Kaepernick's Argument Against Racism

The playing of the National Anthem is over a century long tradition, that takes place prior to sporting events. In the United States, it is commonly expected of members in the audience to stand and remove their hats. Colin Kaepernick, second string quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, decided to break the tradition of standing during the singing of the national anthem during their first three preseason games, going unnoticed by media until the third. I will begin by explaining how Kaepernick is going against a national tradition that intends to support the United States. Then, I will show how Kaepernick’s protest is not changing the Black Lives Matter movement, and how it is causing more conflicts than it is resolving. I will also relate Kaepernick’s protest to Immanuel Kant’s public vs. private use of reasoning. After I illustrate the arguments against Kaepernick’s protest, I will address more specific reasons that cause some to believe Kaepernick’s protest is in fact justified. Through this process of …show more content…
No one is forcing him to stand during the anthem, but the NFL states that “players are encouraged” to do so (NFL.com). Some who support Kaepernick’s protest believe that one of the things The National Anthem stands for is our freedom, therefore it is his choice to decide whether to sit or stand. I acknowledge that it is Kaepernick’s right to decide whether or not he wants to support The National Anthem, but this is not enough of a reason to make his action justifiable. Just because something isn’t illegal, doesn’t mean that it is morally okay to do; an example of this situation is adultery. In around half of the states in The US it is not illegal to cheat on your husband or wife (Freep.com), but most of us would consider this action morally wrong. Colin Kaepernick’s morals may be different than others’, but many agree that it is morally correct to stand during the playing of The National