Colin Kaepernick, Please Take a Knee.

Colin Kaepernick (left) with teammate Eric Reid

So Colin Kaepernick dared not to stand for our National Anthem in protest of the injustices toward African-Americans. And everyone had a fit. There were racial slurs (he is biracial,) that he wasn't American and that he should just leave the damn country if he didn't like it (one-half of his ancestors didn't even want to come here in the first place!) Other things I heard was that he was an entitled  overpaid professional athlete and he should just shut up. And the National Anthem is never, ever to be disrespected. Nor the pledge or our flag. That men and women fought and died for them. No, they didn't. The men and women of our military fought and died to defend our Constitution (get used to that "C" word.) 

The First Amendment protects your right to protest, even if you titillate us with your ignorant use of racial slurs. What gives you the right to deny Kaepernick HIS Constitutional right to protest? There is no law stipulating that you must stand and honor the flag, National Anthem, or Pledge of Allegiance. In fact, the very opposite is true. In West Virginia State Board of Education v Barnette, the Supreme Court ruled that you cannot force, or expel a student for refusing to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, and thereby you can't force someone to stand for the National Anthem. 

Oh, and about that overpaid athlete who should just shut-up stuff? Colin Kaepernick is donating the first million he makes to community centers in neighborhoods where it is needed, as well as any proceeds from jersey sales. He is no longer a starting quarterback. He started his protest in the preseason, for the first two games he was in street clothes and no one noticed. So by not standing, he directly put his career in jeopardy at the last preseason game. The 49ers could've let him go for that. 

In fact, rumors were flying before his protestations that he was going to be cut. To me, this means that his protest comes from the heart. And his record salary isn't all it's cracked up to be. Don't get me wrong, it's still multi-millions and I wouldn't mind that contract, but, it's not a record-setting hyped up amount like it was reported.  Colin Kaepernick's Contract . 

And, I'm happy to say, that his protests have worked. A lot of athletes, from pro to high school are refusing to stand. Even more, after the recent shootings (sad it has to be that way.) So, who knows how many pros are also contributing their money. And how many fans or people that believe in his cause are donating or volunteering? Which leads to how many people are being helped? And wasn't our country founded on by people who protested against injustices? In my eyes, that makes him more American than the people that told him to leave this country if he didn't like it. He loves his country but sees problems and he is trying to affect a change. I fail to understand how people can not see that.
Let's talk about the military reaction, since it is them that Kaepernick allegedly insulted. Many, in fact, supported him, saying that they fought so he could do what he was doing, even if they disagreed with it. 

One retired soldier, Green Beret Nate Boyer expressed his disgust but also said he was willing to see it from Kaepernick's side. Kaepernick took him up on it, and after they met, both said that they learned a lot from each other. Nate Boyer suggested Kaepernick take a knee instead of just sitting to honor the military. And that is what he has done ever since. What does that prove? That two men from the opposite ends of the spectrum can come together and understand - and respect - how the other one feels.

What it comes down to is this: What is more important? The National Anthem, the Flag, the Pledge of Allegiance, or the Constitution? What three would not be here if it wasn't for the Constitution? The other three were created to symbolize our country. I honor all three, but for me, it comes down to the Constitution.  And for everybody who said that it was disrespectful, I want to ask you something. When you are at home watching a sports event, do you respect the National Anthem and stand with your hand over your heart? If you don't, then by your very own definition, you are being disrespectful. If it is so important for the athletes to stand for it, and the people that are attending these events stand for it, then it should be just as important for you to do it at home. And that brings to mind one word...hypocrite.