For the past week or two, the media has been stirring and scrambling over San Francisco 49ers Quarterback, Colin Kaepernick and his recent sit-down protest at one of the games.
During the National Anthem, Kaepernick was sitting, rather than standing, to "make a statement" about our country. Coming from a blue collar family, this act of protest is one of great disrespect.
I have multiple family members who have proudly served our country. My grandfather was in the NYPD, my father is a retired firefighter in the FDNY, and I have friends across the country currently serving, so this greatly affects me.
I have kept quiet about politics and issues in mainstream media because I don't want to "offend" or "TRIGGER" anyone, but honestly, I have been feeling very fed up with the way our society has been treating these types of situations.
I would first off like to start out with how I do understand that Kaepernick has the right to sit during the National Anthem because he has the freedom to do so -- but because of "the oppression of black people in the country?" I don't think we should forget about where Kaepernick comes from: how his biological parents left him and he was adopted by a white couple, and not to mention that he was fined at one of his games for using racial slurs about another black player on the field.
What I don't find surprising is that President Obama has been endorsing and defending Kaepernick's actions by saying, "Kaepernick was exercising his constitutional right to make a statement." Although this is true, was Kaepernick really making a statement, or was he just making the race war we currently face even worse? I expected Obama to defend Kaepernick: during his past eight years in office, he basically started the race war we know today, that is, with the help of the increasing amount of advanced technology. This just adds fuel to the fire.
Another point I would like to make is that people are defending Kaepernick because he has his right to express his personal beliefs, but when Denver Broncos Quarterback, Tim Tebow, kneels and prays on the field to show gratitude, he is criticized and told to take his beliefs elsewhere.
If Kaepernick really wanted to make a statement, he would do so by helping the minorities that are oppressed in cities, towns, and busy communities instead of just sitting on the sidelines and justifying his actions by whining about how his race is being oppressed. He would donate his time and the millions of dollars that he has to make a change -- not disrespect our flag, because I don't know about you, but when I stand up and put my hand to my heart, I am thankful for all that is right in our country, and not focused on what is wrong.
