First it was Colin Kaepernick, then it was Eric Reid. Then Jeremy Lane, Megan Rapinoe, Brandon Marshall, Arian Foster, Michael Thomas, Kenny Stills, Jelani Jenkins, Marcus Peters, Martellus Bennet, Devin McCourtty, Robert Quinn, Kenny Britt, all of Garfield High School’s football players and coaches, the players of Laguna Creek High school, Howard University cheerleaders, and Indiana Fever.
I could go on.
You are born in the United States of America, a nation which actually grants you the right to not stand for the national anthem. You are a citizen of the United States of America, which means you are all allowed to say anything at any time. Oh and Kaepernick, you don’t live in a nation that “oppresses” African-Americans if you're allowed to make $19 million a year sitting on a bench as a back up for Blaine Gabbert. Nor do you live in an “oppressed" nation that has an elected African-American president for eight years.
"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick told the NFL Media. "This is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way," Kaepernick said. "There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”
I support our first amendment — the freedom of speech. Which you have used to voice your opinions but that also means I can voice mine. Ironic that while Kaepernick barely touches a ball, making $19 million, there are far underpaid U.S. soldiers that consist of multiple races, religions, and sexes that would risk or even give up their lives without question to save and protect his. But maybe he doesn't realize this. Maybe he also doesn't realize that he gets the opportunity to be a lifetime mega millionaire with a passer rating of 88.4, freely expressing his rights in a country he proclaims to not appreciate. And I say so in regard to a tweet he had sent out about the Confederate flag and American flag that stated:
“The fact that you really believe there is difference in these flags means that you’re ignoring history.”
The post was eventually taken down but the message was clear. I mean what kind of a naive analysis is that? Kaepernick’s opinions further divide the people of this country and disrespects the veterans that fought for his right to sit down.
I continue to sing with my right hand over my heart,
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?