The latest Kaepernick/Nike kerfuffle over the early version of the U.S. flag strikes me as so filled with “ironies” as not allowing me to get worked up about it.

First off, Colin Kaepernick knows almost nothing about history. His past statements have been worse than wrong, they have been silly. Worse, anyone who makes a big deal about “America” in relation to local police misconduct strikes me as making a federal case out of a local matter — and local matters are the easiest ones to change through citizen activism. Like with most of today’s activists, what seems most important to him was not making good change but appearing to “demand” change. And “taking a knee” was oh-so-prayerful. In public. The whole thing was Pharisaic.

But the current issue is funny. He effectively stopped Nike from putting an old flag image on a shoe.

When I was young, I was told that it be improper to place images of the American flag on clothing. And, by law, that remains true — though the law is mostly ignored by everyone (says Jeff Deist).

So Mr. Kaepernick, in objecting to the placement of the Stars and Stripes, has technically honored the flag. Conservative flag-wavers should be jubilant and thank the man.

As for me, I am not much of a flag-waver. It has been used in too many unjust wars for me to be happy with it. I prefer the Don’t Tread on Me flag, and, better yet, the Moultrie (above). I would wear either on clothing and pretend it was patriotism, sure. And I would be breaking no laws.

I do not really care what Colin Kaepernick thinks about that.

twv