3 Things That Happened While You Were Worried About Colin Kaepernick | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

3 Things That Happened While You Were Worried About Colin Kaepernick

Some things get swept under the rug.

13
3 Things That Happened While You Were Worried About Colin Kaepernick
This image is used under the creative commons license.

If you've been on Facebook, turned on a TV, or so much as existed in society in the past two weeks, you know that the San Francisco 49er's quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, decided to protest the American flag and national anthem by sitting. This event has sparked a whirlwind of media controversy, with the opinions of the public split right down the middle.

BUT, what if I told you there were more important things than the personal decisions of a football player? What if I told you that things like Colin Kaepernick and all of these absolutely ridiculous stories that are being shoved at us are all just distractions from things that are happening that we should actually be paying attention to?

Now look, I'm not saying the mass media is bad. And, I'm certainly not saying that his choice to sit isn't something to pay attention to. It is important. It starts conversations we need to have about everything from BLM to the First Amendment. Personally, I agree he has the right to sit, but I disagree with his decision to sit. However, it's as if there is only room for one sensationalized story. It's as if the media can only push one or two viral topics at one time. In a world where so much is going on that has the potential to affect our everyday lives, you would think as much attention would be paid to those things is paid to a pro athlete's choice to sit out the anthem.

Without further ado, here's some stuff that happened in the past few weeks you may have missed.


1. Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee have declared states of emergency after pipeline spill, which was one of THREE oil spills in the past week or so.

The Colonia Pipeline runs gasoline from Houston, Texas to New York. According to CNN, the pipeline provides gasoline to about 50 million people, and has spilled about 250 thousand gallons since the Sept. 9 leak in Shelby County, Alabama. This event, which has caused the line to be shut off, will likely effect gas prices and availability. While gas prices typically drop during the roll-out of the winter blend of fuel, many are seeing an equal, if not greater, increase. Not to mention, the effect this could potentially have on wildlife.

Shell also had a pipeline in Texas leak, was repaired, and started leaking again, spilling roughly 30,000 of gallons of crude oil into a shipping channel that leads to the Gulf of Mexico.

Also, Exxon had a spill in a suburb of Little Rock, Arkansas. That spill was an estimated 19,000 barrels.

Three oil spills. One month. And so many people had no idea until it recently became a problem for consumers at the pumps.

2. Apparently, Russia has been hacking into all kinds of US databases.

According to theSkimm (my fave morning email news blast), the head of the National Security Agency has voiced some concerns about Russia. Specifically, the concern that Russia is trying to interfere with the presidential election. Two recent cyber attacks on voter databases in two states have been traced back to Russia, with the potential of more states being affected. These cyber attacks come after groups believed to be tied to Russia hacked the Democratic Party. Russian hackers have also leaked medical information regarding recent Olympic athletes, specifically Simone Biles and Serena Williams, along with allegations that while they were given the okay to compete, they might of had a leg up in the games. The truth of these allegations is obviously questionable. Why there isn't more outrage over this is beside me. Our elections is compromised (not that they are honest to begin with) by outside interference.

TLDR: Russia is basically hacking our election and massively hurting our credibility.

3. President Obama agrees to send military aid to Israel.

More specifically, 38 billion bucks worth of help. In a story I also discovered on theSkimm, Obama and the Israeli Prime Minister agree on this huge sum, which is the largest military aid in history. We've historically been cool with Israel, even during their long and drawn out conflicts with their neighboring countries. However, our recent nuclear deal with Iran made things complicated between the US and Israel. This deal is a bit of a shock, especially coming so close to the end of Obama's presidency, a president who hasn't had a history of providing much support to Israel. Politics aside, this is a gigantic gift that is incredibly controversial. Some think this is great, providing help to a country that has always been an ally in the Middle East. Others are more weary, thinking it is time to cut ties with Israel and hoping Obama would be the one to do it. Either side of the fence, 38 billion is a big number considering our federal debt of upwards of 19 trillion.


Let's close this up. I am not saying that we don't need to care about Colin Kaepernick, like I said above. The point I hope you all take home is this:

There is SO much more going on in our country and our world than what comes across our newsfeed or is shared by certain large news organizations. There are things happening every single day that will affect our lives that are not once shared on social media. So, while we are sitting back acting as social justice warriors behind a keyboard arguing over our right to position our body during the pledge, there are other stories that get swept under the rug that equally deserve the concern and attention.

All I am saying is open your eyes. Pay attention to the world around you. Fact check the stories you share. Be an active citizen in local, state, and federal issues. Don't let social media and the ease of smart phone mask the reality of the world we are living in.


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
girl
Pexels

In case you're unaware, "resting bitch face" is the term used to describe when a person's natural, expressionless face makes it look like they are mad at the world. Whether they are walking down the street or simply spacing out thinking about what to eat for dinner, it's very easy for others to assume that this person is either upset or mad at them. Because of this, those of us with Resting Bitch Face (RBF), and especially us women, have all experienced many of the same situations and conversations, including:

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

The Stages Of A Crush As Told By The Cast of "Bob's Burgers"

We all go through certain stages when we have a crush, Tina just explains it better.

513
my heart just pooped its pants
Google

We've all had a crush before. Whether it leads to something or nothing, the process has all been the same. The awkward feelings, the stalking, and the stress of trying to keep this huge secret. The feeling of becoming a total spazz is something that cannot be avoided, and the most spazzy family that can relate to this feeling is the Belcher's.

Keep Reading...Show less
you didnt come this far to only come this far lighted text
Photo by Drew Beamer on Unsplash

At the tender age of 18, we are bestowed with the title of “adult.” For 17 years, we live under the rules and guidelines of our parents, school, and government, and to stray from any of those rules or guidelines marks us as a rebel. At 18, though, we must choose which college we want to go to or what career we want. We are allowed and encouraged to vote. We can buy lottery tickets and cigarettes. We can drop out of school, leave our household, and do other "adult" things. At 18, we start down a path of thinking for ourselves, when for the entirety of our lives other institutions have been mandated to think and do for us.

Keep Reading...Show less
university
University of Nebraska at Omaha

Creating your schedule for the upcoming semester can be an exciting process. You have the control to decide if you want to have class two-days a week or five-days a week. You get to check things off of your requirement checklist. It's an opportunity for a fresh start with new classes (which you tell yourself you'll never skip.) This process, which always starts out so optimistic, can get frustrating really quickly. Here are 25 thoughts you have when registering for classes.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

10 Thoughts Of A 5th Year Senior

What about those of us who don't do it all in four years?

1628
college shirt
pointsincase.com

"College will be the best four years of your life" is a phrase that we have all heard growing up. College is painted as a magical place to us while we are in high school. A place you go to learn, meet your best friends and probably have the time of your life while all of this is going down. Four whirlwind years, where everything that you've known changes and you start to learn what it means to live on your own, have a job, etc. But what about those of us who don't do this all in four years? Major changes, hard courses, switching schools, career paths changing, these are just a handful of factors that could extend your four years to five, six or seven. There is nothing wrong with taking extra time to graduate, but returning as a fifth-year is a little different. Most of your best friends have most likely graduated and moved and while you may be one of the oldest undergraduates on campus, you might feel as awkward as a freshmen. A world that became home and comfortable to you is still there but it's slightly different than you've known it to be and you have to find a groove to fall into. These are thoughts you'll have as you look ahead to returning to your college campus, with a victory lap planned.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments