This past weekend I was upset by what I saw Colin Kaepernick do during the national anthem before his preseason NFL game. If you aren't aware, Kaepernick is a quarterback for the San Fransisco 49ers and he chose to sit down during the playing of the national anthem. When asked about it he said, "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.” Understandably there has been an incredible amount of responses from all across the spectrum, from one of his former teammates calling him a 'f---ing idiot' to other players agreeing to join in on this 'protest'. In light of the tidal wave of responses that flurried in over the weekend I thought I would share my response to what he's doing, and what I think should actually be done to help us get over our nation's racial divide.

Just because you have the right to doesn't mean you should.

One of the biggest defenses I heard for what CK did was that, "Well it is his First Amendment right to free speech, you can't get mad at him for upholding what is his right." To which I want to respond and say of course he has the right to protest. No one is saying he doesn't have the right. What I want to say is he is an absolute idiot for doing so. Dorian Maijed, a U.S. veteran who was an Army Ranger is pictured below.

In an interview with IJR he responded to Kaepernick's actions and said, "“I understand Kaepernick’s intention, however I disagree with his means... As a member of a national organization, reaping the benefits of a country that apparently oppresses people who look like him, his argument is thin on a personal level."

We are getting better.

Majied spoke further on the subject, saying, “To refuse to stand for the National Anthem is his right as an American, and I support that right, however I do not agree with that action.

There are a myriad of other ways to conduct social protest for people of color, that don’t, whether by intent or otherwise, ignore the American principles that have given rise to extreme integration within a single American generation.

My father was born without the right to vote and in one generation I’ve been blessed to lead amongst the world’s greatest fighting force.”

I expect quite a bit of disagreement with the point I am about to make, but that's okay because it is what I am observing. Our nation has made great strides in the area of racism. Compared to the rest of the world our freedom, inclusiveness and unity is very great. Only 60 years ago we had segregated schools. 62 years ago not all black people could vote. 150 years ago men in this country saw their brothers as property. Our nation started from a horrible, horrible place with racial divide. We are making progress.I see our racial divide growing thinner, especially in my personal life but also around the country, and given time (unless BLM and political correctness ruins the whole thing) I believe we will get there. I don't think the new wave of 'safe spaces', PC atittudes, microagressions and hating white males will do anything to help further this cause and I actually think our new society is making it harder for us to progress.

It goes back to what I said in my article What The Lives Matter Movements Have Wrong. When we don't see the value in others, humanity's worst comes out.

What change is he hoping comes from this?

Kaepernick claimed until he sees "change significant enough that the flag represents what I believe it is meant to" he will continue to sit. My question is what comes now? So he sits through the anthem, cool. It makes headlines sure, But will this protest help the problems he's whining about? Will he go to police stations and help them improve their relations with their citizens? Will he donate money to improve the hoods which suffer so mightily from absent fathers, rampant drug use and generational felon-ism?

I'm not saying I have money to donate to fund major solutions, but I'll go work at the City Rescue Mission. I'll go ask my friends who are black or Hispanic or Asian how I can be a better friend and a more aware individual. I'll go and pray for my friends and for my nation and for healing of our racial anger and injustice.

I am not saying I am the perfect example or even a great one. I am just saying that if we don't make an effort in our personal lives to fix the issues plaguing our society one day, one relationship, one person at a time, then what's the point of hashtags and silent marches?

Colin Kaepernick, whether you sit, stand or put your headphones in when our national anthem is playing makes no difference. If you're not a part of the solution than you're part of the problem.

Malachi 2:10 "Do we not all have one father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously each against his brother so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?"

Love passionately, pray incessantly, and work tirelessly.