Canada could be returned to British rule after begin annexed. War was declared with no mention of annexation although widespread support existed among the War Hawks for it.

Violations of American rights

The long wars between Britain and France (1793–1815) led to repeated complaints by the U.S. that both powers violated America's right as a neutral to trade with both sides. Furthermore, Americans complained loudly that British agents in Canada were supplying munitions to hostile Native American tribes living in United States territory.

 

[Millburn]

"Before a preseason game on Friday, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” When he explained why, he only spoke about the present: “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. … There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

Twitter then went predictably nuts, with at least one 49ers fan burning Kaepernick’s jersey.
Almost no one seems to be aware that even if the U.S. were a perfect country today, it would be bizarre to expect African-American players to stand for “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Why? Because it literally celebrates the murder of African-Americans.

Few people know this because we only ever sing the first verse. But read the end of the third verse and you’ll see why “The Star-Spangled Banner” is not just a musical atrocity, it’s an intellectual and moral one, too:

No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.


​

“The Star-Spangled Banner,” Americans hazily remember, was written by Francis Scott Key about the Battle of Fort McHenry in Baltimore during the War of 1812. But we don’t ever talk about how the War of 1812 was a war of aggression that began with an attempt by the U.S. to grab Canada from the British Empire."

More here: https://theintercept.com/2016/08/28/colin-kaepernick-is-righter-than-you-know-the-national-anthem-is-a-celebration-of-slavery/

Sorry on this we agree to disagree. He's an arss he should be let go but they won't becuase that's what he wants to play somewhere else .He is a burnt up talentless hunk of dog crap .

He can go to a protest rally he can release a statment ,he can donate all his over paid money but this is BS.

 

[This_person]

No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
​

So, a line in the song uses the word "slave", and you think that means it is a celebration of slavery?

Wow.

It is a song about how America saves the slave. In 1812 it was illegal (for many years at that point) to import slaves into the United States. Slaves in the United States were being freed and either staying in the south or moving north once they were freed.

Read the whole third verse. It's almost completely counter to this article.

 

[Hijinx]

"Before a preseason game on Friday, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” When he explained why, he only spoke about the present: “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. … There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

Twitter then went predictably nuts, with at least one 49ers fan burning Kaepernick’s jersey.
Almost no one seems to be aware that even if the U.S. were a perfect country today, it would be bizarre to expect African-American players to stand for “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Why? Because it literally celebrates the murder of African-Americans.

Few people know this because we only ever sing the first verse. But read the end of the third verse and you’ll see why “The Star-Spangled Banner” is not just a musical atrocity, it’s an intellectual and moral one, too:

No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.


​

“The Star-Spangled Banner,” Americans hazily remember, was written by Francis Scott Key about the Battle of Fort McHenry in Baltimore during the War of 1812. But we don’t ever talk about how the War of 1812 was a war of aggression that began with an attempt by the U.S. to grab Canada from the British Empire."

More here: https://theintercept.com/2016/08/28/colin-kaepernick-is-righter-than-you-know-the-national-anthem-is-a-celebration-of-slavery/

Gee Wasn't the star spangled banner the flag that was flown during the Civil War that freed the slaves.?
Guess not.

The war that so many white people died in so that blacks could move to Chicago and kill each other.

OK Let me really get in trouble. What is it with these half breeds like Obama and this football playing a-hole.

Obama raised by white grandparents and becomes a racist bigot. Now this clown thrown away by black parents and adopted by white parents.
Both given the best this country can give. Great education , both millionaires, and they both hate the country that gave this to them.

There are blacks all over this country who are working and successful business people, rich entrepeneurs, and living high off the hog., and this a-hole feels sorry for ghetto thugs who shoot at police and get killed.You don't see white people rioting when a white drug dealer or thug gets killed.
White people even poor ones do not loot and start riots when a disaster strikes. I speak of the latest disaster in Lousianna where the people banded together and saved each other when no one else was there to do it,. and Obama was on the golf course. I watched a lot of the Cajun navy rescuing their neighbors.Most of those people I saw were white rescuing blacks.

