Marcus Newsome, who served in the U.S. Army from 2000 to 2011, told The Huffington Post he was exhausted of seeing Kaepernick bashed for “exercising his 1st Amendment right”. Local war veterans in San Francisco criticized him as a poor role model, according to CNN affiliate KRON.
Advertisement
Kaepernick’s biggest problem is with police brutality.
“I’m going to continue to stand with the people that are being oppressed”, Kaepernick said Sunday. Thousands of military members took to Twitter on Tuesday to show their support for Kaepernick.
70% of Americans agreed that people should have the right of free speech, even if their words are highly offensive. True patriotism means demanding that America live up to its promises – not blindly acquiescing in spite of its failures, especially if those failures are so directly risky to the lives and wellbeing of American citizens.
Less than one-third of the U.S. military identify as minorities (Blacks, Asians, American Indian, etc) and 12% are Hispanic, according to a 2014 demographics report of the military community. “Personally, I think the dislike of Kaepernick is inappropriate and un-American”, he wrote. I’m a vet. I care about people’s right to take a stand. “It makes us better & smarter”. One says he served to protect freedoms, not a song.
Kaepernick has said that his controversial stance is not directed towards people in the military.
Mr. Kaepernick, you have gained greatly from the benefits and opportunities this country has afforded you. “I have family, I have friends that have gone and fought for this country”. They fight for the people, they fight for liberty and justice for everyone.
Pundits, many in the public, and even fellow National Football League players are blasting Kaepernick for his perceived impudence, and he may even face removal from his team.
The Chargers will be holding their 28th annual “Salute to the Military” on Thursday, which is the team’s way of “paying tribute to hundreds of thousands of current and retired military personnel who live and work in San Diego”.
Advertisement
And as has come increasingly into the public spot light, many veterans are being left out in the cold as the Department of Veterans Affairs routinely fails to provide essential services – like physical and mental healthcare – to those who return home. Remember the American flag transcends any one individual, race or political group of individuals.
