Whether you're a football fan or not, chances are, you've heard about the Colin Kaepernick scandal. Colin Kaepernick, quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers recently "sat down to take a stand"—and people are pissed. At a preseason game between the 49ers and the Green Bay Packers, Kaepernick remained seated during the playing of national anthem.

After a particularly violent and racially charged summer, Kaepernick explained to critics, "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color." As Chip Kelly, 49ers head coach, went on to express, it's Kaepernick's "right as a citizen" to choose whether or not to participate in the celebration of the national anthem. And I agree.

Especially considering all of the violence and police brutality that involved POC in 2016 so far, I don't see Kaepernick's refusal to stand during the national anthem as offensive or even as a shock. Personally, I support his decision. He's using his voice in order to spread a message to those who follow him. He's using his voice without actually saying anything.

Silent and peaceful protesting is exactly what people have asked the POC community to do, in an effort to decrease unruly violence. So why is it that when a POC tries to do just that, they are being criticized?

I'm sure some people have a hard time imagining ever disrespecting the United States by doing something such as refusing to stand for the national anthem. However, in the grand scheme of things, is it really that big of a deal? The reality is, many of the people who are upset by this have never been oppressed in this country. Many of the people who are upset by this are not people of color.

If Colin Kaepernick doesn't want to stand for the national anthem, that's fine by me. I stand with him as he sits.