You may or may not have heard about Colin Kaepernick already. He is a quarterback for the San Francisco 49'ers, and he refused to stand for the national anthem.
I know. I know. "This is a free country! He has the right not to stand! The first amendment allows him to freedom of protest". While that is true, it also allows me to rip him a new one.
Colin Karpernick may think he is "taking a stand" by sitting down against the oppression of black people, but tell me exactly WHAT is that going to do besides completely disrespect every person who has fought and died for this country? He does not want to salute a flag that stands for the oppression of black people but - forgive me if I'm wrong - hasn't there been thousands of black people to fight and die for THAT flag?
You want to make a statement Colin Kaepernick? You want to speak out against the "oppression of black people"? Here's an idea, STOP taking that fat check from your white coach for playing football! Maybe join in on a black lives matter protest, you know the kind where the don't desecrate and degrade the American Flag and everything it stands for. The American Flag does not represent White America, Black America or even Brown America, it represents the blood that was shed to make this country free. Men and Women who have laid down their lives for people who are just so ungrateful of the greatest sacrifice of all. It takes a great person to lay down their life for people who care so little.
I have no respect for you, Colin Kaepernick. It infuriates me to think that you get paid more to throw a ball around - and completely disrespect your country - than someone who LAYS DOWN THEIR LIFE for people who don't even know them. PLEASE tell me what is so horrible that the Men and Women who are across seas, the Men and Women who are dead fighting for this country, have ever done to you?
America may not be what it was, it may not be the best country in the world, but our people will selflessly put down their lives for people who couldn't care less. I'm not denying the fact that there is racism in America, but this country allows more opportunity for any colored race than any other country. You want oppression? Move to a country where you are beaten, stoned, and murdered on the streets just for being Gay. Try being a Woman where you have an arranged marriage at 12. Try being a Woman in a country where they're treated like publicly beaten and raped because they are seen as less than a human being.
Show some respect. You want to take a stand against oppression? Fine, that's okay. There are other ways you can take a stand, but don't do it by disrespecting the people who have died for you. Black. White. Asian. Mexican. We all bleed the same. They all bled for all us.
