When 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick made a stand by sitting during the national anthem Friday night, it was destined to become the NFL's latest hot topic.
Bills coach Rex Ryan on Sunday made it clear his players stand during the anthem. Hours earlier, the Giants made a concerted effort to do just that. But to Panthers coach Ron Rivera, the issue doesn't have a one size fits all answer.
"To each his own. Everybody's going to do it their way," Rivera told BBR Sunday. "To me, it's a very personal thing because of my dad, his military background, knowing that his family and my mom's family served in the military."
Of anyone inclined to throw a hot take on Kaepernick's one-man protest, you'd think it'd be someone like Rivera.
A son whose father, Eugenio, spent 32 years in the U.S. Army — service that included two tours in Vietnam. A military brat with an upbringing that emphasized dedication and discipline. A coach who's invited veterans to speak to players of an organization that's turned into one of the NFL's most military-friendly.
"My view is (the anthem) is about honoring the people that served and made the commitment to our country, some who even made the ultimate sacrifice," Rivera said. "When I stand, that's what I'm standing for. I'm standing for the people that came before my father and the people that came after him."
Yet unlike some coaches, players and the corner of the internet currently locked in passionate debates about Kaepernick's stance, Rivera doesn't want to have a say in what someone else does during the anthem.
"This is America and people are given freedoms and rights. Whatever he chooses he chooses. So be it," Rivera said. "We have to do what we think is right. I think that's the most important thing.
"Let's not forget what this country's built on, and that's freedoms."
The anthem is not a property of veterans alone. It represents the American people, not just the military. Kap’s disrespect is not only for our esteemed defenders, but for every single American who loves his or her country.
Totally agree with you. I guess one way for a FAILED quarterback to bring attention to himself is to stoke racial inequality and social imbalances that afflict ALL societies. He would be better served making himself relevant again as a good QB and focus on avoiding flags on the football field.
Wow!
Mind easing up on commenting on every single comment? Thanks.
Amen Dixie!! It seems many including RR think that the anthem is only about the military….wrong! It’s also about love for country and freedom
The difference is the Military gives their lives to protect and raise the flag. While it is about more than military, that group gives the most in service of the flag by a huge margin.
So exactly what has he done to disrespect the military? My father gave his life for this country and I saw nothing wrong with what he did. Freedom of choice.
The anthem wasn’t even official until 1931. If you choose to acknowledge then do if you don’t DON’T! THIS IS WHAT LIBERTY IS ALL ABOUT! You know that is true because you would never want to live as a Black man. The message is the oppression of the minorities and has nothing to do with respect or disrespect of anybody but those oppressed. I NEVER STAND OR PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE, but I support disabled Vets and Wounded Warriors and that is far greater respect than many who on want to point fingers..
I think Matt Walsh says it best! “If racial minority oppression in America is as bad as you say it is then it must be said that America is, without a doubt, the most clumsy and ineffectual racial oppressor in history. When North Korea oppresses its citizens, they starve to death. When African warlords oppress their people, entire villages are butchered and burned. When ISIS oppresses the people it conquers, women and children are raped and killed. When America oppresses racial minorities, they become presidents and NFL quarterbacks.”
Dixie and others. Look around the stadium the next time the National Anthem is played. Note hoe many people are talking, laughing, and in general being disrespectful. This why I do not think it should be played before sporting events other than in international competition. And I wonder how many of those voicing anger over Kap’s actions are advocating some type of overthrow or secession from our government. Or how many have or would serve in the military. Certainly one presidential candidate choose not to serve.
Personally, I respect my brother’s and others sacrifices too much to be disrespectful.
You can love your country and still think it does really bad things. And if you really believe that, then social disobedience to bring attention to it is an act of bravery. Look how much Kaepernick is enduring because he took a stand.
In my opinion, you should be able to agree or disagree with his opinion but still respect that he’s making a principled stand.
The famous quote from 1899 quote from then Senator Carl Schurz has always resonated with me:
“I confidently trust that the American people will prove themselves …
too wise not to detect the false pride or the dangerous ambitions or the
selfish schemes which so often hide themselves under that deceptive cry
of mock patriotism: ‘Our country, right or wrong!’ They will not fail
to recognize that our dignity, our free institutions and the peace and
welfare of this and coming generations of Americans will be secure only
as we cling to the watchword of true patriotism: ‘Our country—when right to be kept right; when wrong to be put right.”
You don’t speak for America or me!
