Collin Kapernick of the San Francisco 49 ers NFL football team refused to stand for the National Anthem. He claimed he was making a statement about racism in the United States. What is your reaction?
Kapernick said he would not stand "to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color." (CNN). My first honest reaction is "great, here we go again with the racist stuff."
This is indeed a racist world, but I think what we forget to mention that WHITE is indeed a RACE as well. Now, I want to give a little bit of background information about what ethnicity I am before I go on. I am white, black, and native american. I believe that this feud that the blacks have created is not a fight for equality, but a fight to be superior to whites.
If you're in a room full of white people and you are black, of course you are going to stand out. But whites feel that they stand out just as much if they are in a room full of black people. I think it is time to make that room EQUAL, which is not what people seem to fight for.
I truly believe that blacks have all the same rights as whites do-as long as you are a legal citizen, you will not be discriminated against politically. The problem is that the people seem to want to create unnecessary arguments about who is superior because of their skin color. WHITES ARE NOT SUPERIOR TO BLACKS, therefore blacks need to stop fighting to be superior to whites.
For Kapernick to not stand and solute his country because he believes that black people are oppressed is absolutely ridiculous! He is on a professional sports team for crying out loud! He doesn't seem very oppressed to me for being a man of color. He worked hard to get where he wanted to be which is what we all have to do in order not to be oppressed, no matter what race you are.
I have no problem with Colin Kapernick speaking out against something he feels is an injustice because he COULD use his platform to help many. My issue is that all he did was stir up a controversy that has flooded the media markets and fueling a rising race war that seems to be driven by mainstream media markets.
My other problem to the issue is as a member of the Army National Guard that flag represents the freedoms he has received to make the millions of dollars he makes to play a sport, and at sometimes even to sit on the bench. If he offered some type of solution or did a action that seemed to help someone in these affected communities I might be singing a different tone, but right now he is just a whistle blower fueling a argument about race and disrespect towards a symbol that has offered him so many opportunities. If he does start to take some action to help the people affected then I might view this differently.
A reporter got a picture of it, and it was a huge deal. As a football fan and having very close friends serve in the military it's quite confusing. I'm all for athletes using their platform, and for him wanting to speak out I think is courageous. However who am I to say he is going about it in the right way? It's annoying at this point to hear all lives matter, white lives matter, black lives matter.... We're all people,we all have a heart, and we're not born to be racist and hate. As corny as it sounds things won't get better until we all come together as one, it's true. If he was my teammate I'm not sure I'd be down with him. I think it also boils down to him being a little bit selfish. If you want to speak out on black lives matter that's awesome! Do it in the correct way, there's many people before you that have put their life on the line for our country, and that's disrespectful.
First of all, I want to highlight that the military is not the ONLY think our flag stands for. I understand that the military is who helps protect it and I very much appreciate that but there are numerous other things that our nations flag symbolizes. With that being said I have to say I both agree and disagree with Kaepernick.
I agree with him in the sense that he decided to try to say what needed to be said. There are a lot of unjust things going on in the US and it does need to be brought to the attention of the public (but then again maybe it has and they're just ignoring it). Kaepernick is in a good position to do something like this, being a professional athlete and having millions of people watch him but I think he went about it the wrong way. The right way to go about it would be something like Lebron and the others did at the ESPY's. They had a national audience but they didn't have to start a controversy or disrespect anybody. This is where I disagree with Kaepernick. I think he did disrespect our nation as a whole... and on national television nonetheless. Pavlik and McIntosh talk about signs and symbols and how they aren't just things that help us understand what's happening around us; they are also objects around which we take place in rituals that make our world "real". The National Anthem is one of those rituals and Kaepernick not participating in it makes him seem like a teenager throwing a fit about being forced to go to dinner with his parents. Overall, I agree with what he was trying to do but I don't agree with how he did it.
He just recently (like an hour ago) said that his actions were "taken out of context" and here's what I have to say: don't complain about your message being unclear when you do something that is totally unclear and without explanation.
My reaction has not changed. There are more productive and less offensive way of doing this.
The proper way to do so is to donate to charities helping this cause. Another suggestion is to speak out and do community strengthening events. Gather in the African American community with other groups and police officers. Collin needs to understand that a select few have caused harm, the majority of white Americans embrace the African American and others cultures. Maybe Collin could speak in a news interview, start a organization with the premise of athletes of equal color or something to that effect.
The issue I have is the way he went about it. I feel that you should at least stand for the National Anthem. There are countless humans lives lost and changed to defend that flag. Also, the sock wearing was unnecessary. a suggestion to Collin is to act more mature and focus more on trying to win the starting quarterback job.
