Kaepernick, Nike, blah blah blah

So, apparently Nike has hired Colin Kaepernick for advertising, and they’re featuring him in a campaign with a slogan about standing up for everything.

Or something. I can’t be bothered to look it up and quote it exactly. I’m not really paying attention.

Why are you?

Both my Twitter and Facebook feeds are full of fresh outrage with this latest development. This is ridiculous. If you have something to say about respect for the flag, the right to protest, veterans’ plights, conspicuous consumption, or any other issue related to this extended brouhaha (either inherently or peripherally), then just say it. Whatever the perceived political or moral position, and whatever your opinion of it, when you allow your passion to be inflamed by an athletic equipment company’s advertising, you are doing their bidding. You’re being played.

Now we’re all played every day. But that doesn’t mean we should so transparently rush to hold still and be the instrument. There ought to be some pride in being a little coyer than this.

We ought to all be saying to Nike “you’re not the boss of me,” not regurgitating the campaign to the four winds.

(Because psssttt—that is exactly what you were supposed to do.)

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