Another reminder why I appreciate having such a thoughtful coach for this team. Like I reminded myself during one of our losing streaks, Ron is our Chuck Noll.
As for Kap, I fully understand where he’s coming from but wonder if his real source of frustration (as we all may suspect) originates elsewhere.
Coach Rivera is right. The flag and the anthem represent freedom, and that includes the freedom to be a disrespectful, ignorant jerk.
But football fans also have freedoms. Like the freedom to not buy tickets to watch the jerk play, or to not buy the products he endorses, things like that. I wonder how quickly things would change if the franchise began to suffer because of his disrespect? But that’s up to the fans.
Stay classy Panthers. Keep pounding.
So you worship music and a piece of cloth?
Worship? No. Where did that asinine comment come from?
Did you have anything intelligent to add or was that it?
Can you imagine the media storm if Newton did such a thing?
The media is the problem
Respecting your country means standing up for what you perceive to be wrong. The fear of criticizing your country because you love it just holds back progress.
“This is America and people are given freedoms and rights. Whatever he chooses he chooses.” This is what liberty means, this is freedom. Not being forced to show homage to something you don’t believe in. Those coaches who force their player should learn the history of tyranny. Maybe why they don’t win.
So sick of this already, but here are a couple of things to chew on (since everyone and their mother is already jumping in):
I’ve seen the words “free speech” and “First Amendment” thrown around a lot in this situation, and neither has anything whatever to do with what Colin did (or, did not do). I realize that most people have never actually bothered to read the Constitution, so it’s a common mistake. But, the First Amendment only provides prohibitions on government (specifically, federal government) infringement of free speech and other rights. Since the
government is not involved as far as we can tell – it’s not like anyone’s threatening to throw him in jail or charge him with a crime here – the defense of free speech as commonly thrown around is not relevant to this issue. If his employer hypothetically wanted to mandate he stand up and salute the flag during the Anthem, or indeed pledge allegiance to it, as a condition of his employment, that employer would be well within their own rights as a property owner and operator, as would Kaepernick be well within his rights to choose not to work for that prospective employer (or accept that precondition of employment). It seems that SF does not mandate such behavior, in any event. So, the free speech issue simply is NOT an issue at all here.
Regardless of whether one agrees with the gesture (I don’t), or agrees with his at least professed motivation (I somewhat do), this is simply a stupid move on his part. Only an imbecile would be surprised by the divisive nature of such a choice, and only an ignorantly stubborn person would continue to believe that by being divisive, one can achieve such broad social goals. History is very clear that that’s not the case. If one wants to convince people of the righteousness of their given cause and consequently hopes to achieve some kind of broad change to that effect, rule #1 is to recruit people to your cause, not drive them away by insulting them. Dr. King understood this concept very well, which is why he reached out to white society to help in the Civil Rights Movement (whose participation was and remains absolutely critical to its ultimate success), rejecting the more confrontational and, indeed, militant contemporaries. These two environments and context are not the same, of course, but the lesson is nonetheless learnable and applicable.
Kurt Vonnegut once said “…profanity and obscenity entitle people who don’t want unpleasant information to close their ears and eyes to you.” In this case, Kaepernick – assuming his intent is genuine for argument’s sake – shot himself in the foot because he gave the very people he claims to want help from in changing society one way or another an excuse to dismiss him and what he says. He can’t change anything himself, he needs the American people, and making many if not most of them very angry at you is not a smart way of going about recruiting their help. Of course, this is all moot if he’s just self-aggrandizing for narcissistic reasons, which is certainly possible with modern athletic divas, but for now I’m willing to assume he’s at least trying to be legit.
People might not like having to play nice to get what they want, but it’s the only way that works when you don’t wield significant leverage. If stubbornness, spite, resentment, or whatever else prevent you from resisting this temptation to be contentious, purposefully or not, then you have no one but yourself to blame when your ends ultimately fail.
That is the point. Nobody cares to convince anybody of the RIGHTS OF HUMANS. Please don’t speak for a man who is gone. Make no sense. Well you have your perception and I have mine. I say he never disrespected anybody because we/I owe nobody anything. They chose to be in the military so they want to accept what goes with it. I have my own beliefs and they are not what I have to wait to receive. Believe me I have nothing to worry about I have been in many conflicts and faced many life & death situations. I am elderly now so you may keep your opinions to yourself. I have been in combat 1960-1970s
I literally have no idea what you’re trying to say…
You wouldn’t so don’t try.
This was the most intelligent argument I’ve read on this. Well done.