I personally follow sports and more specifically football extremely closely. With that being said, I have absolutely no issues with what he did, at first it rubbed me the wrong way, but after he explained his actions I understood. He is creating controversy and awareness. This minor little act drew attention to his cause. Now he has publicly stated that the first 1 million dollars he ears this year will go to charities that support his cause, so yeah, kudos to him and using his platform to create awareness and speak out on a growing issue in our county!
I am not sure that a football player not standing during the national anthem is what we as a country should be focused on. I think this is a prime example of the media blowing something incredibly trivial way overboard. For example, while we all obsess about some football player not being patriotic did anyone hear that the U.S. Pentagon is unable to account for up to $8.5 Trillion in taxpayer dollars. Through government corruption, falsification, and potential fraud and embezzlement, the Pentagon has effectively lost trillions in taxpayer money. Here is a very informative article about the situation. http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-08-19/government-report-finds-65-trillion-taxpayer-funds-unaccounted
That being said. It is within he freedom of speech and expression to not stand during a football game's national anthem.
It is our duty to dig beneath the superficial media to see what strings are truly pulling us.
I honestly find the excessive outrage following Colin Kapernick's decision not to stand during the national anthem to be unproductive. It would be more productive to talk about the issue Kapernick is making an effort to bring attention to, which is racial injustice. Racial injustice is undoubtedly an issue in the United States, and there are many people that would rather not talk about it. I believe racial injustice needs to be discussed more.
I honestly could not care less. I mean no disrespect to the question presented, however this issue is so minuscule it should have gone unnoticed. If Collin Kapernick wishes to not stand for the national anthem then Collin Kapernick does not have to stand for the national anthem.
Directly form NFL.com:
"Players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the national anthem."
So, he broke no rules in the NFL and he broke no laws in the USA. We're just discussing ethics, which are entirely subjective, at this point. It is my opinion that, in the long run this incident will effect nothing at all. We will still have racism and we will still have injustice among people of color in the future. Until we as a nation tackle the issue of racism together, on a large scale, in a productive and respectful way we will see silly rage-baits like the Collin Kapernick incident on a regular basis.
I believe that everybody has a right to freedom of speech, although that does have limitations just like any other right. However, I feel that Kapernick not standing for the National Anthem falls under his right to freedom of speech. Typically, when Americans stand for the National Anthem, it is to represent our respect for our country. If Kapernick is saying that he didn't stand because of racism, I feel as if he is saying that his doesn't respect our country for the way minorities are treated. I personally, agree that racism is a serious issue in our country and that he is taking a stand on behalf of all minorities. With everybody talking about it, some light will be shed on the struggle that all minorities face on a daily basis. So, I think that Kapernick is doing a good thing, and I completely agree with his decision to take a stand.
I have been a fan of the NFL for as long as I can remember (GO Lions & Steelers, lol) and other sports (college football, baseball, and NASCAR) and every time I watch I see everyone standing and holding their hands over their hearts during the National Anthem. There was even that time when everyone was throwing a fit because Tim Tebow had kneeled (which was symbolic and more patriotic) during the National Anthem. Regarding Kapernick refusing to stand, I am livid. If he is in a sport as big as the NFL, he should show his respect to the nation that allows him to play this sport. By refusing to stand, I feel he is saying that he does not respect America and that is just not right (in my opinion). I am not sure whether he got fined or not, if he did good, if not I believe that he should be suspended and fined.
I agree with the stance, he is unhappy with the way the United States as a whole has handled racial crimes. He is not attacking the military and that wasn't what he was going for. He has the right to stand up (or sit) for what he believes in. Racism is a big issue in the U.S. and this is his way of bring that to the attention of others. At the very least he was gotten people to talk about it.
I agree with the stance, he is unhappy with the way the United States as a whole has handled racial crimes. He is not attacking the military and that wasn't what he was going for. He has the right to stand up (or sit) for what he believes in. Racism is a big issue in the U.S. and this is his way of bring that to the attention of others. At the very least he was gotten people to talk about it.
I believe that he was within his rights. People complain about how the whole gun control proposal takes away their second amendment while they are mad at Kapernick for exercising the first amendment to make a stand against the social injustice we have in the States. It's not as if he were targeting someone specifically, but rather trying to send a message that it 2016 and were just as racist and prejudice as we were a few decades ago, the only difference is that we have social media that spreads stories faster than most news outlets. Kapernick didn't harm anyone, just annoyed a lot of people that refuse to acknowledge that racism is still a large problem.