So call me a racist I don't give a damn, but do not give this racist sh1thead a pass. If I am racist this guy is racist times 10.

 

[GURPS]

Race Baiter Colin Kaepernick Is Wrong: The National Anthem Is NOT a Celebration of Slavery


The verse the leftist are referring to in the song is not an insult to black people or even to American slaves. The British Army almost exclusively used Hessian (German) mercenaries to fight the War of 1812. In rare instances they used units comprised of escaped bondsmen or freeman (but for the purposes- mercenary) African-American troops, as well.

The words “hirelings and slaves” is a dismissive reference to the British forces as a whole- not to any individual black unit. And to wish an invading army “the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave” and to use violent imagery in the midst of war is perfectly understandable- especially after they just burned and looted down your country’s capital to the ground (Washington DC) and beat you in battle and have imprisoned you.

“Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave”

This is written in middle English, the English of Shakespeare, John Milton, and the Kings James Bible, unless you’re scholar of middle English it’s difficult to understand. This is what I understand. Their blood has washed away their dirty past deeds, but no refuge to save their indentured worker and slave from the terror for running away or from death. You must remember that these men where British Citizens, also American English is a form of modern English that is totally different grammatically from the English, English; you have totally skip the second stanza in order to make a racially bias point.

 

[Hijinx]

Race Baiter Colin Kaepernick Is Wrong: The National Anthem Is NOT a Celebration of Slavery


The verse the leftist are referring to in the song is not an insult to black people or even to American slaves. The British Army almost exclusively used Hessian (German) mercenaries to fight the War of 1812. In rare instances they used units comprised of escaped bondsmen or freeman (but for the purposes- mercenary) African-American troops, as well.

The words “hirelings and slaves” is a dismissive reference to the British forces as a whole- not to any individual black unit. And to wish an invading army “the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave” and to use violent imagery in the midst of war is perfectly understandable- especially after they just burned and looted down your country’s capital to the ground (Washington DC) and beat you in battle and have imprisoned you.

“Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave”

This is written in middle English, the English of Shakespeare, John Milton, and the Kings James Bible, unless you’re scholar of middle English it’s difficult to understand. This is what I understand. Their blood has washed away their dirty past deeds, but no refuge to save their indentured worker and slave from the terror for running away or from death. You must remember that these men where British Citizens, also American English is a form of modern English that is totally different grammatically from the English, English; you have totally skip the second stanza in order to make a racially bias point.

Don't confuse them with facts.

 

[tommyjo]

"Before a preseason game on Friday, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” When he explained why, he only spoke about the present: “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. … There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

Twitter then went predictably nuts, with at least one 49ers fan burning Kaepernick’s jersey.
Almost no one seems to be aware that even if the U.S. were a perfect country today, it would be bizarre to expect African-American players to stand for “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Why? Because it literally celebrates the murder of African-Americans.

Few people know this because we only ever sing the first verse. But read the end of the third verse and you’ll see why “The Star-Spangled Banner” is not just a musical atrocity, it’s an intellectual and moral one, too:

No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.


​

“The Star-Spangled Banner,” Americans hazily remember, was written by Francis Scott Key about the Battle of Fort McHenry in Baltimore during the War of 1812. But we don’t ever talk about how the War of 1812 was a war of aggression that began with an attempt by the U.S. to grab Canada from the British Empire."

More here: https://theintercept.com/2016/08/28/colin-kaepernick-is-righter-than-you-know-the-national-anthem-is-a-celebration-of-slavery/

Bullsh!t

Your source sucks....and does a wonderful job of cherry picking two lines out of context. Here are the complete final two paragraphs (remember this was written as a poem):


And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with vict’ry and peace may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto - “In God is our trust,”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Changes the whole meaning when you post the entirety doesn't it? If Kapernick wants to sit...let him sit...without pay at home watching his team play.

 

[SamSpade]

Changes the whole meaning when you post the entirety doesn't it? If Kapernick wants to sit...let him sit...without pay at home watching his team play.

