Colin Kaepernick: Yep, I Went There.

So, a friend of mine asked me today what I thought about the Colin Kaepernick flap. I posted the other day, after reading a single article on the subject, and seeing a couple news reports that I thought he was a piece of trash.

I still believe that, by the way, but that's about as far as I'd thought about it, until today.

After researching the whole thing much further, and reading countless others' thoughts and posts, and watching several more media wonks give their thoughts, I feel as though I have more to offer on the whole situation.

Until my friend asked me what I thought, I figured there probably wasn't a whole lot more to write about it that hadn't already been written, but as I dug a little deeper, I realized there's probably much more to offer.

First, the facts. Yes, Kaepernick has every right to do what he did, and will continue to do, so he says. Like burning a flag, and other un-patriotic acts that make the American in all of us very unhappy, it is behavior that is indeed protected under 1st Amendment freedom of speech. As I heard a comedian say once, "Every moron has the right to be stupid and wrong."

And second, to be fair, Kaepernick had been doing this for several games (as well as posting quite a bit of un-patriotic propaganda on his social media sites for the last year or so.) He had been doing so quietly. He didn't call a press conference to announce his feelings. Some media hack finally noticed and asked him about it, and that's when he broke his silence. So it doesn't appear he was trying to make a scene, at least initially, or seeking any significant publicity by his actions.

With all that said, however, as the Apostle Paul says in the Bible in his first letter to the Corinthians, "All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify." Suffice to say, just because some behavior is protected by the Constitution, it doesn't necessarily mean its a smart or beneficial way to act. I posted yesterday that just because his decision not to stand for the National Anthem is Constitutionally protected, it doesn't mean it's not stupid or hypocritical.

And that's especially true in this instance.

He's dumb because he thinks this is actually gonna accomplish anything. The truth is, all it does is piss most people off, and does little but further divide the very factions he claims he wants to draw closer together. We can give all kinds of lip service that this type of thing props up a social and national conversation about race, and so forth and so on, but the reality is that is simply polarizes people further. We've had plenty of conversations over the past 50 years. What we need is for someone to actually do something constructive for once. For example, the only thing the Black Lives Matter people have done is burn down their home cities. Nothing positive at all. Kaepernick has done little more.

Which brings us to Kaepernick's gargantuan hypocrisy. First, here's a guy of mixed race, who's black father abandoned him, was taken in by white adoptive parents and given a great education and every opportunity any man of any race could ever ask for. He succeeded in his field and reaped a fortune-building contract, north of $100 million. There's not another country on the planet where a man of his talent -- and his race -- could gain the accolades and earn the type of money he bagged. Not one where he would even have been give the chance!

Not one.

But its worse than that. With all the very real poverty, oppression and injustice this country does have, how does a man of Kaepernick's means choose to help?

By sitting down during a song.

That's it. Just sitting. Not one donation of his enormous fortune to any decent cause. Not one offer to volunteer to an advocacy group. Not a run at a public office where he could effect legislation to change. Not even open his mansion to a few homeless people. Nothing. Nothing at all of any substance whatsoever to actually make a difference.

I don't make much money. But I like seeing kids have a better life. So I volunteer at Kiwanis and the Special Olympics. It's not much, but its something. Something that actually does something tangible.

Every Black Lives Matter constituent actually ought to be offended every time this nutbar takes their hard-earned money. Because that's what he does every time one of them watches one of his games, either on TV or in person. Every beer they drink at the game, or from an advertiser on the broadcast is the very money that pays Kaepernick's contract. He's taking the money (LOTS of it) from the very people he claims are so oppressed and repaying the fight by sitting on his butt.

Now there's a hero.

But here's the real problem: When you burn our flag, or deny respectively standing for the National Anthem, you're not simply protesting what you believe to be an oppressive government. No, what you're actually doing is disrespecting every man or woman who has ever put their life on the line to protect the freedoms under which you live. You might believe our government is jacked up (and it is, in many ways,) and you might believe we have a long way to go regarding basic human dignity. But what you cannot deny is the sacrifice so many have made, and still make on a daily basis, to allow us to live as freely as we do.

When you refuse to stand for the National Anthem, you are thumbing your nose at the very people who risk their lives to protect the Constitution that covers your moronic behavior! Maybe you believe police officers are out of line sometimes. But you can at least be thankful to them when they catch the burglar that broke into your home, or bring down the drug pusher that sold drugs to your kids, or nail the guy that tried to rape your wife.

Not cool. Not cool at all.

Of course, you have many bloggers and media dopes making the situation even worse. I read an article today that claimed we should all refuse to stand for the Star Spangled Banner because it was written as a celebration of the murder of slaves. The article was so dumb, I'm not even gonna link it here. But if you search, you'll find it.