I personally believe that the matters of racism in this nation and standing during the playing of the National Anthem have very little to do with each other. It is well within his rights to not stand during the playing of the anthem, but not standing because of the black shootings in the nation in my mind is not connected in any way. For one, there are lots of people who are shot in this country; not just black people and not just white people. The media blows certain shootings out of proportion without shining any light on any other shootings. Does anyone deserve to be shot? No. It happens and not standing during the national anthem is not going to change that. I feel like there are more effective ways of taking a stand on racism than not standing during the national anthem. That is just my opinion.
My reaction to Kapernick's actions were ubiquitous. He has a right to denuounce the anthem and the flag as a citizen. His rights are what make the USA the land of the free. However, him doing this is going to raise awareness, but it won't solve any other problems he is standing for. A man does not make progress by telling everybody his beliefs, only by action may man make progress.
My reaction to Kapernick is that i believe he can do what he wants, not because he is a famous person but because we all have a right to decide if we want to stand up during the pledge of allegiance, if we want to put or hand over our heart or anything else in that matter. I personally believe this is such a small issue compared to what is happening in our world today, and is only being so broadcasted because not only is he a famous football player, but they don't want to talk about the bigger issues. I don't believe his intention was to disrespect anyone, or our countries flag.
Okay, we all see how Mr. football player is a international icon within the sport he plays. As he does understand the use to exercise his right posted within the constitution of the United States, this in my mind, is clearly disrespect. The 13 bars and 50 stars, last time I checked, doesn't fly for racism. Although some also believe the Confederate flag did as well. There are various other actions he could perform to convey his point to the nation. But out of disrespect and to draw more attention to himself, one individual takes the path that disrespects one of the most iconic symbols of the ones that protect your right to even play the game you've played for your entire life? Day in and day out individuals that have more courtesy and beliefs of keeping that flag in the air risk their lives and the respect you show them should be frowned upon. Why should we even sing the national anthem and wave our nation's flag before competition events in the United States? Good question for Mr. football.
After I heard about Colin Kapernick's protest during the National Anthem. I went to watch his post-game interview where he discussed why he chose to sit during the anthem. (I prefer to do some extensive research when I first hear about a news story, because the media has a propensity to misconstrue the truth) After listening to him speak and explain his actions, I came to the following conclusion: Colin Kapernick's refusal to stand for the national anthem, is not anti-military, anti-American, or anti-police, it is anti-prejudice. The basis of his protest is to bring attention to the black citizens in America who are disproportionately and unfairly put into graves. Colin has even received praise from military personnel, hours after the game, the hashtag;veterans for Kapernick started trending. A few other athletes have expressed admiration for Colin's decision. Recently a female professional soccer player came out in support of Colin. She stated that as a gay American , she understood what it felt like to have to stand for a flag that does not always represent justice for all. Many have criticized him for not actively supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. However he just announced that he will be donating the first million dollars of his salary to organizations that support the cause. I do understand how some people could view his actions as un-American, but it also needs to be understood that the constitution allows his choice not to stand.
Previous to this blog I had not been aware of the Colin Kaepernick controversy. After looking into the situation I have come to the conclusion that Colin acted in the interest of shedding light on an ongoing problem that is very real. I believe he is simply using his position in the NFL as a platform to bring attention to the ongoing problem of racism in the United States. With this being said, in regards to this current issue that we have been facing as a country, I feel that the media really agitates the issue by constantly broadcasting all the negativity instead of countering that with the idea that the US has continued to make progress as far as equality is concerned. I do understand that changes do need to be made and there is definitely still oppression amongst minorities in the US, but I also strongly feel that if equal opportunity is the ideal goal, we must make a global humanitarian effort to ensure that all people are free of oppression.
I was not in the loop with this controversy going on and had to do some research. I have no problem with Colin Kapernick speaking out and standing up for what he believes in. This is a prime example of the media blowing something controversial out of proportion. Kapernick wasn't happy with the way the United States has been handling racial crimes, so he chose not to stand for the National Anthem. If Collin Kapernick wishes to not stand for the national anthem, then Collin Kapernick does not have to stand for the national anthem.He has the right to stand up for what he believes in due to the freedom of speech and expression. The media has nothing better to do, but to focus on small controversial problems.
