Colin Kaepernick's Decision To Kneel In The United States
“For the land of the free, and the home of the brave” the final words to our nation’s national anthem. There has been controversy about football players, and many other athletes kneeling during the “Star Spangled Banner” to protest against the tragedies happening in America day after day. The First Amendment gives these athletes the privilege to express their opinions, and their right to kneel during our national anthem. People should stand for the national anthem, because it’s a sign of respect and appreciation for our country. On August 14th, San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick made the choice to kneel during the national anthem (Sandritter np). His decision to kneel was because he could not stand in front of a flag that oppresses
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black people in its nation. Kaepernick’s kneel turned into a nationwide protest for people of color being mistreated in the United States.
A flag is a representing emblem for any country. The United States flag represents our freedom as human beings, as outlined in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Not showing respect for the flag, shows disrespect for the individuals who have fought for the ideals the flag represents. Colin Kaepernick’s decision to kneel in front of the flag was spontaneous and extreme, but he certainly could have gone a different way about “protesting” his opinion rather than disrespecting the national anthem:
“I hear you when you say you are unhappy with the way things are going in America. But the answer to what's wrong in America is America -- the aspirations passed down generation after generation and sung in unison week by week. We have a crisis of solidarity. That makes it hard to solve every other problem we have. When you stand and sing the national anthem, you are building a little solidarity, and you're singing a radical song about a radical place” David Brooks states in an article, pursuing his audience how kneeling and protesting is wrong, by New York Times. (Brooks np)
He says that America is America and as a nation, there will always be differences, but disrespecting the flag that the free nation flies, is not the way to protest. Many other people are extremely bothered by Kaepernick’s decision.
Michael Lanagan, the author, from DMOnline, claims:
First, a police officer is 18.5 times more likely to be shot and killed by an African-American than vice versa. Secondly, African-Americans are shot and killed by police less often than whites and Hispanics, according to the FBI Uniform Crime Report. Yet Colin Kaepernick believes African-Americans are suffering from institutionalized racism. (Lanagan np)
He has a very compelling dispute and also adds, “To say that the United States ‘oppresses’ African-Americans or other minorities is laughably false. I have never heard of a country that oppresses a race by allowing a member of that race to be paid $19 million a year to sit down on the bench most of the season” (Lanagan np). Colin Kaepernick’s problem with the misfortune that occurs in our nation daily is misinformed. He thinks blacks are being mistreated in our country, and he wants to make a change by protesting our nations national anthem. Lanagan proceeds on with his article by saying how instead of protesting for a ridiculous matter that Kaepernick believes is wrong to do something about it. He is kneeling in front of a flag that soldiers have fought for, and who continue to fight for our nation. As a nation, it is impossible to get over differences, but by working out the contrast is a way to overcome the differences. Bill Kendall from Genesis CNN, suggest to anybody agreeing with Colin Kaepernick needs to know that our country does everything opposite of oppressing black people. “We have a black president and both the current and former Attorney Generals have been black, this hardly seems like a country that oppresses black people” Kendall states to the protesters (Kendall). On the other hand, others say how it is noble to exercise their First Amendment.
Some people believe that they shouldn’t have to stand during the national anthem, because it a given right, even if they get insulted.
Kendall also stated “It really doesn’t matter. No one is required to stand for the national anthem in the United States of America. Period. The First Amendment expressly forbids making a law that abridges freedom of speech, even if that speech makes people angry” (Kendall np). Although he is correct about the given right, it doesn’t mean it isn’t considered disrespectful. People have died for our nation and for those rights, so the least Colin Kaepernick could do was stand and pay his respect to the men and women who have fought for our freedom. He also says this witty remark towards the end of his article “If it were up to me, the national anthem wouldn’t be played at any sporting event. What’s the point? Why does playing the anthem before a sports event shows some form of respect for the country that isn't necessary for other entertainment” (Kendall np). Many people, who have read what she wrote, would want to strangle Kendall, myself included. The national anthem is played at sporting events because the comparison between a war battle, and sporting rivalries intertwine. The nation loves sports, winning, and patriotism, and the anthem strike all three of those aspects. Kendall then proceeds to tell the audience “Sure, sometimes you make sacrifices for the good of the team. But no one should sacrifice his or her principles, even if it means losing a spot on a team, facing public condemnation or suffering other consequences” (Kendall np). Kaepernick received all of those, in which he deserved every ounce of it. The song may not have been adapted to the nation until 1931, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t get the respect that it deserves and
represents. The differences between America do not define the country, but only makes it stronger. Athletes don’t take other matters into consideration when “doing what is best for them.” Anybody who continues to protest along the side of Colin Kaepernick should understand what the true meaning of our flag represents instead of using their mislead messages to brainwash the rest of the younger audience. American’s are given the right to freely express their opinion, even if it angers the public, and that’s exactly what Kaepernick did, wether those were his intentions or not. He thought there was something wrong with America, but he could have gone a different way about things, instead of creating an unwanted problem. The “Star Spangled Banner” and the flag remind us of the courageous men and women who fought for our country, and the history that shouldn’t be repeated.
black people in its nation. Kaepernick’s kneel turned into a nationwide protest for people of color being mistreated in the United States.
