Colin Kaepernick's protest of racial inequality and injustice in the United States by refusing to stand during the national anthem before his football games has been much discussed and examined in the media. Kaepernick has gone out of his way discussing in detail why he won't stand for the national anthem. Before that, he addressed the 49ers in a players-only meeting, one that teammates described as both "productive and informative." At least one player who originally disagreed with Kaepernick's choice of method emerged from the meeting with a different mindset:
What do you think? Does Kaepernick's action bother you? Why or why not? Many in the military have both supported and denounced his sit-down: does knowing that people in the military sit with him change your opinion about his protest?“To be honest with you, I took offense to it,” 49ers center Daniel Kilgore said upon learning Kaepernick opted not to stand for the Star-Spangled Banner out of protest for what he sees as injustice for minorities in the United States.
“But after Kap stating his case today, and seeing where he was coming from, I do stand with Kap when he says, ‘Enough is enough against crime and the violence, discrimination and racism.’“I believe enough is enough. I can see where people would think it’s bad with the national anthem and the military. For me, I’m going to stand there every time. I’m going to think about and honor those who are fighting and those who have fought, my family members, my friends. If Kap decides not to, that’s his decision.”
If you don't like the way he did it, what do you think he could have done that would be this effective in getting people to discuss the issue?
Would knowing the inherent bigotry and racism both in the anthem and in the life of the author of the anthem affect your view?
Brief histories that you all should read:
http://www.theroot.com/articles/history/2016/07/star-spangled-bigotry-the-hidden-racist-history-of-the-national-anthem/
http://theundefeated.com/features/lets-take-the-national-anthem-literally-and-the-songwriter-at-his-word/
The American National Anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner," may have controversial verses in the song but the audience needs to remember when this was written and the circumstances that surrounded the country in 1814. Slavery was predominant then and the effects are still felt today by many. Kaepernick's actions bother me in the sense that he disrespected the American flag by not standing to pledge his allegiance to his country. However, I do agree with the statement that perhaps America should have a new National Anthem. Times are changing and people are becoming impatient. I do not think changing our National Anthem will solve the fact that racism still lives in our country but it could be a start. Personally, the lyrics do not bother me and I will sing and pledge them out of respect for my country, the military and the blood and sweat that built and sustained our homeland but I do understand why such controversial lyrics might upset others. Like the player above in the article, I respect Kap's decision but I will also stand every time.
ReplyDelete-Sarah Stewart
Kaepernick's action doesn't bother me because I understand where he's coming from. Kaepernick has faced extreme racial discrimination before and after his sit-down, and he's right: things need to change. Some members of the military (both black and white) may find it offensive, but the flag is what is deserving of respect, not the song. While he may have been unaware to the true meaning of the national anthem prior to his sit-down, the national anthem truly isn't a song for blacks or colored people in America. "The land of the free, and the home of the brave" isn't referring to everyone, but rather white Americans. Now some interpretations may differ such as the one on www.americanhistorama.org of the song, but I think it's important to remember the bias of Key (who wrote the song), which makes it highly probable that the interpretation on the site I listed above is a loose cover-up for what he actually meant. Therefore I support Kaepernick's decision. I think it's hard to give honor and respect to a song that omits your race from its claims, but I do think that the flag is a better symbol for encompassing all Americans of every race and color. I know not everyone will understand because not everyone will be able to see beyond their own biases, but racial discrimination is a problem that needs to be addressed and faced head on. It doesn't need to be something people think about for a day or two and then forget, so if sitting down during the national anthem is how one must bring attention to the matter, then so be it.
ReplyDelete-Andre'A Roper
I believe that Kaeperknick should have stood up during the National Anthem. I believe it is disrespectful to the people in our military who have fought so hard for this land to be free. A lot of people don't agree with stuff our government and nation stands for but that does not mean we should disrespect it. Yes, he was feeling racism against him but I don't think thats a good enough reason not to stand up. I believe the national anthem is something that brings all Americans together with pride for our country and I think we should all respect that.
ReplyDeleteKaeperknick's refusal to stand during the national anthem to make an emphatic point on current racism in America is misguided and disrespectful. To say that Kaeperknick has every right to express his opinion and how dare we criticize it, is not the point. Even if the third verse of the Star Spangled Banner contains racist undertones, it is not the reason Kaepernick chose not to salute the flag, nor is that verse even recognized nationally as part of America's anthem. Since criticizing the National Anthem's lyrics was not Kaepernick's intentions, Jason Jefferson's article on theroot.com (a liberal website and a liberal Journalist) is not a valid source in favor of the quarterback's actions. If Kaepernick sincerely desires to draw publicity to the problem of racism rather than just himself, he went about it the wrong way. The American flag as well, as the national anthem, perhaps in the early 1800's may have been exclusively for the Patriotic white population. But since then, America has greatly matured and become aware of their bigotry. In 2016, the national anthem represents freedom and the pursuit of the "American Dream" for all citizens, no matter their ethnicity. Kaepernick's refusal to stand at attention is disrespecting the country's generations of Americans who gave their lives to preserve democracy. Instead of making an empowering statement, he butchered his chance to influence and just became another icon for controversy.
ReplyDelete~Grace Arredondo
I will always stand for the National Anthem because of the respect I have for everyone who fought for us and out of love for my country. However, that freedom allows Kaeperknick to sit during the anthem if he feels it is offensive. He attained the attention he wanted but it won't actually change anything. I have never heard a song everyone in an entire country likes but the National Anthem is well established and respected. Trying to change a National Anthem is not unheard of. The National Post pointed out that Canada wants to change the word "son" in their anthem to "us" to avoid sexism. I find changing our National Anthem a trivial issue not in need of fixing.
ReplyDeleteI think that Kaepernick is wrong to sit during the National Anthem. Even though he is protesting problems in America, I don't think he should directly protest the country itself. It's not the country as a whole who is causing these problems. When he sits down during the National Anthem, he isn't just protesting racism, he is protesting the entire nation. I think by standing to the national anthem we all come together and fight these problems as one. While he probably does have valid reasons to sit, I also think that he is doing it just to get attention.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kapernick's sitting down because he is using passive resistance just as Martin Luther King had, to take a stance against unfair treatment. He's trying to quietly call attention to a much larger issue; that flag is supposed to be a symbol for freedom for all and justice for all, and in America the black mass hasn't been given their complete and total use of those rights. This has nothing to do with the military; he isn't doing anything to slander or deface or protest the military or the brave men fighting in it. However, he is causing all of us to notice and talk about (if we are looking into the issue with accurate sources) the issue of unequal treatment of blacks in America. Go Kapernick!
ReplyDeleteKapernick should have stood up during the National Anthem. It was disrespectful for those who fought for their freedom in the first place. Kapernick's form of passive resistance is ridiculous and unacceptable. The National Anthem is supposed to unify our nation on the principle of freedom, which ALL ethnicities have in this country today.
ReplyDeleteI believe that by not standing during the national anthem Kapernick was being disrespectful. But I also agree that he made the correct choice. It is okay for him to disrespect the national anthem because he has the freedom to do so. His choice of protest is one of the most successful, in terms of media attention, in recent history. It may be a controversial topic but that just means that he succeeded in bringing attention to the subject.
ReplyDeleteKaepernick's action was his own right,although it was disrespectful to the nation, therefore he's looked down upon. There's no law that says you have to stand for the anthem people gave him grief because he's suppose to be a role model for are nation. Also you had a cause behind it and he wanted his voice to be heard. He knew that it was going to spark the news, but he wasn't doing it for the money or fame. Actually he's gave a lot of money away for the cause.He has all the same rights as everyone else, and he can go about using them however he wants. Its the right of freedom of speech. I don't think he was trying to disrespect the military or the nation.
ReplyDeleteKaepernick's action was his own right,although it was disrespectful to the nation, therefore he's looked down upon. There's no law that says you have to stand for the anthem people gave him grief because he's suppose to be a role model for are nation. Also you had a cause behind it and he wanted his voice to be heard. He knew that it was going to spark the news, but he wasn't doing it for the money or fame. Actually he's gave a lot of money away for the cause.He has all the same rights as everyone else, and he can go about using them however he wants. Its the right of freedom of speech. I don't think he was trying to disrespect the military or the nation.
ReplyDeleteColin Kaepernick's decision to sit can be viewed from two different perspectives. I personally believe that he should stand for the national anthem. I can understand that he has his own side and reasoning for doing so but I think that it is disrespectful for the people who are serving our country. They put their lives on the line for our country. Hearing that many soldiers are backing him up really made me think. They are being humble and seeing past what they are doing to help make a point about something that they believe is wrong along with Kaepernick. He did however do this in a very effective manor because everyone is now discussing it all across the nation. The National Anthem and the author's background really don't change my opinion because it doesn't stand for what it stood for in the past. Things and times have changed and we don't value the same ethics as they did in that time.
ReplyDeleteColin Kaepernick shows a lack of education when he kneels for the anthem. While he believes what he is doing will change things in the United States it comes across as more of a publicity stunt. The 49ers QB is showing disrespect to a country that has given him everything, Including the right to speak his opinion. The same country which allows his to make millions a year for throwing a ball. While I don't want to completely bash Kaepernick, I do agree with what he claims to be fighting for, I would like to see him do something about his claim. Taking a knee everytime the star spangled banner plays will not make a difference. I agree something need to change when it comes to racial equality. However if Kaepernick truly believes it I would like to see his actually take a real stand.
ReplyDeleteKaepernick's motives are in the right place, discrimination of minorities is a too ignored matter. We hear about it all the time in the media, but no one is really doing anything to change it. If Kaepernick wanted to create awareness, he certainly did it the right way; controversy is the quickest way to gain attention. As for whether this was the right or wrong way to protest, I won't make a judgement. Yes, it is disrespectful to our country and our military who has fought for our freedoms, but it is also disrespectful to consistently discriminate minorities. I don't think that the other lines of The Star Spangled Banner make Kaepernick's argument invalid. That is not what Americans think of when they are singing it and most don't even know about them (unlike the Confederate flag controversy, which was more widely seen as a symbol of oppression) . If anything it calls attention to the exact hypocrisy he is trying to point out. My question to the quarterback is: Now you have our attention, what are you going to do to change things?
ReplyDeleteColin Kaepernecks decision to kneel during the National anthem was risky. He is trying to start a movement and create awareness. He put himself out there and got a lot of criticism for it. He also had others kneel with him and this made America very mad. HE lives here in the country and works here and makes his living here. He should stand for the National anthem. It is disrespectful for him to do that. He should go about his movement in another way and try to raise awareness through other things than not standing for the National anthem.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Kaepernick's intentions are good, I believe his actions have done nothing but bad for him. Kneeling for his country's anthem is seen as more of a disrespectful action than as a stand against racial injustice. Although I respect what he is fighting for, I do not condone his disrespect for his country. He should stand for the National Anthem in reverence to all that his country has given him. He should find other ways that hammer the point he is trying to make home instead of acting in such a controversial way. His actions are seen by some as a stand against racial injustice and by others as a sign of disrespect towards his country. He needs to find a new way to stand against injustice that won't be seen as disrespect towards his country.
ReplyDeleteI would not stand with him. He has the right to do something doesn't mean he should do it. He should find a way to get his point across without being so disrespectful. People died for that flag and your freedom. While that freedom allows you to act like that don't. Think before you act.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Kaepernick's method of protest because I have grown up in a very think-of-the-Veterans-first household. My father was in Vietnam, and he was spit on and cursed by the "hippies" protesting the war. The Star Spangled Banner does have racist verses, but was written in a time extremely different from ours, which honestly gives him no right to disrespect those who fought and died for his freedom and safety. If he does not like the national anthem so much, he should write a new one.
ReplyDelete