If you belong to any social media platform out there, chance are you've seen and heard about the controversy surrounding NFL player Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers. Kaepernick sat down during the playing of the National Anthem at a pre-season game this year, stating that he would not "show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and other people of color". This was in reference to a slue of events that essentially gained the attention of the Black Lives Matter movement.
I'm sick of hearing about this. You know why? Because it is his choice. If he doesn't want to stand for the flag, then so be it. If he wants to protest, and do so in this way, then so be it. He has the right to do so. Just like you, and me, every other person in this country. I'm not saying that I agree with him. I'm saying that it's no one else's business or choice than his. As far as I've seen he hasn't harmed anyone by doing this. Right? He's not standing in the middle of highways blocking cars on their way to work, or maybe a funeral, a hospital, etc. Frankly I'd rather see the BLM movement protest in this way than potentially endangering the lives of thousands of people by blocking roadways. Everyone needs to get over it. I'm not saying that anyone should agree with his choice or support his choice. All I'm saying is that it's really none of anyone else's concern, and that's what I feel everyone needs to understand.
Secondly, there are far more pressing and important things we as a country should be worrying about. How about Brock Turner? The rapist who served 3 months of a measly 6 month sentence for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman? Or the case of Alayna Ertl here in Minnesota, who was abducted by a family friend who kidnapped, raped and murdered her? Or even Jacob Wetterling, who was also abducted, raped, murdered, and wasn't found for 27 years? Imagine if people were as vocally outraged about rape and rapists going free/not serving long enough sentences as they are about a damn NFL player not standing for the National Anthem. Boy would this country be much different.
What would you rather care about? Someone who is exercising their right(s) by not standing for the flag, or the fact that nearly 100,000 people are raped in a year and only 25% of rapists are arrested? Think about that for a moment.
No matter how you feel about it, anyone has the right to not stand for the flag. It's time to move on and focus on the things that are happening in this country that really matter.
