A few weeks ago, football star, Colin Kaepernick sat during the National Anthem before the San Francisco 49ers’ game, but it was not due to injury, but for the injustices occurring in our nation. This sent the public info flames, literally. People were burning jerseys left and right in mad protest, calling Kaepernick, "Anti-American, terrorist, or anti-military". Kaepernick’s reasoning, as he told NFL.com’s Steve Wyche, is that he doesn’t want to “Stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color.” Following in Kaepernicks footsteps, Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall, a college teammate of Colin Kaepernick, also took a knee during the playing of the National Anthem before Denver's season opener against Carolina.
This uproar reminded me of my own personal experience. A couple years ago, I hurt my foot. I had to wear a boot, and it was difficult to stand correctly with my crutches, let alone stand at all. I was at a football game and The National Anthem began to play and I was sitting, keeping my foot elevated, but still with my hand over my heart to give my respects to our nation's flag and for the servicemen and servicewomen who have and continue to fight for our flag because that was what I was told to do. While siting, an older man noticed I was not standing all the way. He then started to shout obscenities at me, and tell me, "How much I should be ashamed of myself". He said, "I was just as bad as a terrorist if I did not stand".
"I am as bad as a terrorist?"
After that encounter, I began to question why we stand for the flag. In school, at a very young age, we were taught to stand, and put our hand over our heart, without always knowing what that meant on the surface level. We were then taught to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, without always knowing the meaning behind the lyrics, but were taught to stand for "Liberty and justice for all", to honor the service and the unity of our people, and for the many individuals that have fought and are still fighting for the freedom and opportunities we have as a nation under God. Finally, we are taught the National Anthem because Francis Scott Key anticipated to capture a moment of great importance in our nation’s history and remind us just how many millions of Americans over the last few centuries have contributed to making our nation the best it can be, even through very difficult times. With these pledges and anthems, it shows us that the flag represents freedom, liberty and human rights.
Kaepernick chose to take a stand, or in this case, kneel, for something he believes needs to be captured. He is calling attention to the systemic oppression in our nation, so that maybe we call all equally say, "O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave" and truly mean it. While some say this will not change things, which that could very much be true, you can't deny that it's turning heads. It may not seem effective, but it's clearly affecting people to the point of riots and the burning of jerseys. I think with time, though, this can instill a desire for change, maybe little by little, but it's a start. After all, Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. had to start somewhere, right?
This may not change things, this could change a lot of things, but this could impact a mindset or two, and that can certainly be very effective. Because of our flag, and the people who fought for our flag, we have the freedom to do things such as this. Not to mention Kaepernick's refusal to stand brings honor for all veterans--including those of color, who fought against the very same injustices that he is kneeling for. Despite his numbers, or lack thereof, in the means of support, his kneel stands tall. He isn't burning the flag, telling people not to stand for the pledge, he peacefully took a knee because he believes that there needs to be change.
We all have the right, and were given the right, to have our own opinion, just as much as he does. He is not Un-American. He is not a terroist. We live in a country with all walks of life, and that should include all ways of thinking, too. I commend him, and others like him, that choose to use their platform to stand up for issues they believe in, despite it being an unpopular opinion.
May we all have "Liberty and justice for all".
