As an extremely biased Seahawks fan, I don't like Colin Kaepernick. That's why I wasn't surprised when I saw in the news he was being criticized. At the beginning of a preseason football game, they played "The Star-Spangled Banner" and the San Francisco 49'ers quarterback did not stand for the national anthem.
Kaepernick explained to 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. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder." Joining Kaepernick in his 'anti-America' stand (or I guess in this case sit), is soccer player Megan Rapinoe. Rapinoe decided to kneel during the anthem because of the mistreatment of members of the LGBTQ+ Community, much like herself. Rapinoe was quoted, saying: “Being a gay American, I know what it means to look at the flag and not have it protect all of your liberties. It was something small that I could do and something that I plan to keep doing in the future and hopefully spark some meaningful conversation around it.”The thing is there's a difference between the flag and what it represents versus the national anthem. Burning an American flag would show the anger and frustration they have towards this country, and it's legal system.
These athletes not standing for the flag shows they have complete disrespect for the United States Military. Most people will say that this has nothing to do with the military and not standing for the anthem is only about the injustice we've seen in this country because yes, the bigger picture is people standing up for the mistreatment of minorities in this country and making a statement, and not about the military.
However, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is literally about the military, and more specifically the War of 1812 and the official freedom The United States had from the British. It becomes about the military because our national anthem is a military thing. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson ordered that "The Star-Spangled Banner" be played at every military ceremony and other appropriate occasions.
"The Star-Spangled Banner" began being played at Major League Baseball games in 1918, after the United States joined World War I. At first at the beginning of games patriotic rituals were performed while the band played different patriotic songs.
And it wasn't until a Cubs versus Red Sox game where "The Star-Spangled Banner" was played in the seventh inning, that it became customary to play the national anthem at a sporting event until the war was over.
After World War I ended the national anthem was only played on special occasions or holidays, and it wasn't until World War II it became customary to play the national anthem at the beginning of every sporting event.
You can call it fighting for a cause all you want, but the thing is the national anthem of this country does not represent the rights of a United States citizen. From it's beginning to end, "The Star-Spangled Banner" represents our troops.
And if Kaepernick wants to combat police brutality, do something that will disrespect the police. Because being a police officer is a government job. Not a military one.
Branches of the military don't even associate with the police officers we civilians see every day. The Navy, Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard all have their own police officers within their branch.
Disrespecting our military has nothing to do with police.
If you want to protest our troops and disrespect them, fine. Sit during the national anthem, that's one way to do it. But at least know what you're doing.
I support Kaepernick and Rapinoe's right to freedom of speech.
I really do.
But if they are serious about trying to make a point about the injustice that their people face, at least protest the right thing. At least put forth the effort and research the symbolism behind the action you're taking.
