Kaepernick abuses constitutional right

With all the media buzz surrounding Colin Kaepernick, his recent choice to sit during the national anthem should be rightfully judged on both ends of the pendulum. The first side would involve playing devil’s advocate and defend his right to uphold constitutional freedoms, which permit him to make the decision of standing up or not.
On the other end, we’d need to measure the reason behind doing so; which to many has come across immature, hypocritical and cheap. Now, both sides of this argument deserve the same amount of justification and analysis.
Firstly, let’s take a look at the leftists’ viewpoints on this issue that seem to almost unanimously support Kaepernick and his endeavors of expressing his opinion in such a bold fashion. While on a personal level, there may well be veterans who were in attendance that afternoon who weren’t so thrilled by that decision because of their military status.
Others, however, may not care either way. If anyone ever pays close attention to the instructions given by the stadium announcer, that person simply says, “We now ask that everyone please rise, and men remove their cover…..” Nowhere in that inquiry is he demanding that anyone do so, nor is he imposing legal threats against the opposition.
Additionally, despite appearing against the grain, school districts across the country are issuing opt-out slips to parents of students who’d rather not have their child participating in the Pledge of Allegiance; either because of religious or political standpoints. Those to the far right strongly disagree with this movement, which brings us to the other end of our pendulum.
Shifting gears from rightfulness to conviction, the media is harshly criticizing Kaepernick; including presidential nominee Donald Trump, who suggested Kaepernick move to another country. The media isn’t alone in this idea, with countless Americans loudly vocalizing their outrage via social media; some going as far as typing out personal attacks to his foster parents.
Although the public outcry has flung overboard, his thought process and symbolism fall short in many aspects of this situation. He proclaimed that his intention of not standing up during the national anthem was out of silent protest for treatment of minorities. The reason it comes off so cheaply is because, he himself, has never walked around in minority shoes.
He is indeed half African American; he is the son of an African American father and a Caucasian mother. Kaepernick was an orphan and was adopted by Rick and Teresa Kaepernick; a Caucasian couple from Milwaukee. When Colin was 4 years old, the family moved to Turlock, California, in a predominately wealthy neighborhood. The reason that his stunt comes off as cheap, is due to the fact that he draws in a $16 million salary, and rather than donate to organizations that are actively raising awareness of the dangers of gang life and actively improving the lives of urban youth, he’d rather act like a child and accomplish nothing.
To draw the best from both sides and work toward the middle, maybe the question shouldn’t be which political stances one should take on his behavior. However, what is appropriate for someone of his stature, and in doing so, how heavy the consequences?
If those questions were the ones being brought to the table, there would be a lot more intelligence added to the conversation. Constitutionally, he had every right to not respond to the call; however, due to his celebrity status, he is expected to set a tone of responsibility to the millions of young people who potentially view him as a hero.
As a man in his position, Kaepernick has all the resources in the world at his finger tips. If he sincerely has sympathy for the hardships of the young minorities, then he should make a sensible testimony.
If he chooses to make it public, there’s nothing wrong with that; bring in all the cameras you want and invite anyone who is willing to stand by, be professional and productive in your protests, not animalistic.
Outbursts like this do nothing to better your cause, and everything to worsen it. We at The Eagle, disapprove the execution of his actions, not the execution of his rights.