My post
Beautiful People,
Colin Kaepernick. Who? What? Why?
Colin Kaepernick is an American football quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League and a professional provocateur.
Kaepernick launched the largest NFL social justice protest by refusing to stand for the playing of the national anthem, and shortly thereafter, he was joined by seventeen other players across the league, who kneeled or raised their fists for the national anthem.
Social justice is a moral value upon which our democracy is based, and according to history, a lack of moral principles ultimately leads to social bankruptcy and anarchy.
Therefore, there isn’t a teeny tiny doubt in my mind that social justice must be promoted, enforced, prioritized, and endorsed by the administration, opinion leaders, and citizens- from football players through entertainers to policepersons and everyone else.
BUT, Kaepernick and his colleagues’ disrespectful act towards the national anthem is not only ‘dumb’ according to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Supreme Court justice, but also excessive, and even more importantly, ungrateful.
A national anthem is an important aspect of a country's independent status, and it symbolizes patriotism and nationalism. Simply, it is an opportunity to say “I love you”, “Thank you”, and “I’m proud of you” to the country in which you have built your life. And in Kaepernick’s case- what a life! A professional league player and everything that comes with it- no less.
So except Kaepernick was protesting for replacing Francis Scott Key’s poem for its controversial racist history (the national anthem is missing a full stanza that celebrates a military victory over an army of freed slaves), I don’t see why he wouldn’t respect it by standing up.
President Obama said:” [Kaepernick]'s exercising his constitutional right to make a statement.” Yes, Kaepernick and Co. have the right to protest against Black people oppression, but not the justification to do that by clipping the national anthem.
America is far from perfect. In its favor, I would say that more than any other country in the history of the world, from inception, America has tried to be better and to do better. There is much more room for improvement.
We should fight against injustice- economic injustice, social injustice, and cultural rights. As citizens, it is our responsibility to protest against any oppression of moral values; however, we should do it in a way that values our country despite its imperfections.
Therefore, I find the NFL's statement, “Players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the national anthem," ridiculous. Players should neither be encouraged nor required. Players should appreciate the opportunity for self-expression that was given to them by America and show their modest gratitude by standing up during the national anthem.
Colin Kaepernick wants to be remembered through the same lens as Muhammad Ali, as an athlete who fought for social justice and succeeded. I doubt he would be either as respected or as loved.
The ultimate goal of a protest is change. Kaepernick’s protest can be seen as beneficial for the sake of protesting.
XO,
Sharon
Colin Kaepernick. Who? What? Why?
Colin Kaepernick is an American football quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League and a professional provocateur.
Kaepernick launched the largest NFL social justice protest by refusing to stand for the playing of the national anthem, and shortly thereafter, he was joined by seventeen other players across the league, who kneeled or raised their fists for the national anthem.
Social justice is a moral value upon which our democracy is based, and according to history, a lack of moral principles ultimately leads to social bankruptcy and anarchy.
Therefore, there isn’t a teeny tiny doubt in my mind that social justice must be promoted, enforced, prioritized, and endorsed by the administration, opinion leaders, and citizens- from football players through entertainers to policepersons and everyone else.
BUT, Kaepernick and his colleagues’ disrespectful act towards the national anthem is not only ‘dumb’ according to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Supreme Court justice, but also excessive, and even more importantly, ungrateful.
A national anthem is an important aspect of a country's independent status, and it symbolizes patriotism and nationalism. Simply, it is an opportunity to say “I love you”, “Thank you”, and “I’m proud of you” to the country in which you have built your life. And in Kaepernick’s case- what a life! A professional league player and everything that comes with it- no less.
So except Kaepernick was protesting for replacing Francis Scott Key’s poem for its controversial racist history (the national anthem is missing a full stanza that celebrates a military victory over an army of freed slaves), I don’t see why he wouldn’t respect it by standing up.
President Obama said:” [Kaepernick]'s exercising his constitutional right to make a statement.” Yes, Kaepernick and Co. have the right to protest against Black people oppression, but not the justification to do that by clipping the national anthem.
America is far from perfect. In its favor, I would say that more than any other country in the history of the world, from inception, America has tried to be better and to do better. There is much more room for improvement.
We should fight against injustice- economic injustice, social injustice, and cultural rights. As citizens, it is our responsibility to protest against any oppression of moral values; however, we should do it in a way that values our country despite its imperfections.
Therefore, I find the NFL's statement, “Players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the national anthem," ridiculous. Players should neither be encouraged nor required. Players should appreciate the opportunity for self-expression that was given to them by America and show their modest gratitude by standing up during the national anthem.
Colin Kaepernick wants to be remembered through the same lens as Muhammad Ali, as an athlete who fought for social justice and succeeded. I doubt he would be either as respected or as loved.
The ultimate goal of a protest is change. Kaepernick’s protest can be seen as beneficial for the sake of protesting.
XO,
Sharon
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