I'm not too familiar with the Colin Kapernick issue. I understand there are a lot of racial issues going on in the United States right now. People are taking this 'Black Lives Matter' issue to extreme degrees. Kapernick however is of mixed race so he is pretty much shaming half of himself in his little scandal. I understand wanting to stand for what you believe in, but do that in some other way. Don't let one little thing that you are not happy about in this country, overpower all the other amazing things that the national anthem entails. I honestly think he was just doing this to gain attention. He might have been falling out of the spotlight lately and he needed some big move to allow him to fall back into the spotlight and the talk of the nation.
I'm not familiar with this issue. I've heard very little about it other than the stuff that is floating around the internet. Even then I don't really read the articles. I think people are making too big of a deal about the issue and just need to concentrate on other things that are more important.
There are many different views on whether or not Kapernick's actions were to make a stand for what he believes or if it was pure disrespect. In my eyes it was nothing but disrespect. To not stand up and show respect to the people who serve our country is not right. Those same people are also the reason we are able to do what we do in this great country. In the United States the national anthem is played before every sporting event to show respect to those who have fallen in the line of duty to allow us to do what we do. It is kind of sad to see Kapernick sitting on the side lines during the national anthem while there is a police officer standing behind him protecting him. Without the law enforcement at such sporting events there would be nothing but chaos. Kapernick can express his beliefs or feelings but degrading the American Flag is not the right way.
Well, I honestly feel that this issue is drawing a lot of attention than it has to. The media is making this a big issue either because they really don't have any other news to cover or they are trying to divert the attention of public away from some major issue which might be something to be concerned about. As far as an athlete not standing up for national anthem is concerned, people shouldn't really be objecting against it. Do not forget that your country gives him a choice to not stand up during the national anthem and he is just making a simple choice due to his beliefs. Now what he believes is very clear. He thinks that the people of his race are not being treated well or equal to other races in the nation and is making a stand for it. He never said that he is disrespecting a soldier or a veteran, people only who put this point up to support their objection should really reconsider life. If people still have a problem with Kapernick practicing a right your nation gives him then please go ahead and make this country a dictatorship where people would be shot for not standing up for a national Anthem.
Kaitlin Wahl I feel as though that standing up for the National Anthem and racism should not correlate, but to each their own. This is a free country and he has the right to do as he pleases. Standing for the National Anthem is a sign of respect and appreciation of living in the free country we know as the United States of America. The key word is,free, though. Honestly there are much bigger things to worry about in the world then someone putting their body weight on unbent legs.
Kaitlin Wahl I feel as though that standing up for the National Anthem and racism should not correlate, but to each their own. This is a free country and he has the right to do as he pleases. Standing for the National Anthem is a sign of respect and appreciation of living in the free country we know as the United States of America. The key word is,free, though. Honestly there are much bigger things to worry about in the world then someone putting their body weight on unbent legs.
I believe that it is his FREEDOM to sit during the National Anthem if he so pleases too. Although I don't completely agree with it, it is his right to do so. A lot of people are missing the real reason he choose to remain seated during the Anthem; his belief that blacks are being treated unfairly.
I do not agree with not standing for the National Anthem. The National Anthem symbolizes America's core value FREEDOM. Standing for this is a symbol of respect for our country and those that fought and died to defend it. I feel that this should not be confused with racism or any other topic up for public debate.
He is entitled to his opinion. Yes, there is different ways to go about frustrations in the country but with that being said there is also a right to protest freely. I feel to get the countries' attention though he should organize something where a collective group bring the issues to light like when the Falcons played the Saints and they came together during the singing of the national anthem.
I am in full support of his decision to not stand for the flag. It is his right to do so. he is peacefully protesting and he does not have to appease anyone in the manner in which he chooses to protest. when he first began the protest, he just sat for the anthem, but after speaking with a veteran, he now kneels out of respect. As a black woman who has been to many peaceful protests con concerning racial injustice and police, it is disheartening to feel as though your efforts have been wasted because people don't respect your cause. Kapernick has a platform and is using it to raise awareness. Just because it makes you uncomfortable doesn't make him wrong. People can feel sympathy and cry out for a gorilla but not for innocent lives being slaughtered? it doesn't make sense. Fortunately, diamonds are produced through pressure. Kapernick is definitely bringing pressure that hopefully produces changes in our country.
Kapernick said he would not stand "to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color." (CNN). My first honest reaction is "great, here we go again with the racist stuff."
ReplyDeleteThis is indeed a racist world, but I think what we forget to mention that WHITE is indeed a RACE as well. Now, I want to give a little bit of background information about what ethnicity I am before I go on. I am white, black, and native american. I believe that this feud that the blacks have created is not a fight for equality, but a fight to be superior to whites.
