Kaepernick 'Standing Up' for His Beliefs

Kaepernick Creates Controversey

America, the home of the free, because of the brave.

The Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem are two salutes to America as a country, as well as those who serve our country, putting their lives at risk, so those at home can live without fear. When Colin Kaepernick, previous San Francisco 49ers quarterback, sat during the National Anthem in 2016, it sparked controversey in America. Should Kaepernick keep politics away from family oriented football? Should he stand up for what he believes in? The questions can go on and on, but only you can decided, based on personal opinions, did Colin Kaepernick do the right thing?

Living in a country that has been fighting a war on terror since I can remember, it pains me to see Americans not taking pride in their country and those who protect our freedom. Many individuals, including some of my friends and family, have/are putting their life at risk to protect those who are living in the states, such as Kaepernick, you, and I. 

Without hearing Collin Kaepernicks side of the story, just seeing a football player disrespecting the country is irritating because he lives in the United States, plays football for a living, makes $11.9 million dollars a season, but cannot stand for a few minutes while the National Anthem plays. Meanwhile, there are millions of troops, men and women in service fighting against terror, putting their lives at risk, waking up each day unaware if it will be their last, making not nearly half as much as Kaepernick. 

To those who have immediate family deployed, stationed, or even retired, it is extremely disrespectful to sit during the few minutes before each game where those who are defending the United States are honored. Families go to sleep each night worried about their family in the Middle East, praying when they wake up, that they are still alive. It hits home when privileged Americans, such as Kaepernick do not stand for a few minutes for those who allow him to live the life he does. 

On the other hand, it is wrong to assume Colin Kaepernick is sitting for the sole purpose of disrespect for those who defend our country. Heres what Kaepernick has to say about his kneeling during the National Anthem: 

In this interview, a new interruption of the story is being told. It is no longer just a privileged football player sitting out of disrespect, he is taking a stand for those in America who are too small to do it themselves. It is not out of disrespect to the troops, in fact, Kaepernick states, that he has family and friends in the military, "they fight for freedom, they fight for the people, liberty, and justice for everyone, and thats not happening". Kaepernick states that he will continue to sit until the country represents people of America, the way they deserve to be. He is taking a 'stand' against the police brutality and the injustice that takes place in this country. 

Kaepernick continues his interview by stating that "I am seeing things happen to people who don't have a voice, who don't have a platform to talk and have their voices heard, and effect change".

Using this platform of celebrity status brings attention to a horrible epidemic happening in America. 

After watching the interview, learning how Kaepernick feels about those defending our country, and why he decided to take a stand, I feel like he did the correct thing. Attention is needed to be brought to this subject. It is 2017, in the United States, and still, equality and freedom for all is not present.

The violence of police brutality, riots, white supremacy groups, terror attacks, it is as if the nation as jumped in a time machine and is going back years, to when each individual was not treated with the same respect and dignity as the next. It is up to us as Americans to come together and overcome the hate and segregation. 

In the wise words of Ronald Regan, we must remember we are one nation as a whole, and if we forget that, then we will fail as a whole, leaving the United States of America in the same condition it was in during the Civil War in 1861.

I leave you with this...