Too Stand Or Not To Stand Essay

On September 21st, Christine Brennan reported Colin Kaepernick’s refusal to stand while the national anthem was being played in National Public Radio’s (NPR) online portal (www.npr.org). All through the National Football League 's preseason matches, Colin Kaepernick, a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, refused to stand for the national anthem. He clarified that he took this stance to point out what he sees as wrongdoings against African-Americans and different minorities, especially with regards to certain atrocities in police activities. Kaepernick has stated he is showing support for the Black Lives Matter movement, which was sparked by a number of police killing innocent black people. When addressed by journalists after the first occasion when he did not stand for the national anthem, Kaepernick stated that, “he would not show respect or pride in a flag for a country that continues to oppress African Americans and people of color.” He added that this was much bigger than any game and that it would be selfish on his part to look away. He also claims that there were bodies lying on the streets and people were getting away with murder. I don’t think Brennan understands why he chose not to stand fully. I think this also could have led to more attacks from other writers and reporters that have been inform of his true reasoning. I do not think he was disrespecting the flag or people that fight for it, but just making a stance to get

A big controversial topic going around in the news over the past few weeks has been Colin Kaepernick and his stand to end the hardship for people of color and police brutality in the United States. This silent stand started early this preseason when a number of different events involving people of color and police officers around the United States not getting along. However, this has started to become more publicized as more and more people in the National Football League have been joining in with Colin Kaepernick and taking a knee or sitting during the national anthem. This stand has become way more than a simple silent stand as many people around the nation are starting to voice their opinions on this subject. Even though everyone argues their thoughts on this subject.

Colin Kaepernick, a San Francisco 49er quarterback but also a daring black man that has decided to speak for the voices that can’t, has made his voice heard by kneeling during America’s beloved ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’. Jaweed Kaleem writes in the article “In the ‘land of the free,’ are you free to sit out the national anthem?” about the controversial topic in which he showcases the two sides of how it deems to be disrespectful to sit out the national anthem vs how Kaepernick has the freedom of expression to sit out what he believes does not benefit him.

Colin Kaepernick, a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, has created much controversy in the nation over his latest protest. During a preseason football game Kaepernick was photographed sitting during the national anthem (McKirdy). When asked about the action later, Kaepernick explained, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” (Wyche). The nation exploded. Many showed their support for the quarterback, expressing pride in him for “standing up” for the things he believes in. Others displayed their anger with him for disrespecting the flag and all the things the flag represents. After seeing what a backlash his action received, Kaepernick decided to kneel instead of sitting, claiming that his new way of protesting would show more respect for those in the line of duty (Anthem uproar). Although he has the right to protest, sitting during the national anthem is the wrong way to draw attention to a specific cause.

In 2016, Colin Kaepernick, a 49ers quarterback, took a knee during the anthem. He did this to bring attention that there is an oppression of “black people and people of color.” He also adds that once “there’s significant change, and I feel that flag represent what it’s supposed to represent,” then he will stand. All of the players up to now wanted to bring attention to unjustified police shootings that ended up killing people because of their race. Kaepernick caused many people who were passive and didn’t know how to deal with this topic to take a knee during the anthem. He along with many people began to spread awareness that America has a racism problem that should’ve ended decades ago, but is only getting worse.

To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder,” according to NFL.com. Many people have stated their opinions toward the protest and NFL ratings actually started to decline when this protest took off. I believe that what Kaepernick did was very petty and quite childish. Coming from a military family and growing up as a military child I take great pride in removing all headgear and standing for the flag whenever and wherever I hear the national anthem playing. It is a great privilege for someone to be an american and not standing for the national anthem is quite offensive towards all americans. There should be no reason to sit during the playing of the national anthem and being that Kaepernick is a big star in the NFL he could have handled the situation much differently. Kaepernick and many athletes do not seem to realize that they have many children looking up to them, wanting to be like them, which in turn makes these kids think that it is okay to sit

On August 14, 2016 Kaepernick decided not to stand for the national anthem before the game and went unnoticed. Social media bashed him, but he didn’t take it to heart he spoke to social media and stated "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color." The next week he did it again this time with a teammate, the hate on him continued but he wouldn’t stop. Later he was joined by athletes around the world. Megan Rapinoe, Arian Foster, Kenny Stills to name a few all joined the movement that is known as “black lives matter”. Holding your hand over your heart during the national anthem is considered a civic duty of every single American. Kaepernick and the rest of the athletes that joined him showed a great amount of courage, they disobeyed for the greater cause and impacted society in a good way.