If you're in a room full of white people and you are black, of course you are going to stand out. But whites feel that they stand out just as much if they are in a room full of black people. I think it is time to make that room EQUAL, which is not what people seem to fight for.
I truly believe that blacks have all the same rights as whites do-as long as you are a legal citizen, you will not be discriminated against politically. The problem is that the people seem to want to create unnecessary arguments about who is superior because of their skin color. WHITES ARE NOT SUPERIOR TO BLACKS, therefore blacks need to stop fighting to be superior to whites.
For Kapernick to not stand and solute his country because he believes that black people are oppressed is absolutely ridiculous! He is on a professional sports team for crying out loud! He doesn't seem very oppressed to me for being a man of color. He worked hard to get where he wanted to be which is what we all have to do in order not to be oppressed, no matter what race you are.
I have no problem with Colin Kapernick speaking out against something he feels is an injustice because he COULD use his platform to help many. My issue is that all he did was stir up a controversy that has flooded the media markets and fueling a rising race war that seems to be driven by mainstream media markets.
ReplyDeleteMy other problem to the issue is as a member of the Army National Guard that flag represents the freedoms he has received to make the millions of dollars he makes to play a sport, and at sometimes even to sit on the bench. If he offered some type of solution or did a action that seemed to help someone in these affected communities I might be singing a different tone, but right now he is just a whistle blower fueling a argument about race and disrespect towards a symbol that has offered him so many opportunities. If he does start to take some action to help the people affected then I might view this differently.
If you Google him wearing "pig socks" to practice, just a couple days ago it was to express the rogue cops. Making USA today, I pasted the article.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.google.com/amp/amp.usatoday.com/story/89715672/
A reporter got a picture of it, and it was a huge deal. As a football fan and having very close friends serve in the military it's quite confusing. I'm all for athletes using their platform, and for him wanting to speak out I think is courageous. However who am I to say he is going about it in the right way? It's annoying at this point to hear all lives matter, white lives matter, black lives matter.... We're all people,we all have a heart, and we're not born to be racist and hate. As corny as it sounds things won't get better until we all come together as one, it's true. If he was my teammate I'm not sure I'd be down with him. I think it also boils down to him being a little bit selfish. If you want to speak out on black lives matter that's awesome! Do it in the correct way, there's many people before you that have put their life on the line for our country, and that's disrespectful.
First of all, I want to highlight that the military is not the ONLY think our flag stands for. I understand that the military is who helps protect it and I very much appreciate that but there are numerous other things that our nations flag symbolizes. With that being said I have to say I both agree and disagree with Kaepernick.
ReplyDeleteI agree with him in the sense that he decided to try to say what needed to be said. There are a lot of unjust things going on in the US and it does need to be brought to the attention of the public (but then again maybe it has and they're just ignoring it). Kaepernick is in a good position to do something like this, being a professional athlete and having millions of people watch him but I think he went about it the wrong way. The right way to go about it would be something like Lebron and the others did at the ESPY's. They had a national audience but they didn't have to start a controversy or disrespect anybody. This is where I disagree with Kaepernick. I think he did disrespect our nation as a whole... and on national television nonetheless. Pavlik and McIntosh talk about signs and symbols and how they aren't just things that help us understand what's happening around us; they are also objects around which we take place in rituals that make our world "real". The National Anthem is one of those rituals and Kaepernick not participating in it makes him seem like a teenager throwing a fit about being forced to go to dinner with his parents. Overall, I agree with what he was trying to do but I don't agree with how he did it.
He just recently (like an hour ago) said that his actions were "taken out of context" and here's what I have to say: don't complain about your message being unclear when you do something that is totally unclear and without explanation.
My reaction has not changed. There are more productive and less offensive way of doing this.
ReplyDeleteThe proper way to do so is to donate to charities helping this cause. Another suggestion is to speak out and do community strengthening events. Gather in the African American community with other groups and police officers. Collin needs to understand that a select few have caused harm, the majority of white Americans embrace the African American and others cultures. Maybe Collin could speak in a news interview, start a organization with the premise of athletes of equal color or something to that effect.
The issue I have is the way he went about it. I feel that you should at least stand for the National Anthem. There are countless humans lives lost and changed to defend that flag. Also, the sock wearing was unnecessary. a suggestion to Collin is to act more mature and focus more on trying to win the starting quarterback job.
