Free speech is a beautiful thing. And we know for a fact that it spreads to certain areas that could be considered questionable, such as the burning of the flag. I am extremely thankful that we have the right to protest and take a stand for what we believe in here in the US. That being said, I feel that people, celebrities and sports icons in particular, should pick their times and ways of standing for what they believe in carefully.
The national anthem is not part of the civil rights movement, nor is the American flag. I'm all for being passionate and making a point, but this feels disrespectful even after reading all of Kapernick's statements about his decision to sit as everyone else stood to honor veterans, the men and women in the Armed Services, and our nation's history.
So what if a team bands together and sits for a game to make one, coordinated statement? I think that would be far better and more significant. And elect a spokesperson to make sure it's clear that this is what the team has chosen to do for a day to support the cause. Then everyone who did not stand can make a personal statement.
It seems that the Seattle Seahawks may do that this coming Sunday. But this Sunday is the 15th anniversary of 9/11. Sitting during the national anthem on one of the most pivotal days of modern history seems like an awful way to make a statement in my opinion.
Feel free to chime in with your thoughts and opinions - I always love hearing alternative points of view and a friendly debate.
Be a patriot today!
Emily
I agree with your statement. As an African American I get the point everyone is trying to make but the real question is it really working. I think it is bringing more attention to what "athlete won't stand next", rather than police brutality. I get the underlining message is why stand for a song that represents a country that supports injustice but once again how is that solving the main issue of police brutality. In order for there to be a major change, our justice system has to start holding people accountable for their actions.
ReplyDeleteI followed your post up until the last comment of "Be a Patriot Today!" My questions is why is Kaepernick not being patriotic? Is it because he doesn't stand for the flag or because he effectively using the rights that our country constitutionally grants us and you disagree with how he has utilized his right of expression? I agree that he could have used his platform differently and better for that matter. But that is how I would have handled it. To say that my way is "better" is to say that my way is superior. I don't think Kaepernick's actions lack patriotism. I think that the way he utilized his rights upset some folks and he is being chastised for it. But the problem with that is, we get upset when groups like BLM shutdown cities and freeways in protests and we say that they are doing it wrong and that they are not using their platform well. But then we have a man that finds a peaceful protest, who quietly and respectfully takes a knee. Not to shame the flag or this country by to raise awareness. But we turn around and tell Kaepernick that he is doing it wrong. So at what point will those of us on the outside looking in actually be ready to come around and stand with these guys? Are we waiting until they start protesting HOW we would protest? Then why aren't we out protesting the way that we think is right?
ReplyDeleteI think there are pros and cons to Kaepernick's choice in using the American Flag as a way to protest. On the one hand, the freedom to sit during a patriotic event representing your country is not a right that everyone has. The same military that fought for his freedom to stand for the flag also fought for his freedom to chose not to stand. In that way, I'm not sure it is dishonoring what this nation is all about. I also think for a protest to be effective, it must make people uncomfortable. Obviously violence is out of the question, so to have an effective non-violent protest, one must do something out of the ordinary that many people won't like. If nothing else, it got plenty of attention. And I do believe that there is some hypocrisy in standing for a flag if you personally believe that it is representative of some terrible things, which Kaepernick clearly does.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I think the message that Kaepernick was trying to spread was lost because this protest was too controversial. Instead of discussing the issue that he was trying to highlight, the media has turned all of its focus to whether or not he should stand or sit. Nobody is talking about the violence that he was trying to show that he was against. So while I absolutely support his right to protest in this way, and I do believe a protest must make people uncomfortable, this form of protest may have unintentionally hijacked the actual issue.
I really did not intend to aim the "be a patriot today" at Kap specifically. That was more of a 'happy ending' encouragement. I do think that he is exercising God-given and armed-forces-protected rights. Constitutional privileges are what makes America great (not Trump)! Haha. But I have to say I agree with Austin 100% - the message was lost in the controversy.
ReplyDelete