Kaepernick, Others Protest During National Anthem

By Au Kirk; cropped by Moe Epsilon [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Nathan Holmes, Author
September 29, 2016

The national anthem is a symbol of America and players/fans listen to it with their right hand on their chest to acknowledge its importance before their sports games. This has always been expected, but recently the San Francisco 49’ers backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick knelt during it saying, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” This has been taken well by some, actually joining him, but there is much more backlash.

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“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.

— Colin Kaepernick

My opinion resides with the larger category of the two; he should be able to protest, but he is doing it all the wrong way. The national anthem/flag are symbols of our nation’s freedom and how we got there. Kaepernick should instead take an approach that actually has to do with his subject of protest. For example, he could increase donations to foundations that help his cause, instead of other widespread charities. I honestly believe that Kaepernick is trying to just get attention from this, as he was demoted last year to backup quarterback in place of Blaine Gabbert, a former Jacksonville Jaguar.

Kaepernick has almost started a movement, as he has been joined by Eric Reid, Eli Harold, Antonio Cromartie, Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall, Kenny Stills, Arian Foster, and Michael Thomas in kneeling. However, other teams have taken a more respectable approach toward the subject. For example, the Seattle Seahawks all linked arms during the anthem to show unity throughout the team. The Falcons and Saints (Atlanta and New Orleans respectively) all joined hands together before their game Monday following the anthem.

In conclusion, Colin Kaepernick is doing nothing legally incorrect or wrong, but he should be doing his protests in a more noble way to create a better support group around his cause.