Saturday, September 03, 2016

Freedom of Speech: A birthright…Not A Convenience

By Anthony Strait, OTSL Analyst

            For the last few days, the biggest sports story that everyone seems to have an opinion on is what San Francisco Quarterback Colin Kaepernick did in protest this past weekend. The issue I have personally taken with over the past couple of days isn’t his protest of sitting in silence during the National Anthem. It surely isn’t his explanation to bring attention to social injustice particularly police brutality. My personal feeling is while I disagree with his method, I respect his right to his freedom of speech and expression that is his given right as an American citizen. The issue I have with this whole situation is the hypocrisy that has reared its ugly head once again in an America that at some point became a place where freedom of speech is allowed but only if you say something that everyone agrees with. The fact that we are so willing to punish dissent is against the very principle behind the first amendment right that gives us the freedom to express our views without consequences.

I gave up keeping count of the people who said what Kaepernick did was disrespectful to our military and those who fought to protect his freedom. Even with Kaep’s statement of his respect towards our military and those who served, people still have their minds made up. Kaepernick is labeled un-American because he protests in a non-violent manner and disrespected the flag. But how much of this is really based on our own personal feelings towards the American flag as opposed to what are actual facts about what the flag stands for? Any game or event you go to you will see people stand and honor the flag and our military. That is how we choose to interpret the flag; it’s not how everyone SHOULD interpret the flag. As much as we don’t acknowledge it, the national anthem does not mean the same for all. In a stadium filled with thousands of people; you never know if there is one person who sees the flag as a symbol of greatness while someone else may see it as a symbol of what’s wrong. You can always have a person who came to this country for a better life see it as a symbol of hope while a man next to them sees it with anguish as he still grieves over the child he lost in war. We are basing Kaepernick’s stance on how we have always personally viewed the anthem and flag, which is unfair. Everyone’s meaning is different but the right to be different is what is supposed to set the United States apart from others. The US Constitution exists for that very reason.

The hypocrisy in those condemning Kaepernick isn’t just reserved to the flag. How many of those who criticize Kaepernick just months ago praised the late Muhammad Ali? Everyone in the sports world from the likes of Drew Brees to Kaep’s former coach Jim Harbaugh spoke out against him. But these two along with so many in the world praised the legacy Ali left behind due to his willingness to fight for what he believed in. Why is it okay in one case but not okay in another? Kaepernick is risking his own livelihood to use his platform to take a stand on something he feels strongly about. Ali lost three years of his career and was deemed un-American for not fighting in Vietnam. Today his life is celebrated not just by his boxing career but his role in civil rights. How many NFL players have given lengthy quotes on how they feel about Kaep sitting during the national anthem but remain silent on issues such as domestic violence or the possibility of having a gay teammate? Funny how these same NFL players also don’t mention how the league was paid over $5.4 million by the defense department between the years 2012-2015 to be a propaganda machine. For all of the talk about how the flag enables Kaepernick’s freedom of speech and right to protest, why are those saying it having a hard time simply disagreeing without disparaging the idea that Kaepernick only did what so many Americans do daily? There is nothing wrong with honoring the military as there is never enough appreciation that can be shown for them. But it doesn’t mean those who are honored and serve have exclusive rights to the idea of patriotism and our anthem.

As bad as the sports world has been, the fans and social media have been far worse in this matter. You don’t have to go far for proof. Colin Kaepernick’s Twitter handle alone showed the ugly racist backlash he received that almost works double towards proving his point that racial injustice still exists. Fans ask athletes to take a stand on social matters all the time. The moment one does and it’s something fans don’t agree with they are told to shut up and play and they don’t relate because they make millions. Is the problem with the athlete who takes a stand or the fan who can’t get past his salary or how many fantasy points he is losing to notice someone with remote power and influence is trying to make a point? The talks of “There are other ways to protest” are never followed up with actual ways to protest, at least one that hasn’t been tried yet and would really work. Kaepernick, whether you agree with it or not, took a non-violent approach. That is a far cry from some of the violence protests seen at a Donald Trump rally or even those at a few Black Lives Matter rallies. Colin did not burn a flag -- which was very commonplace during protests of the Vietnam War -- nor did he use the sidelines to perform a staged fake death, which were held frequently a decade ago to protest the War in Iraq. With my own two eyes I saw people on Facebook speak strongly against Kaepernick’s approach who I remember took part in those staged fake deaths while attending Hofstra University years ago.


The issue here isn’t simply agreeing or disagreeing with Kaepernick. As American citizens you, me and anyone who has an opinion are well entitled to their right to disagree with Colin Kaepernick. It is your God-given first amendment right to not support the 49ers or never watch a NFL game again if you choose to. What is lost in all of this is recognizing Colin is within his first amendment rights to his beliefs and to express them in a non-violent manner. For those who say he should go to another country is in itself disrespecting the rights afforded to anyone who lives in a country that encourages free speech without any repercussions. Kaepernick has vowed to continue sitting until change of some form is made knowing that his days as a 49er and possibly NFL player may be numbered. You are entitled to your freedoms to choose either side of this argument as you see fit. Just keep in mind that he is entitled to his and infringing on it based on not agreeing with it goes against the very heart of the first amendment that the Constitution and American flag for many represent as core values of our freedom.

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