All over the United States of America, football fans, and even those not interested in football are up in arms over the recent image of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick sitting during the national anthem at the 49ers most recent preseason game. The image of Kaepernick sitting during the national anthem has turned Kaepernick into public enemy number one for most football fans, and Americans in general. Kaepernick was quoted as saying "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."
Flash back for a moment to the 2012-2013 NFL football season. Alex Smith, a veteran quarterback of the 49ers was pioneering a playoff run, when mid-season he suffered a concussion and was sidelined for two games. This injury was just the opening that Colin Kaepernick needed to start his career. He successfully filled the void left by the injury to Smith, and impressed coach Jim Harbaugh enough to create a controversy over the position. Alex Smith possessed accuracy, experience, and the 3rd highest passer rating in the league at the time. Meanwhile, Colin Kaepernick, though very raw, possessed speed, a live arm, and competitive fire. Harbaugh, though adamant that the assignment was on a week to week basis, named Kaepernick the starter. Kaepernick would guide that 49ers team to the Super Bowl, where they would eventually lose to the Baltimore Ravens. But, though he lost, in the end, Kaepernick still personally won. Alex Smith would go to the Kansas City Chiefs the next season, and Kaepernick had risen to stardom.
Back to the present now. Kaepernick has hit a steep decline in performance, losing his job last year, and has been fighting for playing time ever since. Many believe that this national anthem fiasco is a result of a personal downward spiral of Kaepernick, that may see his career end as fast as it began. Many believe that Kaepernick is disrespecting the country that made him wealthy, and that due to his position, he should be reprimanded, and should not speak out in such a manner.
But, is it possible that Colin Kaepernick just did the most American thing that you could do? ..
At this point, I'm sure many of you will stop reading this article. You'll probably go straight to the comments and say something like "If he doesn't like this country, he should get out!". But, hear me out.
America. The land of the free, and the home of the brave. The land that was created so that people may have the freedom of speech. The land that was created to escape oppression. The land where we have the freedom of expression, and the land where we have the freedom to peacefully protest.
Regardless of how you feel about the racial tension in the nation, and yes there is tension. Colin Kaepernick took a stand (or a sit) for what he believed in. It takes a lot of courage to sit there as those beautiful words fill the air. Wanting to believe that what that song represents applies to all. Many of you will comment "It doesn't take courage to sit there during the national anthem, it takes courage to fight for your country". To that I say, that fallacy is overplayed, there are many types of courage, and it knowing you will lose perhaps millions of fans, and will become hated nationwide overnight, takes a ton of courage. Colin Kaepernick did the most American thing you can do, by standing up for what he believes in, and using his position, sacrificing his fame to help people who need it. That it is not disrespectful to our nation, or the soldiers who fought for it. After all, our soldiers go out there and fight every day to preserve that very freedom of speech.
