Colin Kaepernick, quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, chose not to stand for the National Anthem at a recent pre-season football game. Players are not required to stand under NFL rules, and Kaepernick was clear about his reasons to remain seated, stating ”I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” Subsequently, he has given interviews about his decision, and the well-thought out reasons behind it.
While Kaepernick has seen some support, he has also faced enormous backlash for his decision – from pundits, from current and former NFL players, from the San Francisco Police Officers’ Association, and predictably, he has been skewered mercilessly on Twitter and in the online commentary sections of various websites.
Some of the online criticism has been of the typically jingoistic “my country – love it or leave it” or “my country – right or wrong” variety that tends to become prevalent when legitimate protest involves the flag, the Pledge of Allegiance or the National Anthem. And these types of criticism are particularly troubling, because they are designed to tell people “you can’t be a good American if you don’t honor this symbol in a particular way.”
I have spent the majority of my career working for the federal government. I am proud to work in a building where the American flag flies, and where pictures of the President and Vice-President are in the lobby. I understand the power and meaning of symbols. And it precisely the power and meaning of symbols that makes protests involving them so resonant – and necessary. I don’t know much about football, but I do know something about the First Amendment. Kaepernick’s actions are fully-protected free speech, and the type of peaceful public protest that has been central to social justice movements.
And for those whose response to Kaepernick is “my country — right or wrong,” it’s time to look at the response to that quote by US Senator Carl Schurz in 1899. Schurz decried the statement as “a deceptive cry of mock patriotism”, and went on to state that the “welfare of this and coming generations of Americans will be secure only as we cling to the watchword of true patriotism: ‘Our country — when right to be kept right; when wrong to be put right.’”
Kaepernick saw something he thought was wrong in his country. Like generations of Americans before him, he engaged in a peaceful public protest to bring attention to that wrong, and to make a statement as to how it needed to be put right. And for that he should not be vilified, but applauded.
December 25, 2024
He is right in what he says, and is entitled to express his opinion and make a stand. Black Lives Matter and the more people who shout out about injustice the better the world will understand. Mohamad Ali refused to fight in Vietnam because those yellow brothers had never refused to serve him or called him nigger. When our country goes bad we need people to stand up and be counted saying this is wrong and needs changing.
Reblogged this on Random Ramblings; Myriad Musings and commented:
Colin Kaerpernick – he has my deep respect.
[…] In the midst of controversy over his protest of the national anthem, Colin Kaepernick is using the spotlight to address the issues he says inspired his stance. […]
Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
#ISitWithColin …. “Like generations of Americans before him, he engaged in a peaceful public protest to bring attention to that wrong, and to make a statement as to how it needed to be put right. And for that he should not be vilified, but applauded.”
No, he showed extreme disrespect to America, and he offended Americans across this great country who chose to buy tickets for the event or to turn on their televisions. While he may have his opinion and is entitled to first amendment rights, those should be expressed off the job. His actions are not patriotic; he demonstrates anti-patriotic or anti-American action on national television. Instead of recognizing and appreciating what one can achieve in America, he discourages kids from believing they can work hard for their dreams to come true in this country. All the while doing this, he collects millions upon millions only possible in this country, and exhibits offensive behavior while on the job thus setting up young people who copy this for difficulty maintaining employment should they do the same.
I am so confused by your post. How has CK’ s stand discouraged children form believing that they can achieve their goals? So, you are worried about his paycheck but not worried about the paycheck of the owner who called NFL football players inmates? I guess one’s rights as an American disappear when one goes to work? Also, I don;t understand how he is setting young people up. I work in a public school setting and when my supervisor said that we must all stand for the pledge- I gently reminded her that she couldn’t make anyone stand for the pledge of allegiance. I advised her that expressing that could set her up for a lawsuit. People who think that a flag and a song have more value than people’s lives to me aren’t even worthy of having this discussion with. How one expresses his/her patriotism is an individual choice. What good are rights if they cannot be exercised to the fullest.
[…] and instead, the piece features ten people close to the former 49ers quarterback who spoke about what the protest means to them and what we can do, as a nation, to keep speaking out against […]
[…] has been a polarizing figure since he began protesting social injustices by kneeling during the national anthem two years ago. Kaepernick’s representatives, led by celebrity attorney Mark Geragos, filed a suit […]
[…] has been a polarizing figure since he began protesting social injustices by kneeling during the national anthem two years ago. Kaepernick’s representatives, led by celebrity attorney Mark Geragos, filed a suit […]