Steve Kalafer, the owner of Flemington Car and Truck Country in central New Jersey, says that he will be pulling all of his dealership’s TV ads from NFL broadcasts for the rest of the season. Kalafer is mad that the NFL isn’t doing more to force its players to stand for the national anthem, because America or something
Kalafer, who also moonlights as a documentary producer, explained his reasoning in a statement to NJ.com.
“The National Football League and its owners have shown their fans and marketing partners that they do not have a comprehensive policy to ensure that players stand and show respect for America and our flag during the playing of the national anthem.”
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“I’m talking to 99-percent of (my) contacts, and they agree that it’s disrespectful, it’s improper,” he said. “We couldn’t support the lack of direction.”
But Kalafer isn’t against the protests, he’s just disappointed in the league.
However, Kalafer stressed his problem is not with protests, but the way the NFL and team owners have not taken a leadership role in responding to the player’s actions.
He feels strongly that NFL owners should have given their players direction on how to best exercise freedom of speech. As a result of lack of intervention by the owners, Kalafer said, the protests have spiraled out of control.
“Owners buried their heads in the sand when (Colin) Kaepernick was kneeling. That was the time and place for direction and leadership, and that’s why this controversy is taking place,” he said.
Imagine thinking that if only the NFL had done something about Colin Kaepernick none of this would be happening right now. If only they had blackballed him from the league! Oh wait.
What does Kalafer think we should do instead?
Kalafer suggested instead of the protests continuing on national television, in front of veterans, police and other first-responders, the players and teams should focus on ways to support their communities.
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“We’re not in a movie, we are not in a documentary, we are in life every day,” he said. “In order to do that, we have to participate every day, not just in a protest everyone debates. Let’s not debate, let’s be active every day.”
Democracy: Definitely not about debate.
Anyway, I’m sure tens, maybe dozens, of TV viewers will notice the absence of television ads from Flemington Car and Truck Country and think to themselves that they’re happy that Steve Kalafer has bravely taken stand against the NFL. Someone had to, after all.
[h/t Joe]