In Protest, Colin Kaepernick Wasn’t Disrespectful At All

With the recent wave of police brutality, Colin Kaepernick and his original protests have come back into the spotlight. The NFL, its fans, and the national media threw a tantrum as Kaepernick committed career suicide by taking a knee on the sideline during the National Anthem.

“He’s disrespecting the flag!” and “He’s disrespecting our country!” were the biggest outcries from just about everyone under the sun. It was a movement that more NFL players and even other athletes joined along in until Kaepernick was kicked out of the league.

Looking back on everything that happened, and a little bit of common sense show that taking a knee is probably the least disrespectful way to peacefully protest.

Despite what the news and hardcore nationalists want you to think, the act of kneeling was a way to honor the fallen. The act of taking a knee, whether it be at a grave or memorial site, is a way of pausing to reflect. In order to honor the fallen, people often take knees to stop and pray, reflect on their life, and pause for a moment of silence.

Of course, there are still the fans that cry out “Stick to football!!!” but even those people are grossly misinformed. Taking a knee in football again was a way to honor the fallen. There’s a reason whenever a football player gets hurt on the field, both teammates and opponents will take a knee out of respect. It’s a tradition that goes beyond the NFL too with teams from Pop Warner through college practice this.

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It wasn’t just a way to show respect either. Back when sports teams were less sensitive to other religions, taking a knee when an opponent was hurt was a moment to stop and pray for their health and recovery. To this day, players might be less likely to pray but they still carry the tradition of respect for the player’s injury.

The simple act of taking a knee has been a way to honor, reflect, and show respect throughout history. It seems like taking a knee during the National Anthem would be just as logical as standing with your hand over your heart. After all, the National Anthem is played to honor your country, those who fight for it and honor the fallen.

The big difference is, instead of honoring the men and women who died serving this country, Colin Kaepernick took a knee to honor those who’ve died or were injured from police brutality. They might not be members of the military, but they’re still citizens of the United States. If it wasn’t during the National Anthem, people would never have been outraged, despite it being exactly what the anthem is supposed to honor. Taking a knee doesn’t disrespect the country or our flag in any way shape or form. Let go of your anger and stop blindly following what you’re told. Maybe understanding what taking a knee means, you won’t be as outraged when it happens at sporting events.