To Stand or not to Stand...that is the question

Friday during a preseason game San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the National Anthem, and says he'll continue to not stand.  ""I'll continue to sit. ... I'm going to continue to stand with the people that are being oppressed. To me, this is something that has to change, and when there's significant change — and I feel like that flag represents what it's supposed to represent, and this country is representing people the way it's supposed to — I'll stand."

I mentioned this on my facebook page but thought I should expand on my thoughts and strangely people seem to be interested in my opinions for some reason.

Colin has every right to do this and I respect him to a certain extent.  He believes that black men and women are being singled out, and often killed, and this is his way of bring attention to it.  I can't argue with the idea as it sure seems that being a black man in the United States of America has become a problem.

However, in my opinion, this is not going to shine anything on the "Black Lives Matter" group.  This is just going to single one man out and make him look bad, and that is Colin.

In my opinion what Colin is doing is disrespected the men and women who risk, and often give, their lives for this country.  I don't agree with everything this country does but when the National Anthem plays I get to my feet and I take off my hat and I face the flag.

If Colin wanted to wear one of these shirts like the WNBA players did I understand that, but look at the picture in the new article above, they are STANDING during the National Anthem.  (They don't all have their hands on their hearts...but that is a different debate).

I've seen a few people compare what Colin is doing to Muhammad Ali but I disagree with this as well.  Ali was protesting a war by not going to war.

Again I understand what Colin is doing and saying but what does this accomplish?  What is the end game?  This kind of protest reminds me of the Occupy Wallstreet movement.  What is the end game? Are people suddenly going to realize killing people is wrong because Colin didn't stand up during the National Anthem?

If he wanted to make a statement he could do several things.  He could walk away from the NFL and work with the underprivileged youth.  He could donate money into a college fund and challenge other people to do the same.  He could do a lot of productive things to do this.  Hell he could say he isn't playing in the games until things change but this is disrespectful to the wrong people.

I know he says it isn't but that is how it is viewed and perception is often more important than the message.  ""I have great respect for the men and women that have fought for this country," said Kaepernick. "I have family, I have friends that have gone and fought for this country. And they fight for freedom, they fight for the people, they fight for liberty and justice, for everyone. That’s not happening.

"People are dying in vain because this country isn’t holding their end of the bargain up, as far as giving freedom and justice, liberty to everybody. That’s something that’s not happening.

"I’ve seen circumstances where men and women that have been in the military have come back and been treated unjustly by the country they fought have for, and have been murdered by the country they fought for, on our land. That’s not right."

Look at that last statement.  I would be a LOT more supportive if he was standing up for that, but not for what he initially said.

Overall I think Colin, like a lot of us in this country, are frustrated by what we're seeing.  We are tired of the violence and the hate.  He is doing something which most of us aren't, so again let me say that I respect him for that.  However when push comes to shove I believe that what he is doing is wrong and there are better approaches, especially for someone with his means and public stature.