Dear Colin,

So you took it upon yourself to kneel as the American Flag was raised and the National Anthem played at your first football game of the NFL season. You took it upon yourself to make a political statement when you knew millions of people would be watching you. You knew you could convince your fellow football players to kneel just as you did. Congrats, now it's happening all over the country and it's causing quite a controversy.

Let me ask you, Colin, did you know that since the Revolutionary War, over 1.1 million Americans of all races, genders, and creeds have died for the very same flag that you kneeled before? Do you know the feeling that mother of a soldier gets when she gets the news that her son will not be coming home? Did you know that the same American flag that you kneeled down in front of would cover her son's casket? No. You don't. You clearly have no idea. Because you, being an overly paid NFL star think of no one but yourself, and getting your 15 minutes of fame. So you tried to be political and make a name for yourself as an activist. Good for you, now people know your name. They know you as the guy who started the new "trend" to disrespect your country. And yes, it's a trend, because people are doing it on other NFL teams, other sports, and even in high schools.

Look, I get it. You're pissed off, you feel oppressed, you feel like this country has failed you. You think that you're just a little fish in a big pond and no one understands. I understand that there are issues in this country that need to be addressed. But there are so many other ways to deal with these issues that don't involve dishonoring a flag that means everything to so many people. A flag that should mean everything to you. The flag represents this country's history. It represents the first people to step foot on American soil from England, it represents the mistakes we have made regarding slavery, as well as the mistakes made regarding segregation, and it represents the bond we felt as a country after the attacks of 9/11. Our past, present, and future are all held within that flag. For you to blatantly disrespect that is not right. I get why you did it. I mean, the flag does represent your right to freedom of speech, which you definitely acted upon. But next time you take a knee during the National Anthem and look up at the flag, please, just remember what it means to others, not just yourself.