The newest Nike ad shows former San Fransisco 49's quarterback Colin Kaepernick as one of the faces celebrating its 30th anniversary of their catchphrase "Just Do It." When Kaepernick appears in the ad, his face is shown along with the text, "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything."
This phrase alludes to when Kaepernick started kneeling during the national anthem in order to bring attention to the injustices that African-American people in this country face. I for one completely agree with him. There's no doubt that there is a clear socioeconomic inequality among black and white people in our country.
Additionally, I stand with Kaepernick because it is his right to protest the nation and the flag if he wants to.
In totality, the flag represents our unity as a nation after it was crafted in 1777. Our country (young colonies at the time) had just declared independence from Great Britain and was amidst winning the Revolutionary War. The flag was created to represent the young country's strength and solidarity during that time of war. Kaepernick explains that this is what he is protesting, a country that is not united as one but divided in terms of race. From 2016 to now, our country has been in a state of turmoil in terms of social issues. We've seen movements like Black Lives Matter, the March for our Lives, the Women's March, etc. These interest groups bring attention to the downfalls of America's society today in hopes to find resolutions to problems like the inequality of minority groups.
Our country is divided more than ever as of late, and through these protests, many are seeking common ground in hopes of advancing further socially.
The reaction of people when it comes to Kaepernick's ad with Nike has been mixed. Many like myself have supported the ad with full fledge. His ideologies of a split nation that needs to be unified are admirable and respectable. Additionally, his protest is brave to conduct on a national level, and the continuation of said protest is commendable when one loses their job and faces public disdain. Politics may not belong in football, but football isn't a way of life like politics.
On the other hand, many have become outraged. Some claim that Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem is a complete act of disrespect to the men and women who bravely fight for our nation. In all reality, though, these men and women fight for his First Amendment right to kneel and protest. To protest Kaepernick fully exercising his First Amendment right doesn't make sense. Whether you align with his political views or not, to protest his right is also protecting your own right granted to you by the First Amendment.
These same people that have fought Kaepernick and his supporters are mangling and burning their Nike clothing articles. Nothing pisses me off more than that. Instead of burning or ruining a very expensive brand of clothing, there is so much good that can be done from that. For example, you could simply donate your clothing to homeless veterans in the nation, impoverished children in your community or even on the international level to kids who don't have shoes in third-world countries. You have the right to protest Colin Kaepernick's views, but to destroy something that you could do good with is complete nonsense.
In totality, I think that this debate will be something that our country discusses for a few short weeks but never finds middle ground on. I for one will strongly stand (or, in this case, kneel) with Kaepernick in order to protect those that are not fully represented in this country, meanwhile defending his First Amendment right and my own.
