Respose to an article

Dear Mr. Huppke, September 6, 2018 This is in response to your article mocking those who have reacted negatively to the Nike/ Kaepernick situation. Let me start with Levi Strauss. I stopped purchasing from that company years ago after they closed down the last three plants operating in Texas. You don’t have to explain Patriotism to me as far as Corporations are concerned, They stopped being American companies in the mid-70’s, with their only remaining objective to make maximum profit regardless of the direct loss of good paying manufacturing jobs for willing American workers. Nike has read the tea leaves. They understand that their younger customers are more sympathetic to the reason mostly black players and now performers feel comfortable to disrespect our National Anthem by kneeling. Those of us from previous generations who are most offended are not their primary customers so it is profitable to take the action they did without a loss of profit. There is a possible backlash that might occur. Nike supplies uniforms and saleable goods in the stores at the University of Arizona and I am sure many other Universities. I and others are very close to giving up our season tickets out of our outrage over this blatant disrespect. We are the ones who contribute the most to support college athletics. As to the supposed reason, police brutality towards black citizens, I am aware of how outrageous they were treated, particularly in the Southern States for 100 years after the Civil War. It is my belief that the Civil rights bills passed under the leadership of Lyndon Johnson brought that to an end. To say all racism ended then would be a ridiculous statement but a massive change did occur. To keep vilifying our dedicated police men and women does nothing to reduce prejudice. It instead inflames the issue. Your article only added to separating us more. Instead of healing the controversy continues to escalate. Yours truly, Jack B. Walters