I've read many others who lauded it as heroic, and others that stated we should all be thankful he did what he did because it means we all have the freedom to stand up (or sit) for whatever it is we believe in. Yada, yada, yada.

All, of course, that totally miss the point of why this so upsets so many people.

And in the irony of ironies, many of the same, liberal, media hacks who've hailed Kaepernick as a hero for exercising his 1st Amendment rights are the same dopes who not only decry others for saying anything derogatory about blacks, or Latinos, or gays, but claim we're not even allowed to think such things. As though some dumb behavior is protected by the Constitution, but another is not. Unfortunately, ALL dumb behavior is protected by the Constitution. All morons are equal in the eyes of the law. But it just lends credence to the idea liberals are OK with whatever you do, as long as what you do is something they agree with. They're tolerant of your behavior, as long as your behavior falls in line with what they believe.

Kaepernick is no hero. He's a misguided, entitled brat. There's even reason to believe that he might just be motivated by good action in the sack, as his behavior has turned for the worse ever since he started dating a very good looking female DJ who just happens to have Islamic sympathies and kinda hates America herself.

He's a hypocrite of the highest order, and is ultimately gonna reap what he's currently sewing.

Plus, he's a 49er. So there's that. But maybe not for long.

It's Not a Goodbye: It's Just, "See Ya Later!"

What an honor and a privilege it was for me to be named the Greater Mooresville Chamber of Commerce’s Businessperson of the Year for 2015 earlier this Spring at the Annual Dinner. It is so far the pinnacle of what has been a seven-year journey for me as I’ve striven to grow my printing and graphic design business into a respectable and successful venture for me and my family.

Five years ago, as I stood in front of those in attendance at our Chamber monthly luncheon and asked to be considered for a position on the Board of Directors for the Chamber, I honestly mentioned that my desire to be on the BOD was a selfish one. I explained that I wanted my business to grow. I wanted it to be successful and one of the ways to make that happen was to serve in a position that would allow me to help others make their businesses more successful. For me, and what I do, if other businesses prospered, they might need more of what I offer, and in turn, that would help me be more profitable.

Serving on the BOD helped me do just that. In general, being a member of the Chamber of Commerce offers businesses a wide variety of opportunities to network with each other and several avenues by which they can share their own business opportunities. Being on the board gives one a great opportunity to help plan those events — make them bigger and better — and come up with new ideas that can help Mooresville businesses grow and prosper.

Being a member of the Chamber helped me streamline my business, to make it the most efficient and helpful service possible. It helped me identify the businesses that would most benefit from my services — which tend to be small businesses — and it allowed me to tailor those services so they would most meet the needs of my clients.

When I started this business seven years ago, I did indeed have an eye on the future and the ability to be mobile with what we do. In streamlining and tailoring my business in such a way to best meet the needs of my clients, it has also allowed me the ability to do what we do from just about anywhere.

Which has now brought us to the next chapter in the lives of my family.

Many already know that we are in the process of moving out of state. Specifically, next to the ocean in Hilton Head, SC. There was a time in our lives we never dreamed we’d ever leave Mooresville. And please know that our desire to move now has nothing to do with wanting to leave our hometown.

Mooresville is our home. It’s all we know. It’s all we’ve ever known. My wife and I grew up here, went to school and married here, and raised our family here. Most of our own friends and family are here and will remain here after we leave.

But for a variety of reasons — none of which have anything to do with Mooresville — we have decided to move. Health concerns, our children living and going to school out of state, and the ever less desirable cold winter weather are just a few of those reasons. Some life-altering events also have factored into the decision. The loss of a some real good friends way too early and an unexpected flood also made us realize that if we’re ever going to pursue our dreams, now is as good a time as any, before we might not be physically able to do so.

So it is with a mix of excitement and sadness we have chosen to move and start a new life by the ocean. But I’m not retiring by any stretch. Thanks to the support of the Mooresville business community, and the Chamber of Commerce, I’ve positioned my business to be able to function from anywhere, and to be able to continue to meet the needs of my current clientele.

I intend to build a client base in our new hometown, but I also continue to serve the needs of my Indiana clients as well, who know that what they need from me is never more than a phone call or email away. Our goal is to make sure they all know I’m still available to serve their printing needs, and to know that even though we might live in another town, our hearts will always be in Mooresville.

All our current contact information will remain the same, and I will continue to maintain my Chamber of Commerce membership, and with frequent visits back to Mooresville, continue to stay involved in Mooresville events. For my Mooresville clientele, with the exception of seeing my goofy mug a little less often, nothing should change regarding your printing and graphic needs.

We cannot thank the people and businesses of Mooresville enough for all they’ve done, and all they’ve meant to my family. Perhaps we can convince some of you to come visit us by the ocean. We’ll have a guest bedroom available to anyone who wants to drop by.

For us, this is by no means a goodbye. It’s simply a “See you later!” We’ll send pictures!