I personally follow sports and more specifically football extremely closely. With that being said, I have absolutely no issues with what he did, at first it rubbed me the wrong way, but after he explained his actions I understood. He is creating controversy and awareness. This minor little act drew attention to his cause. Now he has publicly stated that the first 1 million dollars he ears this year will go to charities that support his cause, so yeah, kudos to him and using his platform to create awareness and speak out on a growing issue in our county!
ReplyDeleteI am not sure that a football player not standing during the national anthem is what we as a country should be focused on. I think this is a prime example of the media blowing something incredibly trivial way overboard. For example, while we all obsess about some football player not being patriotic did anyone hear that the U.S. Pentagon is unable to account for up to $8.5 Trillion in taxpayer dollars. Through government corruption, falsification, and potential fraud and embezzlement, the Pentagon has effectively lost trillions in taxpayer money. Here is a very informative article about the situation.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-08-19/government-report-finds-65-trillion-taxpayer-funds-unaccounted
That being said. It is within he freedom of speech and expression to not stand during a football game's national anthem.
It is our duty to dig beneath the superficial media to see what strings are truly pulling us.
I honestly find the excessive outrage following Colin Kapernick's decision not to stand during the national anthem to be unproductive. It would be more productive to talk about the issue Kapernick is making an effort to bring attention to, which is racial injustice. Racial injustice is undoubtedly an issue in the United States, and there are many people that would rather not talk about it. I believe racial injustice needs to be discussed more.
ReplyDeleteI honestly could not care less. I mean no disrespect to the question presented, however this issue is so minuscule it should have gone unnoticed. If Collin Kapernick wishes to not stand for the national anthem then Collin Kapernick does not have to stand for the national anthem.
ReplyDeleteDirectly form NFL.com:
"Players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the national anthem."
So, he broke no rules in the NFL and he broke no laws in the USA. We're just discussing ethics, which are entirely subjective, at this point. It is my opinion that, in the long run this incident will effect nothing at all. We will still have racism and we will still have injustice among people of color in the future. Until we as a nation tackle the issue of racism together, on a large scale, in a productive and respectful way we will see silly rage-baits like the Collin Kapernick incident on a regular basis.
I believe that everybody has a right to freedom of speech, although that does have limitations just like any other right. However, I feel that Kapernick not standing for the National Anthem falls under his right to freedom of speech. Typically, when Americans stand for the National Anthem, it is to represent our respect for our country. If Kapernick is saying that he didn't stand because of racism, I feel as if he is saying that his doesn't respect our country for the way minorities are treated. I personally, agree that racism is a serious issue in our country and that he is taking a stand on behalf of all minorities. With everybody talking about it, some light will be shed on the struggle that all minorities face on a daily basis. So, I think that Kapernick is doing a good thing, and I completely agree with his decision to take a stand.
ReplyDeleteI have been a fan of the NFL for as long as I can remember (GO Lions & Steelers, lol) and other sports (college football, baseball, and NASCAR) and every time I watch I see everyone standing and holding their hands over their hearts during the National Anthem. There was even that time when everyone was throwing a fit because Tim Tebow had kneeled (which was symbolic and more patriotic) during the National Anthem. Regarding Kapernick refusing to stand, I am livid. If he is in a sport as big as the NFL, he should show his respect to the nation that allows him to play this sport. By refusing to stand, I feel he is saying that he does not respect America and that is just not right (in my opinion). I am not sure whether he got fined or not, if he did good, if not I believe that he should be suspended and fined.
ReplyDelete- Mandi L Davis
I agree with the stance, he is unhappy with the way the United States as a whole has handled racial crimes. He is not attacking the military and that wasn't what he was going for. He has the right to stand up (or sit) for what he believes in. Racism is a big issue in the U.S. and this is his way of bring that to the attention of others. At the very least he was gotten people to talk about it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the stance, he is unhappy with the way the United States as a whole has handled racial crimes. He is not attacking the military and that wasn't what he was going for. He has the right to stand up (or sit) for what he believes in. Racism is a big issue in the U.S. and this is his way of bring that to the attention of others. At the very least he was gotten people to talk about it.
ReplyDeleteI believe that he was within his rights. People complain about how the whole gun control proposal takes away their second amendment while they are mad at Kapernick for exercising the first amendment to make a stand against the social injustice we have in the States. It's not as if he were targeting someone specifically, but rather trying to send a message that it 2016 and were just as racist and prejudice as we were a few decades ago, the only difference is that we have social media that spreads stories faster than most news outlets. Kapernick didn't harm anyone, just annoyed a lot of people that refuse to acknowledge that racism is still a large problem.
