The kneeling of Colin Kaepernick is not a type of protest that others employ to illuminate their grievances because our flag, our national anthem, our type of government and our freedoms represent what’s great about this country.
You don’t witness athletes sitting during the national anthem or turning their backs for other causes such as American jobs being outsourced due to global competition or from massive influxes of illegal immigrants. If they did protest the flag in this way, they would be labeled as xenophobic, racist and white supremacists who are filled with hate. They certainly wouldn't be viewed as brave souls standing up for displaced American families. Why is it that certain grievances are okay to protest in this fashion while others are not?
No one wants to deny Colin or others the right to dishonor our country, but they are protesting the very institutions that afford them the right to create their desired change. Maybe because we live in such a media dominated society that any type of exposure for their cause makes their actions justifiable, but logically, disrespecting the flag and the anthem is akin to Colin refusing to play NFL football games because the NFL doesn’t allow female athletes. The NFL has a way to remedy that fact, if it needs remedying, and the United States has ways to remedy its injustices.
Our flag and anthem don't represent the current state of affairs within the country. Otherwise, we could never honor either because the country will never be perfect. In actuality, our national symbols represent our ideals, which are indeed perfect. Quite simply, when we stand and sing the national anthem while saluting our flag, we are affirming the idea that American citizens have unalienable rights granted to us by God that no power, government or not, may abridge.
It’s because of this flag, and not in spite of it, can Kaepernick and others see the change they seek. Instead of protesting the flag, Colin should be honoring the flag and finding other ways to highlight the injustices that may be occurring. As a free people, we can change how we are governed to ensure personal freedom and justice for all. The flag deserves their respect not their contempt.
Our country isn’t perfect and never has been, but it’s the greatest country in the world because we can correct inequities within our system so that the rights we enjoy from our Creator are available for every citizen. Stand up for your causes without protesting the greatest promises of America found in the Bill of Rights which includes freedom of speech, religion and press. Here are some other American ideals that our athletes are protesting...
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. – from the U.S. Declaration of Independence
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. – Preamble to the U.S. Constitution
