I am not much for the “Open Letter To Whoever” trend. Frankly, it gets over done. I’ve never had much use for it- until now. I try to shy away from any type of media rant as well, they are also overused- but this is rant worthy. This article should likely begin with a disclaimer. However, it speaks for itself. Perhaps rather loudly, and through strong, impassioned opinions, but I assure you, it comes from a place of experience, and a place of love for our nation and reverence for those who have fought for our freedoms.
Some days ago, Colin Kaepernick, the quarterback for the San Francisco 49’ers, made national news headlines when he refused to stand for the National Anthem at a recent pre-season NFL game against the Green Bay Packers stating that he was “not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” and as promised he remained seated. He chose to use this opportunity to “make a statement”, to gain attention, to take a stand against patriotism.
It has been said to me that Kaepernick was doing nothing more than exercising his freedoms, that the fact that he is indeed able to institute such a protest that will likely garner backlash, and that he can do so without fear of punishment or imprisonment lends somewhat of a beauty to this “stand” that he has chosen to take. This is what makes America great. There is an amount of truth to that statement. We do live in a nation where we are free to exercise our opinions, and our beliefs. However, I call bullsh** on Mr. Kaepernick and his “stand”.
I also feel compelled to say that honestly I am not certain how much “oppression” Kaepernick has faced in the nearly three decades of his life. He was born to a teenage mother, yes. That same mother made the courageous decision to allow him to be adopted so that he might have a better life, and a better life is what he had, being adopted by white, middle class parents. He had the privilege of being an athlete at a somewhat early age, even having the goal to one day play the position of quarterback for the 49’ers. That is the stuff dreams are made of, the American dream to be more precise. While I am unable to say whether or not young Colin was ever oppressed, or harassed for being bi-racial, all evidence points to Kaepernick being far more knowledgeable about white privilege than he is “black oppression”.
What Colin what’s his face has done is spat in the faces, and on the graves, of each and every soldier that has died in the battlefields, the jungles, the deserts, and on the beaches of our globe, and on the soil of this very nation, to fight for freedom, our freedom, his freedom. He is disregarding every veteran, those wounded so deeply in mind, body, and spirit, who fought for the very freedom that he is abusing.
My suggestion is that since Colin Kaepernick believes he has such great knowledge about black oppression that he perhaps take a turn and serve his country so he might come to understand the sacrifice that was made so he could have the freedom to exercise his beliefs with such open disrespect. Mr. Kaepernick needs to learn what war is, and what it does to those who serve, and how families, generations are forever changed by it. Mr. Kaepernick needs to learn the sounds of “the bombs bursting in air”, and the whistle in the air as an RPG is incoming. Mr. Kaepernick needs to understand what it is like to watch his comrades lose their lives for the sake of the freedom that he has taken for granted.
We are all created equal, and that is expressed in Biblical Scripture as well as by our founding fathers. So, Mr. Kaepernick, I suggest instead of making a mockery of our nation’s freedom and the sacrifices made to earn that freedom, to maintain that freedom, and making a mockery of those who have been truly oppressed, those who remain in poverty, and those who continue to suffer, I suggest you either pick up a weapon and guard your post or kindly close your mouth, because you appear to know little about oppression, and nothing about personal sacrifice.
And Mr. Kaepernick, it has been said, worn on t-shirts, and exploited in recent months that “Black Lives Matter”- and they do, they matter because ALL lives matter. So, in the future, STAND when the National Anthem fills the stadium. Show some respect for those who have fought for the freedom for you to behave this way and make tens of millions of dollars in annual salary. And here’s a thought, why don’t you take a portion of those earnings and help a veteran, or ten. Be worthy of the freedoms, and the privilege that you have.
