Nike's last play with Colin Kaepernik has
raised a lot of criticism, which is exactly what they expected; after all, it
was a purely commercial strategy, and even cynical in its surgical efficiency.
The surprising thing here is the sudden pragmatism of the hero, who thus
accesses to his de-characterization; because nobody with two fingers of front
or some experience, can ignore the obviousness of this move of the giant of
sporting goods. So it amazes the naivety of the public, who has agreed to make
Nike free promotion with the legitimacy of their anger; because beyond the
justness of Kaepernik's cause, it is to that anger that he aspired with his
protest, now sold to the highest bidder.
Kaepernik's cynicism and not Nike's is the one
that should enrage, at least to the blacks he claimed to represent; as the
Democratic base infuriated before, with the Obama who invested his political
capital in the strategy of the Trans-Pacific Treaty. Behind the cynicism of
Nike is only the arrogance of the corporate giants, accustomed to abusing the
public with their political impunity; behind Kaepernik's is the weakness of a
culture, accustomed to this abuse for that impunity. Nike has only trivialized
Kaepernik's protest, as Obama trivialized Martin Luther King's dream; it is
Kaepernik who is guilty of being bribed, even if he justifies it with the lure
of visibility.
No comments:
Post a Comment