I respect Kaepernick for taking a stand, but I believe he is targeting the wrong "enemy." Taking a stand (or a seat) against America is not going to solve the problem.

Yes, I see the brokenness in America. I see people continuing to fight for their freedoms and rights. I see the way many white Americans still put down black people and look at them with the connotations of dirty, in the “hood,” or “ghetto.” But for some of them, is this wrong? Are they breaking outside of what they are known as? Maybe slowly, but some of it is still true. If you saw a white boy with sagging pants and chains with tattoos and backwards hat, many people would think the same of them: “They must be from the ‘ghetto’.” How many of us look at those businessmen and lawyers and go, “Wow, you’re rich. You must selfish and rude and a cheat.” But yet, are we proving any of them wrong?

Yes, in America we must be thankful that our law states that every person has the right to be treated equal. They don’t get that everywhere. But just because our law states that all should be treated equal, not all people will look at you as their equal. I am a female and many guys look at me as if I am weak or not a great athlete or can’t hold my own when being knowledgeable about cars, sports, politics, or the world. But, in many circles, I have worked to prove them wrong. I have worked to show them I can get just as good of scores as many of them in math and science. I have proved to them I can throw football or hit a baseball or run just as fast. Sometimes I lose but I make sure I was pretty dang close and didn’t go down without a good fight and effort given. I have shown them I am not just talking about airheaded things but I involve myself in the world and seek to know. If I did live the stereotype, though, why not let everyone think that of me?

How many of the females representing us in America, prove the stereotype wrong? Look at our Lady America award and competition. How many of us sit and laugh and just watch them talk with “big words” when they have no clue what they are saying. What about movies? It is sad and pathetic. But its getting better! Look at the strong women we now have in politics. Remember Ann Richards and the influence she had through the many offices she served in for Texas?

I can expect people to think of me with a negative stereotype because this had been the majority truth for a very long time. But if I want people to think differently about me and have a different approach about what they first think of other females, I am going to live differently. I am going to prove the stereotype wrong.

People are always going to make judgments by first impressions. Some of them are stupid and wrong. I am sorry on behalf of this country that we seem to still split and argue like children saying, “These people aren’t being nice to me.” But look around! At least you have rights as a person to do something about it. Everyone has another person who does not treat them how a person should be treated. Every human should be respected and valued just for the fact that they are a person and a life.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" -- Declaration of Independence

But once again our country should not be blamed for certain stereotypes being the forefront in people’s minds. Our country has done all it can to erase those. Look at our president. Look at some of our best doctors. Look at our politicians. Every race and color is slowly being incorporated. But these are the people working to break out of the stereotype and show people what they really are. Do not take it out on our country, because our country is one that stands on laws acknowledging rights and freedom for all.

Our flag represents the liberty we have that we can fly every day honoring lives that were given for these rights and the freedom we lawfully possess. When we stand to pledge to the flag, we say “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America… with LIBERTY and JUSTICE for all.” This is what is fought for when these soldiers lay down their lives. What were we fighting for in the Revolutionary War? FREEDOM. Religious freedom, freedom to have a voice in the government, freedom to have rights. This is what our laws represent. This is what the president swears to protect when he steps into office. (Article II. Section 1. Clause 8). This is what each individual should fight for in their workplace, on the street, and for their neighbors.

But stereotypes come from each individual and what they think personally of others. It can be influenced by their friends and their community, but nonetheless, it is the individual.

So stand up for the flag and the rights you know you have by living in America. Defend it. Stand up for America, the country where you have a voice, freedom, liberty, and rights. Do not just say, “Screw it, Americans are not treating everyone the same.” Are you not an American too? So defend it stand up for the country striving to “secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.” Help one another in striving to make the American virtues a reality. Bring the areas to light where we are lacking in equality. You be the difference. Prove the stereotypes wrong.