Current Events –
Kaepernick ‘National Anthem’
Pushback Overblown?
Professional NFL football player Colin Kaepernick has decided he doesn’t want to stand during the national anthem before games. Now, all of America is flipping out over his choice as if he just committed treason. Is the concern justified or overblown?
Current Events
To read some of the hate mail and negative social media messages quarterback Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49’ers continues to receive, one might think he killed a bunch of babies and puppies — but he didn’t. He has purposely chosen to take a personal stand by choosing not to stand. Although some may not agree with his choice, isn’t him having a choice his right as an American?
Colin Kaepernick says he will continue to sit during the national anthem, in protest against the way African-Americans are treated in America — even if it costs him as an NFL player. He would rather take a stand, than stand (for the anthem) and be silent.
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,’ Kaepernick said. ‘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.”
In explanation of his decision, Kaepernick, who is half black, spoke of the poor training practices provided to police that has led to a barrage of police brutality.
“You can become a cop in 6 months,” Kaepernick said, “and you don’t have to have the same amount of training as a cosmetologist. That’s insane. I mean, someone that’s holding a curling iron has more education and more training than people that have a gun and are going out on the street to protect us.”
For some, Kaepernick has a valid point. In support of his choice, one Facebook poster wrote:
“He has the right. Having a right does not make an action appropriate. It was not wrong exactly but his protest is meaningless without true action on his part. He has the means ($$$) and public persona to DO something to work toward change. … Actually RISK something by the protest.”
However, another Facebook poster did not agree:
“It’s his right to sit, and it’s my right to say he’s an a—hole.”
Because he is no longer following their personal definition of what is patriotic, some former Colin Kaepernick fans have taken to burning his jersey out of anger. Even Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has expressed disapproval, saying Kaepernick should “get out” of America and maybe “find a country that works better for him.”
Exactly who in society has the authority to judge someone’s patriotism? In fact, who sets the rules for what is or isn’t patriotic?
Is someone who stands really more “patriotic” than someone who doesn’t? Let’s go further. Is someone who constantly displays a flag outside of their home every day of the year more patriotic than their neighbors who don’t? Is someone who goes to church every Sunday more of a “Christian” than those who only go every other Sunday?
Where do we draw the line? Who has the authority to draw the line?
Current Events
Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar took his own stance on Tuesday, making the point that the fallout actually says much more about the Americans who choose to insult Kaepernick than it does about him.
“What should horrify Americans is not Kaepernick’s choice to remain seated during the national anthem, but that nearly 50 years after [Muhammad] Ali was banned from boxing for his stance and Tommie Smith and John Carlos’s raised fists (at the 1968 Olympic games) caused public ostracization and numerous death threats, we still need to call attention to the same racial inequities,” Abdul-Jabbar said.
And he is correct.
Just because someone once stood when the Star Spangled Banner became America’s official anthem in 1931, doesn’t necessarily make it a national law. Further, for those who are so adamant that Colin Kaepernick is not being “American” by not standing, they should consider the last 2 lines of the tune:
“O’re the land of the free, and the home of the brave.”
If Americans truly believe in those words, then isn’t Colin Kaepernick FREE to make the BRAVE choice he has made?
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“I have been trying to work out my position on the Colin Kaepernick affair, and nothing quite satisfies.” The statement aforementioned describes my take on this situation exactly. There are so may angles to view this from. But I will say this……… I may not much like Colin's actions here (frankly, I wonder if he was primarily motivated to do this to distract from all the drama currently going on between him and the 49ers front-office(?) However, I'm even more bothered by the degree of hostility and vitriol being expressed by some people towards Colin for taking such action. Certainly, people can disagree with Colin without going to the extremes in their opposition. I recognize that it's no minor thing, refusing to stand for the National Anthem. But Good. Lord. The man is committing no crime. He has wronged no one. He is merrily exercising his legal right to speak… Read more »