Thanks, although I've found that this area has no shortage of people familiar with the War of 1812, the Battle of Baltimore or Francis Scott Key.
What surprised me was that the writer is not some nitwit blogger with no writing credentials, but an experienced journalist who seriously ought to know better.

But I've also noticed that just about anyone is capable of having tunnel vision when they either take issue with something they feel strongly about or write against something they profoundly dislike.
It's hard to objective.

 

[Larry Gude]

Not to give Kaerpnick any credit because I have zero impression that he knows a damn thing about the Anthem nor could give a reasoned argument for his views but, not to put too fine a point on it, Key was writing about the land of the free...for some people. I know everyone prefers their country, right or wrong, that, for some reason, to take into account historical facts is pee pee in the punch bowl rather than knowledge and context for the brain and moving forward, but the twit has a point whether he can make it or not. We chose to use it as the national anthem after the civil war. Woodrow Wilson, an undisputed white supremacist, was indispensable in it's elevation as our national anthem.

 

[Larry Gude]

If Kapernick wants to sit...let him sit...without pay at home watching his team play.

It is absurd that we give ONE #### about this kid or the NFL past whatever entertainment value we get out of it. Keep in mind that the NFL is a government approved monopoly. That they try and sell us 'competition' is merely the first laugh about the thing. Also keep in mind that the kid works in a business where his boss is known as his owner. The NFL should be thought of as one of our least 'America' enterprises. The deeper story is that, in a lot of ways, it frankly is one of our most American and not for good reasons. It's no 'land' of the free. It is one of the most tightly controlled, limited operations we have. They enrich, celebrate, buy, sell and trade human beings. Them slaves got it pretty good and most are very happy to have it. They like the plantation system that is the NFL.

 

[glhs837]

Hmmm, pretty sure it's owner of the club, not the people. Last place I worked, there were two owners, nobody referred to them as the owners of the employees

 

[Larry Gude]

Hmmm, pretty sure it's owner of the club, not the people. Last place I worked, there were two owners, nobody referred to them as the owners of the employees

I won't assume you don't much keep up worth pro sports. Clearly, you don't. The players speak of 'our owner' all the time. You ever been traded? Or 'cut' because you lost a step? It's gladiator crap and we love it. Least wee can do is call it what it is.

 

[vraiblonde]

Woodrow Wilson, an undisputed white supremacist, was indispensable in it's elevation as our national anthem.

Oh, well, then that settles it.

 

[Larry Gude]

Oh, well, then that settles it.

I don't suppose we could agree that FSK knew slavery was legal in the US when he wrote 'land of the free'?

 

[Restitution]

I won't assume you don't much keep up worth pro sports. Clearly, you don't. The players speak of 'our owner' all the time. You ever been traded? Or 'cut' because you lost a step? It's gladiator crap and we love it. Least wee can do is call it what it is.

Ignorant rant of the month awardee....

 

[Larry Gude]

Ignorant rant of the month awardee....

You know how people have safety checks, as long as the thing triggers certain feed back, you know everything is working well?

You're part of that for me.

 

[Restitution]

You know how people have safety checks, as long as the thing triggers certain feed back, you know everything is working well?

You're part of that for me.

As long as those "safety checks" are ignorance, jealousy, and petty ranting by you... then I concur 100%

But, once again... don't let me interrupt that very busy schedule that you keep

 

[Larry Gude]

As long as those "safety checks" are ignorance, jealousy, and petty ranting by you... then I concur 100%

But, once again... don't let me interrupt that very busy schedule that you keep

Did I piss in your Wheaties in a previous life or something? If I did, I'm sorry.

 

[Restitution]

Did I piss in your Wheaties in a previous life or something? If I did, I'm sorry.

No... personally, I am just sick and tired of your posts being spoken in the manner that you actually have any experience in the matter. You have absolutely NO IDEA what it is like to be an NFL player. So why come on here and talk like you are a 10 year veteran of the league?

You do this all the time and it is nauseating! If Kaepernick were a local guitar player or farmer then I would think "Sure.. I get it." He is an NFL quarterback.... you are not... were not... will not be.

There is a difference between offering an opinion and speaking as if you have lived the life.