In the last weeks, Colin Kaepernick, quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, has been subject to more national attention than he has had since the beginning of his NFL career five years ago.
On August 27, during the third game of the 49ers’ preseason, Kaepernick was spotted sitting on his team’s bench during the national anthem, while his teammates, coaches, and spectators in the stadium remained standing. Despite claiming that he had being sitting during the anthem in the previous two games, it was this incident that generated both uproar and pride on the national stage.
In a press conference following the game, Kaepernick engaged in an almost 18-minute press conference. He claimed that he was protesting the social injustice that was taking place in the United States.
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder,” Kaepernick said.
In the weeks since, many athletes have been televised kneeling or sitting in protest during the anthem.
Magie Rapinoe, mid-fielder for the US Women’s Soccer Team, Kaepernick’s teammate, Eric Reid, Seattle Seahawk’s cornerback, Jeremy Lane and Denver Bronco’s linebacker, Brandon Marshall have all refused to stand as well.
Rapinoe, one of the few openly gay professional athletes, has claimed that her kneeling has been in protest of the United States not actively protecting the rights of many individuals, specifically the gay rights agenda. Others have stated their lack of participation is in opposition of the racial injustice and police brutality taking place in the country.
Many critics have viewed this act of defiance as disrespectful to the armed forces and veterans that have, or are currently, fighting overseas.
Though Kaepernick has stated that he supports the armed forces, his actions beg the question of whether he used the appropriate form and platform to express his opinions. After all, don’t actions speak louder than words?
We, as Americans, are taught that the flag and anthem are sacred to our republic. They serve as a rallying point in our nation. They unite us in times of struggle. They represent both equality and the forces who fight for it.
The anthem, written during the birth of our nation, stands for a new world, with ideals that have been fine-tuned over the years. It represents the evolution of the United States, and the continued change that we are facing. Don’t be fooled, we are facing great change.
It would be naïve to say that the citizens of the United States, has always handled our business in a manner agreeable to everyone; history proves to us that we haven’t. Our country is still honing new skills, and not without error. But in all of this time, the flag and the anthem have stood true.
They are a symbol of our past, and a beacon of hope for our future, and should not be disrespected so blatantly.
President Obama recently commented on the events, stating that they were expressions of rights given to individuals by the constitution. And that they are. However, as with every opinion, there is a time and a place for it.
It is our duty, as Americans, to voice our thoughts, to stand up for our opinions and to bring to light the justice that is not being done. There are things happening in this country that warrant pushback. So stand up. Shout. Rally. Protest. Fight for those that don’t have a voice, and add to the voices not yet being heard, but don’t disrespect the symbols that allow these freedoms in the first place.
Good for you, Kaepernick. Continue voicing your opinion and fighting for what you believe in, but next time, stand up with your team and your country for the national anthem.
