San Francisco 49ers Colin Kaepernick threw himself into a sea of controversy during the the third preseason game.
Kaepernick took a knee during the singing of the national anthem. Many people were flabbergasted to say the least. Football fans watching the game took his action as a sign of disrespect. When asking why he did the act he did, Kaepernick told NFL Media "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color."
People are getting over their heads about this. Many individuals started taking Kaepernick's stance way too personally. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion about the issue, but at the end of the day, it was his constitutional right. Under the first amendment, everyone has a right to freedom of speech. Whether or not it pleases everyone's views, nothing that he did was constitutionally wrong.
The NFL released a statement after the incident stating that "players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the National Anthem." Kaepernick was not the only person to use his position to raise awareness of minority equality in the United States. Lebron James and Chris Paul are a few others to use their popularity to their advantage.
Kaepernick knew what he was doing. He was aware that not many people would support him on this issue. “If they take football away, my endorsements from me, I know that I stood up for what is right," he told NFL Media.
This can be compared to how some people don't say the Pledge of Allegiance in school. Many students and staff don't agree with the “Under God” portion of the pledge and therefore stay silent during the reciting. This is their choice and their right to decide to stay silent. Same situation with Kaepernick. He did not feel it was right to stand for the country that oppresses people of color.
Other teams have been following in Kaepernick’s footsteps. Four members of the Miami Dolphins took a knee during the anthem in Seattle on September 11th. Arian Foster, Jelani Jenkins, WR Kenny Stills and S Michael Thomas all stood for the acknowledgement of 9/11 but kneeled during the singing of the anthem. Jeremy Lane of the Seattle Seahawks has also taken a stand behind Kaepernick. He was seen sitting during the anthem at a previous game, as well as linking arms with fellow teammates during the match on 9/11.
Show your opinions, react in an orderly manner. But once it comes to, maybe he wasn’t right but it was his right according to the constitution.
