In the light of our country being divided on issues such as the #BlackLivesMatter movement, including how Colin Kaepernick is showing his protest by taking a knee during the national anthem, I've observed how different people handle it all. Some support it while others have resorted to extremes such as burning Kaepernick's jersey. The one question I have is when did America started becoming the home of controlled opinions?

Now I'm not telling anyone that they have to be on any certain side. Instead I'm trying to open peoples' eyes to the realization that we began as a country fighting to have our own rights. Rights that include to have our own opinion on different things. In an article by USA Today, Kaepernick said that he has received death threats over the past few weeks regarding his protest. "If something like that were to happen, you've proved my point." Kaepernick said. Now keep in mind the only was Kaepernick has protested in by taking a knee during the anthem, no violent act of beating anyone up to get vengeance. However, some 49ers fans took to social media to express their opinions by publishing videos of them burning Kaepernick's jersey; two fans even had the national anthem playing in the background while it happened. Ironic isn't it? I really do not see a point to showing so much hate over someone's beliefs. Isn't that technically hypocritical of the hateful fans since they feel their beliefs are supposed to conformed to?

If you follow the link below you will see one of the 49ers fans that was burning Kaepernick's jersey while playing the national anthem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgIU06ZYK-Q

Instead of people telling Kaepernick he should leave the country, as they have, including Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, which is real rich coming from Mr. Oppression himself, I think that people criticizing Kaepernick's actions should look further. They should look at what led Kaepernick to kneel in the first place. There is a problem in our country. There are people dying, unarmed people, people with loved ones who can't comprehend that their loved one was taken from them.

Come on America, we are better than this. Listen to the lyrics that you hold so dear to your heart: "Land of the free, home of the brave." Free, freedom to stand up for they believe is right. Have your different opinions, but respect one another enough to not unleash hate.