By Anthony Passerini

        A prominent issue in recent discussions has been the Black Lives Matter movement, which focuses especially on the killing of unarmed African Americans by policeman, among other social injustices. However, even more recently the discussion has turned to athletes protesting during the national anthem prior to the start of NFL games, the most controversial issue has been whether kneeling during the anthem, done originally by Colin Kaepernick, is a reasonable way to protest this issue, or any matter.

        On one hand some argue that these protests are disrespectful to our troops and our nations flag. From this perspective, protests from such players as Eric Reid, Malcolm Jenkins, and especially Colin Kaepernick are seen as disrespectful to our entire nation and especially those who risk their lives for it. On the other hand, many people argue that these athletes should be allowed to use their platform in a way that they want and that kneeling is not in protest of or meant to disrespect those who serve or have served in the army.

        Though I and many others do acknowledge the fact that it may come of as very disrespectful and that everyone should definitely be required to stand in respect during the national anthem, Colin Kaepernick has said many times that he did not intend to be offensive to the troops by kneeling. Although Kaepernick may have a good reason for protesting and support from some people, the BLM, and other players in the NFL, was/is kneeling during the anthem a reasonable and appropriate way to get his and others’ point across?

        Its safe to say that most people would assume that there is a greater amount of people that share the same opinion on this issue, that kneeling during the national anthem is the wrong way to protest, that there just has to be a better time or way to do it. Also as expected, much of mainstream media would make it seem that way, as most reports/articles are negative and Kaepernick was constantly scrutinized on social media. He, to no surprise, hasn’t played in a game since, and there are even rules in place against protesting in the NFL now.

         Kaepernick opted out of resigning with the 49ers in March 2017 ahead of an “imminent release” from the team, and of course has remained unsigned since. It is well known that there is a possibility that the owners of the teams in the NFL are trying to prevent Kaepernick from being put on a team for the way that he protested, there are many people who support this idea. Teams don’t want a player that might want to break the rules recently set by the league, any player who doesn’t stand for the anthem must stay in the locker room or they will get fined. Having him on the team also poses a risk for some owners or coaches in other ways, they want to avoid any trouble with their fans/money, the new rules set against protest, and possibly relationships between teammates/staff. (Clay 1)

         Its not like he wasn’t a great player, he was at a time the starter for the 49ers and even made it to the superbowl with them in 2013 and only lost by a field goal. He had a very successful career going up until it all began to fall apart when he first sat down for the national anthem. He went from the starting quarterback of the team to unable to be signed by any team, if it was so much of a problem to so many people that he couldn’t be put on a team, then kneeling must not be the right way to do it.

“Kaepernick remains an unsigned free agent, and he filed a grievance last fall against the NFL and its owners, accusing them of colluding against him” 

(Helsel 1)

        Even the president took to twitter to take some shots at Kaepernick and the other protestors, saying “a football game, that fans are paying soooo much money to watch and enjoy, is no place to protest”(Belson Hoffman 1). There’s definitely a lot of people who would agree with Trump, and he honestly does have a point in what he says. A football game may not feel like an appropriate place for protest to occur to some people, because there are children and others who go to enjoy the game and it can take away from the experience if, unfortunately, this particular issue offends or disturbs a lot of people.

        Then of course there’s also many people who are related to a soldier, veteran, or police officer and see it in the wrong way and, rightfully so, easily become offended by it. To these people it is extremely inappropriate, if I lost someone to war and then saw someone kneel during the anthem I would be instantly offended too. There are many people who don’t understand or have even the slightest idea what Kaepernick is protesting and assume it to be against the troops or the entire nation in general, and sadly some people stand against him because of his race. These people are unable to take into account that he is protesting, and peacefully at that, meaning that he is unhappy as well and that he is standing up for people that he believes need to be stood up for. Many are uneducated as to what the Black Lives Matter movement stands for, how the people whom are a part of it feel about the issue, or how/why Kaepernick and others are protesting for it.

        So, there are certainly many who stand against kneeling during the national anthem, me being one of them, with ample reasons as to why it is portrayed as an inappropriate way to protest any issue. Although I do understand what he is trying to do and respect what he is trying to protest for, I think it is seen to easily as innapropriate because it is wrong to do anything of that nature during something that deserves your utmost respect, like the national anthem.

        However, despite all of the mainstream media and a supposed majority viewpoint that goes against NFL players protesting with a kneel, the actual amount of people who support either side is relatively split. According to a poll in an article written by Emma Newburger of CNBC “fifty four percent of voters called kneeling during the anthem inappropriate,”(Newburger 1) showing the expected majority of people who think that it is inappropriate but also that the margin is only a difference of around 8 percent. This statistic does a better job showing the actual split between opinions on this issue, although obviously there are many who may not have voted, for the most part this shows that there is a pretty even split between the two sides.

        So, on the other hand there are those who support Colin Kaepernick and the other athletes who have kneeled and believe it is an appropriate way to protest, which would be 43% in Newburgers poll, so that means there must be a lot of people who agree with the way he thinks. Kaepernick has been protesting for the Black Lives Matter movement and against the issue of police brutality for a long time now and eventually it cost him his job playing football as no team will re-sign him, which is something I think he knew was coming. Recently though, there was another uproar surrounding this topic as Kaepernick was made the cover athlete of Nike’s most recent ad campaign. This was obviously a bold move by Nike as it attracted a lot of attention, those who supported Kaepernick loved the campaign but those who do not thought that he wasn’t fit to be the cover athlete because of what he had done. Clearly Kaepernick’s move caused tidal waves in society, enough for Nike to make him the center of their next ad campaign. I disagree with this move however, because the reason he lost his job is because most people thought what he was doing is inappropriate and disrespectful, no matter if why he was isn’t.

        Originally, Kaepernick began his protest by sitting on the bench during the national anthem, which is far more disrespectful than kneeling, and of course it was originally seen that way. After a lot of scrutiny, Kaepernick took some advice from a veteran and former Green Beret named Nate Boyer, who told him it would be more respectful to the armed forces if he were to kneel rather than sit. Kaepernick was open to changing his way of protest as he is not trying to offend or protest the troops or veterans by doing this.

        Although Boyer says that he received hate and praise from both sides of the argument Kaepernick is protesting the way that a veteran told him to, I think that alone should be enough justification? The problem is that many people haven’t even heard about this because it simply just isn’t publicized enough. I had never heard on any news source or in any article about this conversation between Boyer and Kaepernick or that he even had sat before he knelt during the anthem, prior to researching the topic.

        In the video shown above Boyer says that he was called a disgrace to the Green Beret for what he did. I have respect what he was doing and do not think of him that way, however I think the fact that many others like him(troops and veterans) were outraged by what he did shows how although it is a much more respectful way of protest and practiced in the military, I still think its best to avoid the national anthem and the disrespect that comes along with not standing for it.

        To me, the fact that Kaepernick was understanding and accepting when a veteran approached him with a new way to protest is enough to make what he is doing reasonable, for himself.  He is standing up for others and for a worthy cause and his dedication to it has to be respected. However at the end of the day, I believe that there is a better way to protest still, I think that all protestors should avoid any sort of protest during the  national anthem, as that is a time to respect our troops, veterans, and those who lost their lives for our country.

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton