Kaepernick Sitting Was The Worst Thing To Happen To The NFL, Here’s Why.

August 20th marked a full year since Colin Kaepernick sat down during the national anthem, and it feels like not much has changed. Or has it?

Jeremy Gaston
Aug 27, 2017 · 5 min read

Where’s the respect?

Over four centuries the United States has enlisted men and women across this great land to give service in more than one hundred battles or wars. So, obviously there are a lot of people who’s sense of pride was inherited from many generations before them.

One man or woman’s sacrifice is another’s badge of honor. For their children, it is an allegiance to their family name because of what their ancestor(s) did in service, rather than just a blind allegiance to their country. But the two can easily become inseparable.

People are bound by the bloodshed of their people, and are fearless to support the commitments of those who came before them.

So when Colin Kaepernick decided he was gonna sit while that beautiful melody of loyalty and freedom layered the air, horns a blaring and singers in full chorus, it was easy for many to take it personal.

Heck, having two uncles who had been drafted to service in Vietnam, I may’ve even taken it personal — one of which suffered from night terrors and the effects of agent orange, decades after the war had been declared over. Plus, every generation in our family since their sacrifice has seen a serviceman or woman step up to carry the bouton forward.

So of course I took it personal.

Where’s the love?

Over the years I’ve learned not to include “but” after proclaiming my love or allegiance to anyone or any thing, because it nullifies everything that was previously stated. So I’ll just say “nevertheless”.

Nevertheless, I did not take it personal for the reasons most have taken it personal, or for reasons I previously mentioned.

I took it personal because for the first time in the post-civil rights era a star athlete‘s stand (or seat) against atrocities in our nation forced awareness upon a professional sports league — galvanizing more and more of its players while polarizing its fans.

I took it personal because it became easier for people to hate a young man over the method of his protest, and overlook the purpose of his protest.

I took it personal because the heart of America had been exposed. Its people were proving their love for her anthem, but their utter disdain for her hurting citizens.

I took it personal because a nation that hardly supports its veterans would expect its citizens to blindly accept and sing songs of its commitment to its people without ever a protest. It was far too easy for people to walk away from a young man with a purpose, not because they didn’t like his point but because they didn’t like the path he took to make it.

Where’s the point?

Whether or not Colin Kaepernick is being blackballed by the NFL, I’m sure the turn of events came as little surprise to him.

Each week when fans tune into their favorite team’s game they attempt to unplug from the “real world” for a couple of hours, try to live vicariously through the actions of finely tuned athletes, then return to a seemingly purposeless week when its over. Kaepernick sitting took that away from them. And people don’t like when you mess with their entertainment.

Americans aren’t too keen on having their entertainment mixed with awareness issues. There were never any NFL cameras outside of FedEx Field making viewers aware of protests by Native Americans. And, sadly, most would gladly placate female fans, after a domestic abuse scandal, with disingenuous PSAs, just so they can get back to their football as soon as possible.

There are far too many fans of professional sports would just as well have their pro athletes “shut up and play”. But what they fail to realize is that the same freedoms they use to threaten athletes with inflammatory posts in social settings, are the same freedoms that affords athletes the right to make peaceful statements from their platform in social settings.

What’s in danger here is not just the freedom of speech. It’s also the freedom of opinion and concern.

Where’s the humanity?

Whether we support Colin Kaepernick’s method of protest or not, there should never be a question of whether we, as Americans, support the valid concerns of another human being.

Kaepernick could’ve easily called a press conference to discuss his disgust and fight against the atrocities happening to people of color all over this great nation, but he knew that story would quickly get lost in the shuffle. Instead, he chose to hit Americans where it would hurt the most and help the most — in the midst of their entertainment. His statement, a powerful one that without strong-armed coercion ignited people into action:

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color”. — Colin Kaepernick

Except, all his opponents heard was “I am not going to stand up to show pride in the American flag”, end statement.

His message was simple. His method, though unorthodox, was effective — which is why it was one of the best approaches a publicly recognizable protestor could take. He forced people to confront deep seeded issues or choose to overlook them. But a response would indeed be required.

Colin Kaepernick was bound by the bloodshed of people who were just like him, and has been fearless in supporting those who are fighting for the same cause. This is the true American spirit. We fight for freedom, no matter the cost.

In the end, you will continue to either like him or not. But all I ask, just as he has asked, is that we not look away from the meaning. Let’s be a nation of people who are willing to look injustice in the face and say with collective voices, “Not in my land; not to my people”.

We must return our allegiances to our hearts, and begin to feel the hurts of those around us again — no matter their race, color, creed, religious affiliation or sexual orientation.

Do you agree or have a difference of opinion? Please comment respectfully.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed it, hold down that hand clap button below. It helps other people see the story.

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Jeremy Gaston

Written by

Founder @uballn + @askprept. Startup advisor. Author.

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