ReplyDeleteKylie Dawson
DeleteI personally believe that the matters of racism in this nation and standing during the playing of the National Anthem have very little to do with each other. It is well within his rights to not stand during the playing of the anthem, but not standing because of the black shootings in the nation in my mind is not connected in any way. For one, there are lots of people who are shot in this country; not just black people and not just white people. The media blows certain shootings out of proportion without shining any light on any other shootings. Does anyone deserve to be shot? No. It happens and not standing during the national anthem is not going to change that. I feel like there are more effective ways of taking a stand on racism than not standing during the national anthem. That is just my opinion.
DeleteMy reaction to Kapernick's actions were ubiquitous. He has a right to denuounce the anthem and the flag as a citizen. His rights are what make the USA the land of the free. However, him doing this is going to raise awareness, but it won't solve any other problems he is standing for. A man does not make progress by telling everybody his beliefs, only by action may man make progress.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to Kapernick is that i believe he can do what he wants, not because he is a famous person but because we all have a right to decide if we want to stand up during the pledge of allegiance, if we want to put or hand over our heart or anything else in that matter. I personally believe this is such a small issue compared to what is happening in our world today, and is only being so broadcasted because not only is he a famous football player, but they don't want to talk about the bigger issues. I don't believe his intention was to disrespect anyone, or our countries flag.
ReplyDeleteOkay, we all see how Mr. football player is a international icon within the sport he plays. As he does understand the use to exercise his right posted within the constitution of the United States, this in my mind, is clearly disrespect. The 13 bars and 50 stars, last time I checked, doesn't fly for racism. Although some also believe the Confederate flag did as well. There are various other actions he could perform to convey his point to the nation. But out of disrespect and to draw more attention to himself, one individual takes the path that disrespects one of the most iconic symbols of the ones that protect your right to even play the game you've played for your entire life? Day in and day out individuals that have more courtesy and beliefs of keeping that flag in the air risk their lives and the respect you show them should be frowned upon. Why should we even sing the national anthem and wave our nation's flag before competition events in the United States? Good question for Mr. football.
ReplyDeleteAfter I heard about Colin Kapernick's protest during the National Anthem. I went to watch his post-game interview where he discussed why he chose to sit during the anthem. (I prefer to do some extensive research when I first hear about a news story, because the media has a propensity to misconstrue the truth) After listening to him speak and explain his actions, I came to the following conclusion: Colin Kapernick's refusal to stand for the national anthem, is not anti-military, anti-American, or anti-police, it is anti-prejudice. The basis of his protest is to bring attention to the black citizens in America who are disproportionately and unfairly put into graves. Colin has even received praise from military personnel, hours after the game, the hashtag;veterans for Kapernick started trending. A few other athletes have expressed admiration for Colin's decision. Recently a female professional soccer player came out in support of Colin. She stated that as a gay American , she understood what it felt like to have to stand for a flag that does not always represent justice for all. Many have criticized him for not actively supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. However he just announced that he will be donating the first million dollars of his salary to organizations that support the cause. I do understand how some people could view his actions as un-American, but it also needs to be understood that the constitution allows his choice not to stand.
ReplyDeletePrevious to this blog I had not been aware of the Colin Kaepernick controversy. After looking into the situation I have come to the conclusion that Colin acted in the interest of shedding light on an ongoing problem that is very real. I believe he is simply using his position in the NFL as a platform to bring attention to the ongoing problem of racism in the United States. With this being said, in regards to this current issue that we have been facing as a country, I feel that the media really agitates the issue by constantly broadcasting all the negativity instead of countering that with the idea that the US has continued to make progress as far as equality is concerned. I do understand that changes do need to be made and there is definitely still oppression amongst minorities in the US, but I also strongly feel that if equal opportunity is the ideal goal, we must make a global humanitarian effort to ensure that all people are free of oppression.
ReplyDeleteI was not in the loop with this controversy going on and had to do some research. I have no problem with Colin Kapernick speaking out and standing up for what he believes in. This is a prime example of the media blowing something controversial out of proportion. Kapernick wasn't happy with the way the United States has been handling racial crimes, so he chose not to stand for the National Anthem. If Collin Kapernick wishes to not stand for the national anthem, then Collin Kapernick does not have to stand for the national anthem.He has the right to stand up for what he believes in due to the freedom of speech and expression. The media has nothing better to do, but to focus on small controversial problems.
