Christopher Scalia,  the son of late Justice Antonin Scalia, once said that “progressivism has become the haunting fear that someone, somewhere may be celebrating America.”  His observation was borne out by the recent Kaepernick/Nike sneaker fiasco.  Shoemaker Nike announced plans to release a line of sneakers called the Nike Air Max 1, bearing the original 13 starred U.S. flag, commonly known as the Betsy Ross flag.

Certainly, no one possibly could object to such unassuming and attractive footwear, right?  Wrong!  A liberal imbecile can always find something that offends him or her.  And what better time to complain about America than Independence Day?  Enter Colin Kaepernick, the former NFL player, who walked away from his $126 million contract, to become the poster-boy (poster-person?)  for racial equality.  It goes to show you just how desperate the Left is for someone to bash America.  Kaepernick was never oppressed.  He was a pampered athlete, who received a free college education, and then was paid more than $13 million a year.  Only about 2,000 taxpayers in America report incomes that high, putting Kaepernick not in the hated 1%, but in the 0.01% in income.  No matter, Kaepernick sacrificed his wealth to protest racial discrimination by kneeling during the playing of the National Anthem at NFL games.  He said then that it had nothing to do with disrespecting the flag, but I guess he’s changed his mind about that, because the Betsy Ross flag really offends him.  Kaepernick told Nike it shouldn’t use that version of the flag, as he and others consider it an offensive symbol due to its connection to a time when slavery was legal.  He said that the “Betsy Ross” flag design – which sports 13 stars in a circle is associated with racism and slavery.  Ever a slave (can I use that word?) to political correctness (or is it political cowardice?), Nike immediately cancelled the sneaker line, making the few pairs already sold collector’s items.  Putting aside the fact that Leftists are immune to logic, celebrity Mike Rowe has highlighted the illogic of Kaepernick’s complaint.  “He has argued that the Betsy Ross flag is ‘racist,’ because it flew at a time when slavery was legal in America.  By that definition, aren’t crosses also racist?  Weren’t they on churches attended by slave-owning congregants?  Why not demand their removal?” “What about the Bald Eagle?” he continued. “Wasn’t our national bird flying around when slaves were held?  Why not protest it as well?  What about the Great Seal?  Why not ban that?”  Not a bad idea.  After all, the Great Seal was designed by the same white man who designed the 13 starred flag, one Francis Hopkinson, of Bordentown, New Jersey.  We can’t let a white Jersey guy get away with that.  But what has Kaepernick got against poor Betsy Ross?  He is obviously as ignorant as he is illogical.  Betsy Ross was a female entrepreneur who ran her own businesses at a time when women didn’t enjoy the rights they have today.  Plus, she was a single mother.  So, isn’t criticism of Betsy Ross sexist and misogynistic?  I bet if Betsy said she was only paid 71 pence for every pound male flagmakers made, Kaepernick would take notice.  But Betsy didn’t have an easy time.  She was widowed twice by the time she was 30 years old.  Her second husband was a mariner, was taken prisoner by the British and shipped to Plymouth, England, where he died in prison.  Betsy was a professional upholsterer.  She made cartridges for the Continental Army, she made flags, and even did work for George Washington in 1774.  America’s first Flag Act was enacted in 1777.  Betsy was making flags at that time, but whether she actually sewed the first US flag is unclear.  The Independence Hall Association backs her. “Betsy Ross sewed the first American flag.  When we view the flag, we think of liberty, freedom, pride, and Betsy Ross.” (Kaepernick only thinks of racism and slavery).  “The American flag flies on the moon, sits atop Mount Everest, is hurtling out in space. The flag is how America signs her name.  It is no surprise that Betsy Ross has become one of the most cherished figures of American History.”  The Betsy Ross story has become the stuff of legend.  Quoting that great line from The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence, “When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.”  We have.  Simply put, Colin Kaepernick is an ignorant boob.  The patriots who fought the Revolutionary War against the British were fighting for freedom, not for slavery.  When Betsy Ross was producing ammunition for the patriots and sewed the flag with 13 stars, if she did, her husband lay dying in a British prison, his crime – sailing a ship for America.  You think Betsy was thinking about slavery when she sewed those stars?  And Kaepernick, what is it you really want?  Maybe Betsy should have left off the 5 stars representing the colonies that kept slaves.  Kaepernick must have the same objection to the current US flag.  Hey boob, ten of the 50 stars on today’s flag are for States that were part of the Confederacy.  Maybe Kaepernick will have to require all flags to have only 40 stars from now on, so he doesn’t have to think about unpleasant history.  But what to do with those 10 left over stars?  Maybe Kaepernick can stick them somewhere, hopefully points first.