For Not Standing: Maya Morriswala

Not standing during the national anthem isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If you don’t already know, Colin Kaepernick sat during the anthem before a football game and is continuing to sit or kneel at games. This simple act manifested into a large debate about whether sitting or kneeling during the anthem shows disrespect toward America.

Kaepernick’s motivation was the oppression of people of color. Therefore, he was sitting as a form of peaceful protest, which was not meant to throw America into the maelstrom it is in now. Sure, if someone is sitting for no reason and rudely talking to the person next to them, they shouldn’t be doing that. However, this was a peaceful protest, so there is no problem with doing so, especially if it’s between sitting during the anthem or launching a violent protest in the streets.

For instance, there have been many riots happening between the police and Black Lives Matter activists like at Ferguson. The violent protests are very disruptive and put both sides in a bad light. On top of that, they can lead to more dangerous events like the Dallas shooting. Peaceful protests on the other hand should cause less controversy since it doesn’t disrupt our daily lives. This is why Kaepernick exercising his First Amendment right to peaceful protest should be allowed.

Speaking of which, if people so strongly believe in their Second Amendment rights, the First Amendment is just as credible. Americans seem to talk about how the Bill of Rights is timeless and can be applied no matter the time period. It is interesting to find that the people against Kaepernick are the ones who preach for the Second Amendment and the Bill of Rights. It’s logic: if you want to use the Bill of Rights argument for guns, apply your belief equally to respectful protests.

Another thing I don’t get is why something that one person does matters to other people. If one guy sits during the national anthem, it doesn’t affect you or anyone else.

I understand that standing for the anthem shows respect and allegiance to our country, but it is not necessary and it shouldn’t matter to others whether you stand or not. There are many huge problems our nation has to worry about like our presidential election and relationships with foreign countries. These issues should all come well before worrying about petty things such as standing during the national anthem.

For Standing: Mark Young

I believe standing for the national anthem is a respectful action. Not standing is disrespectful and shows a lack of character; you can peacefully protest police violence in other ways besides bashing your country. For example you could wear a patch supporting your point on a piece of clothing or maybe make a custom cleat with the message you want on it.

Brave men and women sacrificed their lives and the livelihood of their families for that flag. Granted, some of what they fought for is the right to free speech and the right to protest. These rights are being exercised by San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Colin Kaepernick, but still, by not standing he is being dishonorable.

Many people in our military worked hard to secure him a safe and free nation. In times of such racial disparity in which blacks and whites are the most separated they have been since the push for civil rights back in the 1960s, we are truly on the fringe of a race war. We need to make effort in uniting our nation, not creating more conflict and distance. Kaepernick should stand for the flag and put his own personal agenda aside.

As a pro athlete Kaepernick is a role model to tons of kids everywhere whether he likes it or not. When not standing for the national anthem I feel that he is sending the wrong message to kids. Kaepernick visited his old high school for their game on Sept. 23 and the entire roster laid on their backs and raised their hands with Kaepernick during the national anthem. For this Kaepernick was anointed as a hero, which bugs me.

Furthermore, Kaepernick has influenced many other high school and middle school athletes and frankly it’s unsettling. We are going to have generation of athletes, potential future role models, support disrespectful action toward America and its military.