Listen to Kaepernick’s Message in the New Nike Ad and Show Me the Disrespect

"If people say your dreams are crazy, if they laugh at what you think you can do, good. Stay that way. Because what non-believers fail to understand is that calling a dream crazy is not an insult, it's a compliment."

BY MATT GEORGE

Sep 5, 2018, 12:00 AM Updated: Jan 4, 2019, 11:34 am

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“If people say your dreams are crazy, if they laugh at what you think you can do, good. Stay that way. Because what non-believers fail to understand is that calling a dream crazy is not an insult, it’s a compliment.”

“Don’t try to be the fastest runner in your school, of the fastest in the world. Be the fastest ever. Don’t picture yourself wearing OBJ’s jersey, picture OBJ wearing yours. Don’t settle for homecoming queen, or linebacker, do both. Lose 120 pounds and become an iron man, after beating a brain tumor. Don’t believe you have to be like anybody to be somebody.”

If you’re born a refugee, don’t let it stop you from playing soccer for the national team at age 16. Don’t become the best basketball player on the planet, be bigger than basketball. Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything.”

“When they talk about the greatest team in the history of the sport, make sure it’s your team. If you have only one hand, don’t just watch football, play it. At the highest level. And if you’re a girl from Compton, don’t just become a tennis player, become the greatest athlete ever. Yeah, that’s more like it.”

“So don’t ask if your dreams are crazy, ask if they are crazy enough.”

Read that through again. Soak in every word. Do it three or four times before continuing on to the article. Or read it, close this article, and reflect on the words themselves.

Those are the words of former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who just a couple years ago had the courage to take a knee during the playing of the National Anthem before a football game and raise awareness for men and women in need in our country.

Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything. #JustDoIt pic.twitter.com/SRWkMIDdaO

— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) September 3, 2018

This week Nike announced Kaepernick as the face of their “Just Do It” campaign. Wednesday the two minute and twenty second commercial was released, featuring all of the words above.

The name Colin Kaepernick has become a household beacon for debate, hope, and anger in the United States of America. While many back the former Super Bowl QB, a large, and very vocal crowd, led by President Donald Trump, have rigorously opposed Kaepernick’s protests, ignoring his message for their perceived disrespect towards the flag and the US Military.

But that’s not what this article is about. Because that’s not what Nike’s advertisement is about. Watch the video. Read the words. Hear the message. It shouldn’t surprise you, because you have heard it many times before.

Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything. #JustDoIt pic.twitter.com/x5TnU7Z51i

— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) September 5, 2018

Resilience. Hope. Overcoming life’s obstacles. Bravery. Sacrifice. Triumph.

All themes of Nike’s message. Themes that are taught around the world, on a daily basis, to kids and adults in schools, universities, churches, summer camps, and even the workplace. Yet many who have heard and accepted this message from those different outlets are now choosing to ignore and lash out against it from Nike because of the man who is living the words, not just saying them.

Hundreds of tweets, Facebook posts, and Instagram stories, featuring angry consumers cutting the Nike logo off of their socks, burning their shoes, and proclaiming a boycott of a company that has sided with an athlete that doesn’t respect our military and veterans.

Completely missing the point.

I could spend all day typing a response, that would ultimately get lost in the sea of political opinion and verbal warfare that plagues the internet and social media. So allow me to take a different rout.

Comparing Nike’s Message to Other Advertising Companies

Commercials and advertisements are a part of life. Consumers online, in their living room, or in their car are ambushed by a plethora of products from companies who are after one thing only; our money. And we accept these advertisements, and the messages they share, as a common occurrence not worth much thought.

Unless that ad features a “disrespectful” athlete. In that case, commence the uproar.

Are Kaepernick’s and Nike’s message being heard? Are the words encouraging men and women to fight through the trials of life, overcome the odds, and become the best they can be being absorbed? Of course not. Because they are coming from Kaepernick.

Our Soundman just cut the Nike swoosh off his socks. Former marine. Get ready @Nike multiply that by the millions. pic.twitter.com/h8kj6RXe7j

— John Rich (@johnrich) September 3, 2018

People want to accuse Nike of poor standards and ethics for their advertising strategy? Ok. Let’s look at some other companies that nobody seems to have any problem with.

Victoria’s Secret, a women’s underwear company, uses near-naked models and male lust to sell their product. They teach women, from a very young age, that they have to look like the unrealistic ladies at the annual fashion show (skinny, wide hips, perfect skin) in order to be accepted and considered beautiful. And they aren’t the only ones.

Abercrombie and Fitch’s CEO Mike Jeffries has said publicly that he doesn’t want “fat” or “not so cool” kids wearing his company’s clothes. They subject young adults to images of thin, fit, and desirable young men and women, exploiting their low self-esteem and peer pressure to make money.

do summer love in #abercrombiedenim 💫 @flamcis

Womens Shirt: https://t.co/JZzidGvrzw
Womens Jeans: https://t.co/2riCq3MkX6

Mens Shirt: https://t.co/JK74OVvFM2
Mens Jeans: https://t.co/AeHTtzXX5X pic.twitter.com/kQMkXMFjwT

— Abercrombie & Fitch (@Abercrombie) August 4, 2018

Anyone can wear makeup right? So why do Sephora advertisements feature thin beauties with perfect skin and a sharp jawline? Why do men’s clothes have to be presented on a muscular meat-head that probably lacks a college education? Because they are easy to look at, which makes the product more appealing to purchase. But at what cost?

Forget the money, think of the effect a lifetime of these images has on men and women in the United States. These ads are partially responsible for bullying in schools. They have a direct effect on the self-worth of children from a young age, creating an unrealistic idea of what success, beauty, and acceptance looks like. Completely out of reach unless you spend the money.

It’s because of these advertisements that my fiance has self-esteem issues and needs to be reminded daily that she is beautiful and desirable. It’s because of those messages that my mother, who raised me completely on her own while battling and beating breast cancer, feels like she isn’t good enough. Because of those ads my athletic cousin, who serves her country as a member of the US Navy, feels uncomfortable in her own skin and needs to be reminded that she should be proud of who she is.

Companies and advertisers will deny responsibility and save-face in every way, exploiting the boundaries of what they can and can’t share nearly as much as they exploit the people who watch or listen.

These ads are universally accepted, but Nike’s message is the one that crossed the line? The company that endorsed an athlete, who took a stand and sacrificed his professional football career to be a voice for those in need, is the bigger villain than the supermodel barbie-doll that makes women everywhere feel like they aren’t good enough?

If you claim to have no issue with Nike, or Colin Kaepernick, and just want to dismiss this whole campaign as a different attempt by a corporation to make money, that’s fine. You are right. Of course Nike is trying to make money and sell their product. But if they choose to do it in this way, spreading positivity, resilience, and the pursuit of dreams, I’ll gladly listen and watch every advertisement and rally behind the message.