ReplyDeleteI'm not too familiar with the Colin Kapernick issue. I understand there are a lot of racial issues going on in the United States right now. People are taking this 'Black Lives Matter' issue to extreme degrees. Kapernick however is of mixed race so he is pretty much shaming half of himself in his little scandal. I understand wanting to stand for what you believe in, but do that in some other way. Don't let one little thing that you are not happy about in this country, overpower all the other amazing things that the national anthem entails. I honestly think he was just doing this to gain attention. He might have been falling out of the spotlight lately and he needed some big move to allow him to fall back into the spotlight and the talk of the nation.
ReplyDeleteI'm not familiar with this issue. I've heard very little about it other than the stuff that is floating around the internet. Even then I don't really read the articles. I think people are making too big of a deal about the issue and just need to concentrate on other things that are more important.
ReplyDeleteThere are many different views on whether or not Kapernick's actions were to make a stand for what he believes or if it was pure disrespect. In my eyes it was nothing but disrespect. To not stand up and show respect to the people who serve our country is not right. Those same people are also the reason we are able to do what we do in this great country. In the United States the national anthem is played before every sporting event to show respect to those who have fallen in the line of duty to allow us to do what we do. It is kind of sad to see Kapernick sitting on the side lines during the national anthem while there is a police officer standing behind him protecting him. Without the law enforcement at such sporting events there would be nothing but chaos. Kapernick can express his beliefs or feelings but degrading the American Flag is not the right way.
ReplyDeleteWell, I honestly feel that this issue is drawing a lot of attention than it has to. The media is making this a big issue either because they really don't have any other news to cover or they are trying to divert the attention of public away from some major issue which might be something to be concerned about. As far as an athlete not standing up for national anthem is concerned, people shouldn't really be objecting against it. Do not forget that your country gives him a choice to not stand up during the national anthem and he is just making a simple choice due to his beliefs. Now what he believes is very clear. He thinks that the people of his race are not being treated well or equal to other races in the nation and is making a stand for it. He never said that he is disrespecting a soldier or a veteran, people only who put this point up to support their objection should really reconsider life. If people still have a problem with Kapernick practicing a right your nation gives him then please go ahead and make this country a dictatorship where people would be shot for not standing up for a national Anthem.
ReplyDeleteI don't know much about the subject, but I do know that we can't change what happened and people are making a bigger deal about it than it really is.
ReplyDeleteKaitlin Wahl
ReplyDeleteI feel as though that standing up for the National Anthem and racism should not correlate, but to each their own. This is a free country and he has the right to do as he pleases. Standing for the National Anthem is a sign of respect and appreciation of living in the free country we know as the United States of America. The key word is,free, though. Honestly there are much bigger things to worry about in the world then someone putting their body weight on unbent legs.
Kaitlin Wahl
ReplyDeleteI feel as though that standing up for the National Anthem and racism should not correlate, but to each their own. This is a free country and he has the right to do as he pleases. Standing for the National Anthem is a sign of respect and appreciation of living in the free country we know as the United States of America. The key word is,free, though. Honestly there are much bigger things to worry about in the world then someone putting their body weight on unbent legs.
I believe that it is his FREEDOM to sit during the National Anthem if he so pleases too. Although I don't completely agree with it, it is his right to do so.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people are missing the real reason he choose to remain seated during the Anthem; his belief that blacks are being treated unfairly.
I do not agree with not standing for the National Anthem. The National Anthem symbolizes America's core value FREEDOM. Standing for this is a symbol of respect for our country and those that fought and died to defend it. I feel that this should not be confused with racism or any other topic up for public debate.
ReplyDeleteHe is entitled to his opinion. Yes, there is different ways to go about frustrations in the country but with that being said there is also a right to protest freely. I feel to get the countries' attention though he should organize something where a collective group bring the issues to light like when the Falcons played the Saints and they came together during the singing of the national anthem.
ReplyDeleteI am in full support of his decision to not stand for the flag. It is his right to do so. he is peacefully protesting and he does not have to appease anyone in the manner in which he chooses to protest. when he first began the protest, he just sat for the anthem, but after speaking with a veteran, he now kneels out of respect. As a black woman who has been to many peaceful protests con concerning racial injustice and police, it is disheartening to feel as though your efforts have been wasted because people don't respect your cause. Kapernick has a platform and is using it to raise awareness. Just because it makes you uncomfortable doesn't make him wrong. People can feel sympathy and cry out for a gorilla but not for innocent lives being slaughtered? it doesn't make sense. Fortunately, diamonds are produced through pressure. Kapernick is definitely bringing pressure that hopefully produces changes in our country.
ReplyDelete