United We Kneel? | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Sports

United We Kneel?

A sensitive subject that needed to be addressed...

374
United We Kneel?
NY Mag

Recently, in the news, we've been seeing and hearing Trump's mouth, more important worldly news, and kneeing during the National Anthem. At first, it was mainly just Colin Kaepernick but now it's people all over the country. Here's my stance on the whole ordeal.

Honestly, I see both sides of the situation. Kaepernick and friends are kneeling because 1, it's their right to do so, 2, the great America we live in today has not been particularly "great" to people of color recently, and 3, not everyone has their hands on their hearts during the National Anthem anyway.

On the other hand, I do see where there could be a problem because yes, we live in America, we're free, all of that. The military fights for us. I understand all of that.

But like I said earlier, it's their right to kneel and it's everyone else's right to think it's wrong.

What I love the most about this whole thing is despite what happens to Colin, despite what they try to do to him or what people say, he's still going to kneel for what he believes in. He believes that there is a social injustice. He said he's not going to pledge and stand for "a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color".

It began after the inadmissible shootings of black people by white cops. Which is not often how it's portrayed in the news headlines. It's more like, "Cop shoots black guy who resisted arrest". I'm saying what it is, a white cop shooting a black man, or woman.

Though I understand both sides of the ordeal, I agree with Colin and the cause he's kneeling for. Mainly because it could be me next. Me getting pulled over and killed for reaching for my license and registration. It could be me with my hands up, complying, and still getting killed for "resisting arrest" or "having a knife".

I love this country, but recently I've been loving it a lot less. Now someone reading this may say, "well leave, then. We don't want you here if you don't want to be here". That's not the American way. There are people making others not want to be here anymore because of the injustice, brutality, racism and fear. Fear of me or one of my family members getting killed next.

We are oppressed. We are mistreated. Not me, per say. But my black brothers and sisters. My Hispanic friends. I have, indeed, gone through racially charged situations. I have had racism thrown my way and I was taught to brush it off "as long as they don't touch you". But honestly, if they do touch me, I'd be the one in trouble. Why? I'm the person with the darker skin. I'm more threatening. The width of my nose. The fullness of my lips. The thickness of my hips and the brownness of my eyes is frightening.

So, united we kneel. I'm woke, are you? *Power fist*

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
ross geller
YouTube

As college students, we are all familiar with the horror show that is course registration week. Whether you are an incoming freshman or selecting classes for your last semester, I am certain that you can relate to how traumatic this can be.

1. When course schedules are released and you have a conflict between two required classes.

Bonus points if it is more than two.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

12 Things I Learned my Freshmen Year of College

When your capability of "adulting" is put to the test

3173
friends

Whether you're commuting or dorming, your first year of college is a huge adjustment. The transition from living with parents to being on my own was an experience I couldn't have even imagined- both a good and a bad thing. Here's a personal archive of a few of the things I learned after going away for the first time.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

Economic Benefits of Higher Wages

Nobody deserves to be living in poverty.

302187
Illistrated image of people crowded with banners to support a cause
StableDiffusion

Raising the minimum wage to a livable wage would not only benefit workers and their families, it would also have positive impacts on the economy and society. Studies have shown that by increasing the minimum wage, poverty and inequality can be reduced by enabling workers to meet their basic needs and reducing income disparities.

I come from a low-income family. A family, like many others in the United States, which has lived paycheck to paycheck. My family and other families in my community have been trying to make ends meet by living on the minimum wage. We are proof that it doesn't work.

Keep Reading...Show less
blank paper
Allena Tapia

As an English Major in college, I have a lot of writing and especially creative writing pieces that I work on throughout the semester and sometimes, I'll find it hard to get the motivation to type a few pages and the thought process that goes behind it. These are eleven thoughts that I have as a writer while writing my stories.

Keep Reading...Show less
April Ludgate

Every college student knows and understands the struggle of forcing themselves to continue to care about school. Between the piles of homework, the hours of studying and the painfully long lectures, the desire to dropout is something that is constantly weighing on each and every one of us, but the glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel helps to keep us motivated. While we are somehow managing to stay enrolled and (semi) alert, that does not mean that our inner-demons aren't telling us otherwise, and who is better to explain inner-demons than the beloved April Ludgate herself? Because of her dark-spirit and lack of filter, April has successfully been able to describe the emotional roller-coaster that is college on at least 13 different occasions and here they are.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments