Kaepernick has maintained that he will continue to sit during the national anthem until there is “significant change” with how racial minorities are treated by police in America.
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Kaepernick’s rationale is that he’s “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.
As a former high school athlete, I remember standing before my games with my hands behind my back, listening to the national anthem.
On Thursday, Kaepernick also re-tweeted an image of the American and Confederate flags with a caption reading, “The fact that you really believe that there is difference in these flags means that you’re ignoring history”. The post was removed soon after.
Some years ago, I was at the Hollywood Bowl for a concert that had absolutely nothing to do with a national holiday, the military or the government.
While I do not agree with all of the points made in O’Connor’s article, he does bring up some interesting points on this issue so I will attach his article below.
We all know the story by now. It is also an unwelcome distraction for those who view sports as a way to transcend conflicts around race, gender, politics and other uncomfortable subjects in American life. Believing in a cause is a great thing.
I believe the majority of police officers are good, courageous people.
When I sing, it’s in gratitude for my uncle Chuck Kerecman, who spent most of that war in prisoner of war camps. That’s because while I may not like their action or choice of inaction and apparent lack of respect of our country and the freedom we have to not show honor for what this country says it represents, it’s still their right to do so. I served under the flag on two occasions, and I consider disrespect of the flag an insult directed at me. You would think that all of these factors would make it more likely for Newton to want to speak out against the injustices in America toward people of color.
Immediately talk radio, talking heads on TV and Facebook politicians began to rant and rave over Kaepernick’s decision to take a political stand.
Speaking to Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report, seven executives stated that they wouldn’t touch Kaepernick if he is released, and that he will have a tough time finding a new job in the league, if he can at all. I am not looking for approval. He is right, equality should not be something to be shoved away. That I should “leave the country with Kaepernick” if I did not love this country like him. And in so doing, it placed him the tradition of Ali, Smith and Carlos.
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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.
