Colin Kaepernick says he'll continue to sit during national anthem
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick understood his national anthem protest would draw some attention and criticism. So even after Kaepernick became the hot-button story in the sports world over the weekend, he said he’s not going back on what he thinks is right.
Kaepernick will continue to sit during the national anthem, he told 49ers reporters on SundayChris Biderman, who covers the team for The Niners Wire, a part of the USA Today network, reported that Kaepernick addressed the team. While not all of his teammates agree with him sitting during the national anthem, they support his right to do so.
“The support I’ve gotten from my teammates has been great,” Kaepernick said, via Biderman.
Kaepernick said his protest is not intended to slight the military. He said after the 49ers’ preseason game against the Green Bay Packers on Friday night, when his protest became public knowledge, that he was not “going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” Kaepernick reiterated that on Sunday.
“People are dying in vain because this country isn’t holding up its end of the bargain,” Kaepernick said, via Biderman.
The other side of the Kaepernick story is that he seemingly fell out of favor with the 49ers a while ago, long before he didn’t stand for the national anthem. Kaepernick missed most of the offseason and the first two preseason games due to injuries. At halftime of Fox’s telecast of the Houston Texans-Arizona Cardinals preseason game, reporter Jay Glazer said Kaepernick has a “very, very big uphill battle to make this team,” and it has nothing to do with his protest.
“I’d be shocked if he’s on the 49ers by the time this season ends. It has nothing to do with political views whatsoever … he just hasn’t been effective,” Glazer said on Fox. æHe’s regressing as a player. I’d be shocked if he’s on this roster by the end of the year. He may not even be on it in the next two weeks.”
Kaepernick’s protest has drawn criticism, even from some former and current NFL players. New York Giants receiver Victor Cruz said he didn’t agree with Kaepernick sitting during the national anthem.
“I think, personally, the flag is the flag. Regardless of how you feel about the things that are going on in America today and the things that are going on across the world with gun violence and things like that,” Cruz said, according to USA Today. “You’ve got to respect the flag and stand up with your teammates. It’s bigger than just you, in my opinion.”
Now that Kaepernick’s protest has become a big story and he promised to continue doing it, all eyes will be on him before each 49ers game. The 49ers and NFL put out statements that said any player has the right to not stand for the national anthem before the game. There was apparently no pressure behind the scenes for Kaepernick to quit his protest — or, if there was, Kaepernick is going to continue anyway.
“I’m going to continue to stand with the people that are being oppressed,” Kaepernick said, via Biderman. “To me this is something that has to change. When there’s significant change and I feel like that flag represents what it’s supposed to represent, this country is representing people the way that it’s supposed to, I’ll stand.”
My Thoughts...
By: MrJackBrickhouse (@GotMYShades)
Decisions, Decisions. Do I stand to show my support for an American country that is clearly in the middle of public relations nightmare regarding race relations? The same country where racially charged conversations lead the dialogue in most social and professional circles. Is it a disrespect to my American military by not standing? On the contrary, is it inbounds for one democratic candidate to sabotage the campaign of their competitor? Is it a thumbs up for Donald Trump to speak of deporting millions of Hispanic men and women, when the majority of his real estate properties, along many other upscale properties in this country, operate on the cheap from the labor of these same men and women?
Each and every one of us will answer these questions in different ways with different rationale influencing our conclusions. We will all probably never see eye to eye at one time, but that's OK. Contrary to popular belief these days, it's OK to be unique. Colin Kaepernick has the right to say what he feels as outlined in the constitution. Our forefathers fled from oppression and did not want that same oppression in the new land. Some how slavery was an exception of that, but that's another conversation. LOL!
At the end of the day, Colin spoke about the racial tension that is highly apparent in our country as a reason for not standing during the anthem. His 1st amendment right was immediately challenged as he was berated with the word "Nigger" and he himself is a bi racial individual. It's hilarious because these are the exact issues he was speaking about. We currently live in a "Selective Society" where selections of consequence are usually biased according to wealth status, popularity, political party, religion, and racial prejudice. Until we can develop a more unified narrative across the country regarding these issues, we are destined for a serious Clash Of The Cultures...
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