The National Anthem…Do you sit, kneel or stand?

The National Anthem…Do you sit, kneel or stand?

This has been a huge debate in the United States starting last year with Colin Kaepernick taking a knee during the National Anthem to demonstrate against unfair treatment from police officers towards African-Americans.

There were two reactions at this time, which were anger and agreement. Those who were angry either thought that he was being un-patriotic and disrespectful towards our military members, those who believe police officers just do their jobs, and those who are just flat out racist. The people that were in agreement seemed to be a mix of those who want to fight for equality or those who are un-patriotic. This then later turned into almost an anti-President Trump protest when the POTUS decided to take a stand against this protest.

The problem is now if you take a knee you are automatically labeled un-patriotic and as you are disrespecting the military and on the flip side if you stand for the anthem you are labeled as racist and not standing for equality. Racism is more or less, disliking a group of people based on their race. This means that you dislike a whole group of people based on one thing that you do not like for some reason. If we are labeling each group based on the one factor of whether we they sit or stand aren’t we adding to the problem we are trying to steer away from?

Even though this protest started off as a message of equality, which is a good thing, we are dividing more over this protest. The protest has lost its way and is counterproductive at this time. Sometimes we as people have great ideas and they are not executed well. This doesn’t mean that it was a bad idea, but the thought process was not there.

I challenge athletes to hit the drawing board, so to speak, and come up with another way to push for equality that brings people together and doesn’t catch innocent people in the crosshairs of misunderstandings based on their choices. Equality has been a fight for many years and I understand this is no small task, but with that being said it is time to hit the drawing board and everyone stand together for our county, its anthem, its military and its fight for equality.

Please respond with your thoughts if you would like...but please be respectful of everyone’s opinions and thoughts.