A flag is a representing emblem for any country. The United States flag represents our freedom as human beings, as outlined in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Not showing respect for the flag, shows disrespect for the individuals who have fought for the ideals the flag represents. Colin Kaepernick’s decision to kneel in front of the flag was spontaneous and extreme, but he certainly could have gone a different way about “protesting” his opinion rather than disrespecting the national anthem:
“I hear you when you say you are unhappy with the way things are going in America. But the answer to what's wrong in America is America -- the aspirations passed down generation after generation and sung in unison week by week. We have a crisis of solidarity. That makes it hard to solve every other problem we have. When you stand and sing the national anthem, you are building a little solidarity, and you're singing a radical song about a radical place” David Brooks states in an article, pursuing his audience how kneeling and protesting is wrong, by New York Times. (Brooks np)
He says that America is America and as a nation, there will always be differences, but disrespecting the flag that the free nation flies, is not the way to protest. Many other people are extremely bothered by Kaepernick’s decision.
Michael Lanagan, the author, from DMOnline, claims:
First, a police officer is 18.5 times more likely to be shot and killed by an African-American than vice versa. Secondly, African-Americans are shot and killed by police less often than whites and Hispanics, according to the FBI Uniform Crime Report. Yet Colin Kaepernick believes African-Americans are suffering from institutionalized racism. (Lanagan np)
He has a very compelling dispute and also adds, “To say that the United States ‘oppresses’ African-Americans or other minorities is laughably false. I have never heard of a country that oppresses a race by allowing a member of that race to be paid $19 million a year to sit down on the bench most of the season” (Lanagan np). Colin Kaepernick’s problem with the misfortune that occurs in our nation daily is misinformed. He thinks blacks are being mistreated in our country, and he wants to make a change by protesting our nations national anthem. Lanagan proceeds on with his article by saying how instead of protesting for a ridiculous matter that Kaepernick believes is wrong to do something about it. He is kneeling in front of a flag that soldiers have fought for, and who continue to fight for our nation. As a nation, it is impossible to get over differences, but by working out the contrast is a way to overcome the differences. Bill Kendall from Genesis CNN, suggest to anybody agreeing with Colin Kaepernick needs to know that our country does everything opposite of oppressing black people. “We have a black president and both the current and former Attorney Generals have been black, this hardly seems like a country that oppresses black people” Kendall states to the protesters (Kendall). On the other hand, others say how it is noble to exercise their First Amendment.
Some people believe that they shouldn’t have to stand during the national anthem, because it a given right, even if they get insulted.
Kendall also stated “It really doesn’t matter. No one is required to stand for the national anthem in the United States of America. Period. The First Amendment expressly forbids making a law that abridges freedom of speech, even if that speech makes people angry” (Kendall np). Although he is correct about the given right, it doesn’t mean it isn’t considered disrespectful. People have died for our nation and for those rights, so the least Colin Kaepernick could do was stand and pay his respect to the men and women who have fought for our freedom. He also says this witty remark towards the end of his article “If it were up to me, the national anthem wouldn’t be played at any sporting event. What’s the point? Why does playing the anthem before a sports event shows some form of respect for the country that isn't necessary for other entertainment” (Kendall np). Many people, who have read what she wrote, would want to strangle Kendall, myself included. The national anthem is played at sporting events because the comparison between a war battle, and sporting rivalries intertwine. The nation loves sports, winning, and patriotism, and the anthem strike all three of those aspects. Kendall then proceeds to tell the audience “Sure, sometimes you make sacrifices for the good of the team. But no one should sacrifice his or her principles, even if it means losing a spot on a team, facing public condemnation or suffering other consequences” (Kendall np). Kaepernick received all of those, in which he deserved every ounce of it. The song may not have been adapted to the nation until 1931, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t get the respect that it deserves and
represents. The differences between America do not define the country, but only makes it stronger. Athletes don’t take other matters into consideration when “doing what is best for them.” Anybody who continues to protest along the side of Colin Kaepernick should understand what the true meaning of our flag represents instead of using their mislead messages to brainwash the rest of the younger audience. American’s are given the right to freely express their opinion, even if it angers the public, and that’s exactly what Kaepernick did, wether those were his intentions or not. He thought there was something wrong with America, but he could have gone a different way about things, instead of creating an unwanted problem. The “Star Spangled Banner” and the flag remind us of the courageous men and women who fought for our country, and the history that shouldn’t be repeated.