Bennett Left, Kaepernick Right
While the conflicts occurred a year apart; both Colin Kaepernick (quarterback for the 49ers) and Michael Bennett (defensive player for Seattle Seahawks), decided not to stand for the playing of the national anthem in protest of what they deem to be wrong doings against African Americans and minorities in the United States. Bennett began to take a knee after he was, unjustly assaulted at gun point by Las Vegas police officers, for what he believes to be the color of his skin.
Kaepernick chose to take a knee strictly for the rights of African Americans, "I am not going to stand and take pride for a flag in a country that opresses black men and people of color", he encloses to reporters after a game. The NFL released a statement after Kaepernicks protest in 2016, obtained by NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport: "Players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the national anthem." Following Kaepernick's decision not to stand during the national anthem the 49ers coach, Chip Kelly, told reporters that it is "his right as a citizen" and said "it's not my right to tell him not to do something." By taking a stand for civil rights, Kaepernick, joins other athletes, like the NBA's Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony and several WNBA players in using their platform and status to raise awareness to issues affecting minorities in the U.S (NFL).
But the question is not why they took the knee, but if as a public figures of the United States, and role models to children across the nation-
Was Kaepernick and Bennetts decision to take knee the morally right thing to do?
President Barack Obama said at a CNN presidential town hall that he respected Colin Kaepernick's decision not to stand during the national anthem, as he is excersizing within the law his freedom of speech; one of the unique beauties our country has.
Whenever a professional athlete speaks out against injustice and oppression, the debate about free speech and the place of politics in sports arises. Colin Kaepernick and Michael Bennet are both public figures, that represent America. Both, Kaepernick and Bennett, chose not to stand during our national anthem as a protest to racist, police brutality. The job of Bennet and Kaepernick is to play football, when they both decided to take a knee during the national anthem, they not only misrepresented themselves and their team, but the United States.
I dont believe Kaepernick and Bennett directed any disrespect towards military and the protection most police provide. I believe they see the flag as a representation of the government, that they fault for being inactive to the extrajudicial killing of black people by police. Through this point of view they chose not to stand for the flag, but to others who see the flag as a representation of our freedom, and all those who have died to give us that it is seen as a clear sign of disrespect.
Minute 1:58, Kaepernick is asked if he sees his refusal to stand as a disrespect to those who have served, his response portrays that he is fighting for what they fight for, freedom.
In my opinion, Kaepernick and Bennet are playing in a sport where a lot of young children, with impressionable minds watch; Kaepernick and Bennett certainly have the right to disagree and protest against police brutality against African Americans. But, it is morally wrong to bring that opinion to a family game, and direct the attention away from the salutation of our flag to themselves. Both Kapernick and Bennett explain this as their way of raising awareness; this implies directly that they know the attention will be drawn away from our flag onto them.
What happens if children start to sit down during the pledge of allegiance in school, because thats what they saw and were told was okay on television? To bring politics onto the playing field, is splitting the fans no longer by which team they represent; but by whether they support the players standing during the national anthem, or not.
00:45 Snoop Dogg expresses his respect for what Kaepernick is standing for, but says now Kaepernick needs to choose between football or protesting police brutality. He agrees with the majority of viewers, that it should not continued to be brought to the NFL field.
To conclude I agree with protesting against racist police brutality, and for players to use their positions as a stepping stone for raising awareness on the matter. However, I also believe it needs to be done somewhere besides the playing field - where families come for football, not politics.
Giana, your writing is strong and presents solid reasoning that Kaepernick's actions on the job are disrespectful. Good job! Your videos and images make your writing engaging.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, you make the point that his actions aren't morally appropriate. Can you elaborate on that point?
--Prof. Young
Professor Young,
ReplyDeleteMorality is a system of values and principles of conduct, it is knowing the difference between what is right and wrong. As players in the NFL both Kaepernick and Bennett, know they are public figures in a family sport. They know they are seen as role models for little boys and girls around the country who aspire to one day be like them. Children often do what they see, without understanding the meaning of it. When a little boy/girl sees their role models sitting during the national anthem, without a question of 'why?', they will sit down as well; just because their role model did it, so it must be okay.
In the eyes of Bennett and Kaepernick both playing in a family oriented sport, for America, and for billions of people and children ( including some of which have served for our country in the military) it makes them sitting for the flag morally wrong. Players sitting during the national anthem, need to realize that they may disagree with one thing the flag represents, but by sitting they are protesting everything our flag stands for. Protesting something you disagree with is okay, it is an action that has made us a free country today, but the way we do it is the most crucial part in making a difference. This way-- of sitting during the national anthem and not saluting our flag, that represents much more than the racial issues occurring, will only anger people not change them.
-- Gianna