Unjust laws exist; shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavor to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transgress them at once? Men generally, under such a government as this, think that they ought to wait until they have persuaded the majority to alter them. They think that, if they should resist, the remedy would be worse than the evil. But it is the fault of the government itself that the remedy is worse than the evil. It makes it worse. Why is it not more apt to anticipate and provide for reform? Why does it not cherish its wise minority? Why does it cry and resist before it is hurt? Why does it not encourage its citizens to be on the alert to point out its faults, and do better than it would have them? Why does it always crucify Christ, and excommunicate Copernicus and Luther, and pronounce Washington and Franklin rebels?
HENRY DAVID THOREAU
#blacklivesmatter
#protestsmatter
Thoreau was a genius. It’s about refusing your consent to unjust laws and government.
Keep politics and religion at home. At work and in the public eye you need to stand with your team.
I guess it depends on what matters more to the one either standing or kneeling.
Man… we’re you saying the same thing when they did the national anthem and saluting the troops during the start of the game? What is the difference except for agreement vs refusal to give consent and agreement?
To be consistent, yiu should be telling the NFL to axe the patriotic displays also. Why aren’t you ‘thinking’ those many thoughts?
If MLK had kept his politics and religion at home we would be way behind the pitiful state of race relations that still exists.
Thoreau was one of the true greats, and his decency, eloquence and rational honesty will always be pertinent.
Disrespecting the country where you are making millions of dollars is a slap in the face to all who are working to better it, and more important to the men and women who have sacrificed so much for your liberty to not respect this country before millions. I would be more impressed if you refused to take the “grubby” bucks from this country that you are so unhappy with.
Protests are meant to cause discomfiture to some. Two things Americans love most about America: Its Ideals and its Football. Hardly a better forum exists for one to protest peacefully in America and also create a national discussion.
I fear that this type of “protest”, disrepect, is going to put Trump in the white house, I know I don’t want that.
Kaepernick isn’t disrespecting the country. He’s protesting injustice. Literally what this country was founded on. Remember the declaration against British oppression? Remember the oppression of African slavery? Remember Jim Crow and the struggle for civil rights? Political speech and protest is the very foundation of a free society. Silence that and call it disrespectful and your not supporting our country but dismantling it from the inside.
Fortunately we are free here to our opinions. That was mine. This is yours.
Yes we are. Have a great day. Go Pats!
Doesn’t exactly apply today.
I wonder why.
A very thoughtful quote and right on target. If we value our freedom, we need to respect (and even honor) someone who risks his livelihood to bring visibility to injustice