No matter your stance or political opinion, you have to give respect where it is due, especially in the case of Colin Kaepernick’s trend of not standing for the national anthem. This article takes free speech a bit further and compares the allowance of Kaepernick’s actions in conjunction with the same actions of people who support the confederate flag.
Key Takeaways:
- San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is exercising a most fundamental American right, free speech, when he chooses to not stand during the national anthem. He does so because he believes blacks are oppressed in this country.
- At times like this we tend to forget we are a nation built on protest — starting with the Revolutionary War.
- Freedom of speech doesn’t exist to protect “safe” speech – speech that everyone agrees on – but instead exists to allow people to challenge ideas and thought processes, even if it is a deeply-held belief. Questioning ourselves and our ideologies helps us strengthen them and understand our own short-comings.
“I can’t imagine how difficult it must for someone who has lost a loved one in the military to watch Kaepernick kneel in protest. Also, his protest comes at a time when police officers across the nation are being attacked and killed.”
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