So Many Colin Kaepernick Takes, So Little Time — And Even Less Sense
The criticism of the San Francisco quarterback has been dizzying, but here’s why his detractors are ill-informed and wrong.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick made news by refusing to stand during the pre-game playing of the national anthem. Here is his explanation:
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, it’s 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 to leave and getting away with murder.”
Kaepernick’s actions and the ensuing explanation resulted in a lot of people being upset, which is, more or less, the point of any protest. The outcries and criticisms, however, are all wrong. Every single one of them. Let’s address some of the most common ones, one by one, in no particular order:
1. “Colin Kaepernick is an American citizen who makes a living in America, and therefore should respect the national anthem and his country!”
This criticism is often followed by something along the lines of “If you don’t like America, you can git out!” It’s amazing that someone could simultaneously wear a Make America Great Again trucker hat while telling someone that they should love America no matter what.
Kaepernick, and the Black Lives Matter movement as a whole, is about improving America. They see a problem with the country and instead of accepting it as a part of the norm — or leaving — they want to make things better. Part of that mission is to draw attention to this problem that many still struggle seeing. Kaepernick has done that exceptionally well. The belief that as an American you have to blindly accept and embrace all things American, is patently UN-American.
Verdict: This is wrong
2. “Colin Kaepernick is disrespecting armed forces by not standing for the national anthem!”
The Star Spangled banner is not solely a tribute to the armed forces. Standing during our national anthem is a public oath of nationalism, just like every other national anthem. In his explanation, Kaepernick says nothing about being against the military. Exercising his right to protest the injustices many Americans face — a right that our armed forces are constantly fighting to protect — is maybe the most American thing he could do.
Also, did you know that the government spends an insane amount of taxpayer money ($6.8M in the last four years alone, reports Huffington Post) on “Paid Patriotism?” When a bunch of fighter jets fly over a stadium or a veteran throws out the first pitch at a baseball game, it’s a paid advertisement for the military and our country. It’s a nice sentiment, but there is a lot more to it than honoring the troops.
Verdict: This is also wrong
3. “Colin Kaepernick is bi-racial and/or was raised by white parents, so his criticisms of oppression are not valid!”
Shout out to Rodney Harrison! There are several reasons this is a nonsense thing to think, but mostly, marginalizing someone’s opinion because of their race is called racism.
Verdict: This is wrong and most definitely racist.
4. “Colin Kaepernick gets paid to play football, not make political statements!”
As a 49er fan, trust me, I sincerely wish that he was being paid to make political statements instead of playing quarterback for my team. But, alas, that’s not a thing. Unless you are, you know, an actual politician.
Kaepernick used his position of relative influence to draw attention to an issue and start a discussion (he also managed to do it during a relatively slow news week). Leonardo DiCaprio gets paid to look handsome on screen but that doesn’t stop him from using his fame and influence to talk about climate change. And that’s a good thing. People with power should be using their influence to advocate for positive change that benefits everyone.
If this criticism were true — that athletes get paid only to be athletes — then we wouldn’t care so much about what athletes do off the field. A superstar getting a little too drunk at a club or getting caught with marijuana shouldn’t be news, but it is, that’s just how sports in this country work. Every action they make is scrutinized under a microscope. Kaepernick is trying to turn that microscope on an issue, as he put it, that’s “bigger than football.”
Verdict: This too, is wrong.
5. “Colin Kaepernick is distracting his team from football!”
Wait, so when San Francisco wins four games this year and finishes last in the NFC West, this will all be because Kaepernick refused to stand during a song, and not because of the depleted roster and incompetent owners?
Yeah, about that.
Verdict: You guessed it, this is wrong.
6. “Colin Kaepernick is using this as a way to get attention!”
Well, yeah, duh, but it’s not to get attention for himself; it’s to draw attention to something tragic happening in our country. And guess what? It’s working.
Trick verdict: This is right!
