As someone who comes from a long lineage of military service, dating back to Pre-Revolutionary War America, I have been asked about my thoughts on Colin Kaepernick. I have maintained silence, for the most part, on it because I have a different stance on it.
I grew up learning respect for the flag. In our house, she was ever present. We went where she led. We weren't just taught the good things she stood for, but we were also taught the bad things she stood for.
We were never disillusioned about the imperfections of the flag, nor were we taught to just blindly be patriotic. We were ALWAYS taught to question when questions were called for.
So, back to Kaepernick.
I was asked if I took issue with him kneeling/sitting down for the anthem. Yes, I did, but NOT for the reasons one may think.
My issue was he took the political stand on the job. I don't care otherwise. Many men and women died to give him the right to do so. It is MORE disrespectful to them to stand for the anthem if you take issue with it or do it blindly as so many do.
The anthem brings tears to my eyes, not because I am blindly patriotic, but because I realise how blessed I was to have been born here.
Anyone who comes to America realise one thing natural born Americans too often for granted: more than any other nation, even among the other free nations, we have opportunities that are ours for the taking.
Are we perfect? No. Does racism comtinue to be an issue? Yes. Will it be solved? In the words of Morgan Freeman, it will if we STOP talking about it. Kids ARE NOT BORN racist; they are TAUGHT.
Kaepernick's somewhat misguided stance did get people talking, but not about what he hoped we would.
Instead of people taking him serious, they mocked him. When one discovered he DIDN'T vote, people ripped him a new one. When he stood in front of the press wearing a shirt with an image of Che Guevara or Fidel Castro, people were rightfully enraged.
You do not get to speak about how oppressed you are while glorifying oppressive tyrants.
No. You DON'T get to.
Kaepernick wasn't blackballed from the NFL because of the stand he took. He simply didn't do his job. This is a concept few grasp.
The NFL is a business and operates as such. Just as I am unable to make a political stand on the job, no NFL player, NBA, MLS, MLB, actor or actress or any OTHER public figure gets a pass to do so either.
It belongs off the clock. I admire Kaepernick for taking a stance on something. But, he has a huge platform OFF the job to raise awareness...WITHOUT the Castro and Guevara shirts.
If Marshawn Lynch gets fired for sitting down, there is an issue. Why? Because he has a) put up better numbers and had been more consistent as a player and b) he has done it several times before Kaepernick, but NEVER as a protest.
Kaepernick just hasn't been the QB he could have been. He CHOSE to opt out of his contract and is REFUSING back up work. The problem ISN'T the NFL or the fans or the anthem.
The problem is Kaepernick.
