Recently, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick caused quite a stir in the media when he opted to kneel on the sideline during the National Anthem at a preseason game instead of standing with the rest of his teammates. In an interview with NFL Media, Kaepernick explained that he chose not to stand in order to protest discrimination and wrongdoings against minorities, specifically African Americans. His protest was not an isolated incident. Since that preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, many NFL players and other high-profile athletes such as Megan Rapinoe have followed suit, along with lower-profile college athletes and even high-school students.
Those who have decided to take a knee believe that it is wrong to take pride in one’s country when that country allows discrimination, inequality, and injustice to pervade the lives of its citizens. As Kaepernick said, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people. To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way.”
Still, there are other ways to protest inequality and discrimination in America besides refusing to stand for the national anthem. People can attend local protests in their communities, start a social media campaign, or even organize events themselves. A symbolic display before the game runs the risk of distracting from the fact that there is actually a football game going on by creating a controversy, unnecessarily or not. For example, an anonymous player for the Indiana State Sycamores football team decided to take a knee before an away game against Minnesota. After the game, a perusal of most media outlets would lead you to the same amount of coverage for the pre-game protest as there was about Minnesota’s thirty-point win. Fans and writers alike thought a unilateral protest by one player deserved just as much attention as the collective performance of an entire team.
More importantly, though, Kaepernick and other players are ignoring something important about our country: it is still possible to take pride in your nation, even if injustices do occur in that country. The United States as a whole is not directly responsible for the actions of those who discriminate or mistreat minorities. In that same vein, it is illogical to treat parts of certain entities (racists, in this case) as the whole entities they represent (the U.S. as a whole). Protesting does not preclude patriotism, and in this instance, there are other methods that are equally viable alternatives, especially considering that the NFL would not exist as we know it today without our country’s dedication to its professional sports.
I respect an athlete’s right to sit during the National Anthem, and if it would further progression of equal rights, I am not opposed to it. However, everyone should be aware of the pros, cons, and potential repercussions of sitting or kneeling before they decide to do so. Standing for the National Anthem is not just a means of avoiding controversy, but also a sign of respect for one’s country: not local, statewide, or national problems, but ideals and values. I encourage athletes to honor the country in which they live and work together with their fellow citizens off the field to solve nationwide problems such as inequality and racial discrimination.