The scorching California air was inescapable on August 26, 2016. Excitement filled Levi’s Stadium as the crowd full to capacity rose to its feet. The crowd hushed, sweet silence unifying the diverse fans: Texans and 49ers, male and female, black and white. “O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light, what so proudly we hailed, at the twilight’s last gleaming?” and in a split-second the serenity was gone, replaced by the voices of America, “…and the rocket’s red glare, the bombs busting in air…” Individuals unified under one song, one flag, and one nation by this revered anthem. However, unnoticed was one player who was sitting on the bench. Not just an “average Joe” either, as it was the quarterback who took the 49ers to the Super Bowl three years earlier, Colin Kaepernick. Little did he know of the divisiveness he was about to incite.

Like other facets of the modern world, a social media post gone viral can impact the lives of millions. The Tweet on the account @Niners-nation accidentally sparked a movement. Although the post was directed at other players standing in front of Kaepernick, Twitter users immediately noticed No. 7 seated on the bench. Immense criticism was thrown at Kaepernick. In the minds of many Americans, he was disrespecting the flag, the military, and the veterans who fought for the nation’s freedom. Kaepernick claimed, “This stand wasn’t for me. This is because I’m seeing things happen to people that don’t have a voice, people that don’t have a platform to talk and don’t have their voices heard.” Yet, his doubters answered with calls of treason. Kaepernick wanted to protest police brutality and racial discrimination in America. Despite having noble intentions, Kaepernick should have had a better way to protest.

Had Kaepernick wanted real change, he could have done it in a more respectful manner. Being a role model for children, he needs to realize that derogatory acts towards those who have protected our country who should be desecrated not venerated. By kneeling for “The Star-Spangled Banner,” he dishonored veterans and current soldiers who put personal safety aside for the safety of this country. The flag is the national symbol of freedom that these men and women fought for. Their sacrifices are directly displayed in the national anthem’s lyrics, “O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

When asked for his perspective on this controversy, varsity football lineman Jimmy Murray stated, “I think it is completely disrespectful. These athletes are making millions of dollars. If they want to make a difference, they should stand up, respect their flag and those who defend it, and go do something to help the cause they’re fighting for.”
In recent months, this issue has catapulted into mainstream media, somewhat because of profane remarks made by President Donald Trump. In response, all NFL teams united together to protest during the national anthem in different ways. The commonality in the actions taken by the teams is that the act of defiance is directed at the President rather than Kaepernick’s intended cause.

Athletes in other sports are following in the footsteps of NFL players by also revolting during the national anthem. Most notably Bruce Maxwell, the catcher of the Oakland Athletics, was the first MLB player to kneel. In the NBA contracts, all players must stand for the national anthem, but athletes such as Iman Shumpert have vouched to donate money for the cause. By donating instead of disrespecting our armed forces, Shumpert proves how other means of protest can be effective. In place of the current actions taken, junior Matt Geller, an avid sports fan, thinks alternative methods are better: “Athletes can show frustration for injustice in the world by raising awareness in the community through talking.” Another option to express dissatisfaction would be speaking out during the post-game interviews.

Lastly, this protest has contributed to the racial divisions present in the country today. Our nation should be unified, as it was intended to be. When asked whether kneeling was dividing our country, Stephen LoCicero, varsity football coach and U. S. history teacher, said, “I believe that the American Flag is a symbol of the diversity in this country. It should unite us all as Americans. My dad was a veteran and fought for the freedoms we have in this country. He fought for the right of the First Amendment: the right for us to peacefully protest and freely speak. While I do not agree with kneel during the National Anthem, I do support the rights of our citizens to peacefully protest. The Flag is a sign of our Unity, and we should respect it and those who fought and died for us to live free.” This belief portrays that, although Kaepernick and similar athletes have the right to protest in this manner, it is disrespectful to the American Flag, which is the glue that holds this nation together.

The most ironic thing about this ordeal is that the true reason why Colin Kaepernick kneeled has been forgotten in the mess it created, which proves it was an ineffective way to make the public aware of the issues regarding individuals without a voice. Since this gesture has lost its intended meaning, it should be frowned upon. All it has done is create drama, offended soldiers and veterans, and contributed to the racial divisions in our country.
Although Kaepernick’s heart was in the right place, his actions weren’t.