Colin Kaepernick and the San Francisco 49ers won’t play until Monday night, but the collision of the quarterback’s movement and the history of 9/11 still looms large
During one of the most tumultuous times in America’s recent history, it’s only fitting the first Sunday of the NFL season happens to also be 9/11. Ironically enough, Colin Kaepernick, the man who is the face of the National Anthem “protests” won’t play until Monday night. Nevertheless, his impact will still be a major topic of discussion all day.
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The San Francisco 49ers quarterback taking a knee for the American National Anthem is picking up momentum and supporters around the league. Numerous players are rumored to be joining his cause this coming Sunday as well. However, for every supporter he has gained, he’s also gained two that oppose his stance. With that said, Sunday is Sept. 11, the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and this whole thing is going to come to a head. Inevitably, it’s going to be extremely divisive.
As a sports writer and someone who has great interest in these kinds of social issues due to personal experiences, it’s time I weigh in on this matter. I’ve taken a good amount of time to soak all of this in and deeply explore both sides of this stance. If it comes off like I’m a bit on the fence on this matter, it’s because I am.
First off, it’s un-American to say Colin Kaepernick shouldn’t be allowed to make this statement or should be punished for expressing his freedom speech. It’s also extremely ignorant to make the case that he shouldn’t talk because he makes millions of dollars throwing a football. Throughout history changes are made when activists with power, money, and influence take a stand against injustice. Someone needs to be a voice for the voiceless and stand up for their rights or no one will listen. Everyone wants pro athletes, musicians and actors to stand for something until they actually stand for something.
If nothing else Kaepernick has proven he truly believes in his cause, whether it be wrong or right. In his position he risked his job and is donating all the money he’s making off his jersey sales to the communities he’s standing up for or kneeling down for. At this point it’s hard to make the case this is a fraudulent cause for the quarterback.
To deny oppression in the United States of America is an unfounded claim. You don’t have to agree with Kaepernick or what he’s doing, but you’re being willfully ignorant if you can’t at least see things through his and his supporters point of view. It goes so far beyond police shooting black men in the street. It’s a culture of oppression ingrained so deep in the country that many don’t even see it as a problem or believe it exists. Make no mistake this is not a black and white issue, it’s an American and even a human issue.
I also loath the argument that insists, “well in other countries they do this, this and this to people, so he should be grateful for” this, that, and the other. Other countries being worse is not an excuse for America to accept simply being better. That is a ludicrous and short-sighted argument. America is supposed to be great, not better than oppressive countries. The motto has always been “The Greatest Country in the World” not “At least We’re Not Country X.” The bar should be and is set much higher for that for a country that claims to be the greatest in the world.
There are two sides to every story though. Many are offended and believe he’s disrespecting our soldiers that have fought to defend this country and Colin’s freedoms. Although, he has repeatedly said this has nothing to do with the military and many veterans support his statement, this isn’t completely up to Kaep to decide. He doesn’t get to decide what’s offensive and who can be offended by it. I firmly believe this is not an intentional slight to the military and he’s even working with multiple veterans. Still, many vets are going to take it that way and they more than have the right to feel that way. They are not wrong and neither are all their supporters.
With any movement that makes change, many will oppose and be offended. Look at the opposition things like slavery, segregation, and women’s suffrage faced. People fight and die over these issues. So maybe Kaepernick is doing something very right at the moment. Maybe this is at the very least a step toward change. A division that ends with the country more united than ever.
That brings me to my biggest concern though. What is the end game here? How does Kaepernick and the other players joining the cause parlay this into actual change? And when is it enough? What has to change for these athletes to decide that’s good enough, now we can stand? Will they kneel forever? That’s the most interesting thing to me. These “protests” are like civil rights movements we’ve seen in the past. There are no defined desired goals like with issues such as segregation and gay marriage. I’d really like to see a more definitive goal rather than end oppression. There will always be oppression in this country and in this world, as unfortunate as that is.
I am interested to see how this plays out, but I ask you this as we head into the anniversary of that infamous date in which the Twin Towers fell. You don’t have to agree with anybody. We all have our own point of view based on our own personal experiences. Would I kneel for the anthem? Probably not—but I can also respect another man’s decision to do so. All I ask is that you, at the very least listen, to each other. And that goes for both sides. We are all on the same team, the human team. Don’t dig your heels in because you want to be right. This isn’t the time to be stubborn. Listen, communicate, and grow.