Before their Friday preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick drew headlines by sitting during the national anthem. Kaepernick later explained his actions, 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. To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."
This protest by the Pro Bowl quarterback has generated strong reactions both for and against, with many giving him credit for taking a stand (figuratively speaking) on an important social issue, and others decrying his actions as unpatriotic. Now, while we all have the right to voice our opinions on whether or not we feel Kaepernick was right or wrong in his words and actions, let's get one thing straight - his peaceful protest was anything but anti-American as some suggest.
I find it incredibly troubling that while a majority of NFL spectators are white (men) and a majority of NFL players are black men who make a living by constantly putting their bodies in harm's way, these white spectators seem to consistently tell these black players, "Just shut up and play!" What these spectators seem to fail to realize is that, no matter how rich the players might be, they still face racism much more regularly than whites, such as myself, are accustomed to, and sometimes feel the need to make their voices heard regarding the matter.
Activism is nothing new in the world of sports. Muhammad Ali may be the best example of this, as he publicly stated he wouldn't fight in the Vietnam War. Due to those words of protest, like with Kaepernick, Ali was shunned by many as being un-American. I find this label rather ironic, for isn't it un-American to refer to another as anti-American for utilizing the First Amendment of the Constitution in expressing their opinions, popular or not? If everyone were obligated to hold the same viewpoints, of what value would the First Amendment be?
What's less American, expressing an opinion or telling another to "shut-up" when expressing their opinion?
What's less American, peacefully protesting for a social cause or telling others to stop protesting for this very cause?
What's less American, fighting against oppression or telling others to stop crying about their oppression?
Agree or disagree with Colin Kaepernick's stance on the issues he's openly discussed in recent days, his actions are anything but anti-American. In fact, they're about as American as one could get. He stood tall while sitting, as most of us hid behind our monitors criticizing.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2660303-alex-boone-comments-on-colin-kaepernicks-decision-to-sit-during-national-anthem
"I am 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. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."
This protest by the Pro Bowl quarterback has generated strong reactions both for and against, with many giving him credit for taking a stand (figuratively speaking) on an important social issue, and others decrying his actions as unpatriotic. Now, while we all have the right to voice our opinions on whether or not we feel Kaepernick was right or wrong in his words and actions, let's get one thing straight - his peaceful protest was anything but anti-American as some suggest.
I find it incredibly troubling that while a majority of NFL spectators are white (men) and a majority of NFL players are black men who make a living by constantly putting their bodies in harm's way, these white spectators seem to consistently tell these black players, "Just shut up and play!" What these spectators seem to fail to realize is that, no matter how rich the players might be, they still face racism much more regularly than whites, such as myself, are accustomed to, and sometimes feel the need to make their voices heard regarding the matter.
Activism is nothing new in the world of sports. Muhammad Ali may be the best example of this, as he publicly stated he wouldn't fight in the Vietnam War. Due to those words of protest, like with Kaepernick, Ali was shunned by many as being un-American. I find this label rather ironic, for isn't it un-American to refer to another as anti-American for utilizing the First Amendment of the Constitution in expressing their opinions, popular or not? If everyone were obligated to hold the same viewpoints, of what value would the First Amendment be?
What's less American, expressing an opinion or telling another to "shut-up" when expressing their opinion?
What's less American, peacefully protesting for a social cause or telling others to stop protesting for this very cause?
What's less American, fighting against oppression or telling others to stop crying about their oppression?
Agree or disagree with Colin Kaepernick's stance on the issues he's openly discussed in recent days, his actions are anything but anti-American. In fact, they're about as American as one could get. He stood tall while sitting, as most of us hid behind our monitors criticizing.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2660303-alex-boone-comments-on-colin-kaepernicks-decision-to-sit-during-national-anthem
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