ICHEOKU says when you think that Colin Kaepernick has disappeared with his kneeling down controversy and that chapter of his disruptive activism was finally closed, here he resurfaces with yet another more weightier controversy, impugning American flag and forcing Nike to withdraw a beautiful flag themed shoes, which many people would have bought because it is a thing of beauty.
The Betsy Ross flag shoes which Nike had planned to release for America's Independence Day commemoration, a well intended honor for the woman who first designed the American flag, has now been hounded down with a needless controversy about slavery, as Nike was forced to beat a retreat and pull them from its stores.
ICHEOKU says why was Colin Kaepernich not first consulted for his input during the design and approval stages of the shoes; and why did Nike wait until now that the shoes were ready for launch before seeking Colin Kaepernick's opinion, resulting to the current imbroglio. Imagine the amount of money spent on getting the shoes to the market, in design, production, logistics, advertising as well as marketing and all of these will now go to waste simply because Colin Kaepernick gave a thumb down. Speaking of a manufactured crisis and this otherwise avoidable controversy, about a 13 Stars representing 13 States themed flag design, is absolutely really one.
This is a flag which even black American President Barack Obama did not find offensive and used it during his inauguration ceremony; but suddenly Colin Kaepernick woke up and decided it is henceforth offensive because it was designed during slavery, without regards to the fact that America had thirteen States at the time the flag was designed, which founded the thirteen stars representing the 13 States in the Union. But acting as devil's advocate to the Colin Kaepernick crowd, ICHEOKU says, should America now destroy everything that was built and founded during the same period of slavery, before it was abolished; and if yes, what will still be left standing in America, knowing fully well that majority of America's vast wealth could be traced to slave labor.
ICHEOKU says does not support slavery, but it is a historical part of America which cannot be simply easily wished away. Therefore, holding Nike hostage because of a supposed "slave" flag, which was then at the time of its design time appropriate, is not right. Nike should have instead proceeded to sell the shoes and donate all the proceeds of sale to causes which Colin Kaepernick approves and supports. But to just condemn the entire stock of such beautiful shoes and waste all the money spent on bringing it to the market as well as expected profits from sales, is simply incomprehensible and a colossal waste of resources.
Colin Kaeprnick should have been more reasonable not to suffer Nike such a loss of money; and instead accept a donation of the proceeds to ameliorating causes to blacks and other disadvantaged peoples of America, as well as those foreign slaves in those sweatshops which make those Nike beautiful shoes. Query, should Joseph Biden now be prohibited from running for president in the Democratic Party, simply because, according to him, his Great State of Delaware was a slave State? Enough of all these needless, petty righteous indignation that only further polarizes Americans and create additional fissures among Americans. #BringBackBetsyRossShoes&DonateTheProceedsOfSales.
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