I'm sure that if you're reading this article, are an American citizen, and don't live completely under a rock, you probably already have an idea of and even some sort of opinion on the topic I'm going to discuss: the controversy over NFL players and their kneeling during the National Anthem.

I know this is a very polarizing subject, and I completely respect everyone's opinion on the matter. The beauty of this country is the fact that we CAN believe different things, and that we are exposed to a plethora of alternate opinions than our own. Freedom of speech, the press, assembly, petition and religion, as highly debated and as tested as they are, are wonderful things that we far too often fail to appreciate fully. It is undoubtedly a blessing to be lucky enough to live in a country where we are free to express ourselves and our thoughts so freely.

And yet, time and time again, when presented with situations that appear to call into question these rights, we seem to forget the true meaning of them.

When Colin Kaepernick chose to kneel, he was exercising his right. He didn't break any laws. He didn't defy any NFL rules. And there is nothing you can say, think, or do to make that untrue.

The American flag, the national anthem, and what they represent are ambiguous — they cannot be defined one way or another, because different people value them differently. What you see as patriotism, others would see a long history of oppression. It is perfectly within anyone's rights to think one way or another (or something completely different).

It's also within an American's rights to try to convince others to understand their position. Mr. Kaepernick's purpose was not to disrespect anyone, it was to use his platform to make a point against a symbol that, to him, represents racial inequality and police brutality.

Whether you're offended by Colin Kaepernick and his colleagues, or irritated that your precious football time was "interrupted by politics" and though I personally encourage you to look past your own feelings and try to empathize with his, none of this ultimately matters; it is their freedom to kneel, and that's all that really counts.