I do not support Kaepernick’s actions. I think if he does not want to stand for our National Anthem then he can go find another place to call home. Even if he is not white he is still playing football for our country. He should still stand to support our soldiers that are fighting in battle and the people that have died in war, and our fire fighters and others that severed or are severing.

Explosions bursting through the air. Men being blown into pieces. The sky so dark that you could of thought that the sun had ran away. People fighting for their lives, for years protecting this country. And you can’t stand for a song? I believe that athletes should be required to stand for the national anthem. One reason why it is not ok to not stand for the national anthem is because it shows disrespect. Furthermore, according to the article “Refusing to Stand for the National Anthem: Top 3 Pros and Cons” it states “Carol Isham a great great great granddaughter of the writer of the national anthem (Francis scott kelly) stated that “It just blows my mind that someone like (kaepernick) would do what he does to dishonor the flag of this country

The article Obama: Colin Kaepernick ‘exercising constitutional right’ covers Colin Kaepernick’s act in 2014 refusing to stand during “The Star-Spangled Banner.” It also talks about exercising the first amendment and Obama’s response to Kaepernick’s act towards protesting police violence against African American. Indeed his act did upset lots of members of the military and gave himself a bad image, but Obama did not doubt his sincerity because Kaepernick has legitimate issues to discuss. Thus, the best way to generate more conversation and project his statement was to not stand during “The Star-Spangled Banner.” After all, American principles as freedom of religion and freedom of expression, we ‘The People’ recognize the right of an individual to choose to participate or not during the National

Kaepernick explains that “‘ I am going to continue to stand with the people who are being oppressed’”. Kaepernick even explains that he is ready and willing to accept the consequences for what he is doing. He is “‘ready to have this conversation’” while many are not. Kaepernick is going about expressing his beliefs in the correct way because he is not disrespecting anyone and is not violating anyone else's rights by protesting. Right now Kaepernick is leading the movement for African American Athletes like Eric Reid and Jeremy Lane to make a stand also. It takes one to start a movement and many to actually make the

The United States Flag is a symbol of all the soldiers that have and are currently fighting for our country. So, when Colin Kaepernick didn’t stand for “The Star-Spangled Banner”, it caused a huge uprising throughout the world. In the article “In the ‘land of the free,’ are you free to sit out the national anthem?” from the Los Angeles Times, it says that the reason Colin chose not to stand was because of the division of the country. “The country is divided between Black Lives Matter- a movement who activism over police shootings of black men Kaepernick tweets about to his 900,000 followers - and Blue Lives Matter” (Kaleem). I believe that the what people are saying about Kaepernick being disrespectful to the fighting men and our country is

Colin Kaepernick stance on the current state of the United State is that it needs to change for the betterment of the people who live here. Colin isn't going to stand for a country that has their people being oppressed and how “this country stands for freedom, liberty and justice for all. And it’s not happening for all right now” (Dyson, 2016). Colin understands that society is treating people unfairly and he’s decided to use his voice to articulate the problems he deems unacceptable to continue any longer. This issue is about the current status of how African Americans and minorities are being mistreated by the police. Furthermore, Colin Kaepernick feels this strongly about the matter because he dealt with racial discrimination as a youth.

Colin Kaepernick, a National Football League quarterback, kneeled during the playing of the National Anthem as others stood in the respect of the United States flag. American soldiers fight and die to defend our country and for citizens to be able to speak freely. Kaepernick was showing no respect for the ones who fight for him. Many NFL viewers lost respect for him as he tried to gain attention for the Black Lives Matter movement. He was trying to gain respect from viewers toward black people but in actuality not only was he directing our country he was disrespecting all citizens including black people. Why would an individual want to follow someone who’s reasons are misleading and advertised falsely? The article, “O’er the ramparts we watched

Everyone have the right to do things that they want as long as they think is the right thing to do for them and we all have freedom and freedom of speech. The reason that he is doing this because was adapted by white people and he lived in the white neighborhood What Kaepernick is telling people that he does not care about the national anthem.The NFL Football player refused to stand of the national anthem because there is a racial inequality. And he decide to hot stand for the national anthem.