On Wednesday, October 31, 2018, I attended a Rose Cafe with Professor Angela Cornell. She led a discussion about public protest and the controversies surrounding Colin Kaepernick. Especially since I was relatively uninformed about the topic, her talk provided great insight into Kaepernick’s decision to kneel during the National Anthem. We discussed both the legal and ethical implications of Kaepernick’s public demonstration and considered whether his decision was the most appropriate one. Therefore, we needed to evaluate both sides of the argument from a variety of perspectives.
On one hand, Kaepernick is employed in the private sector with the NFL. Therefore, his actions directly reflect upon the organization. Well-known athletes like Kaepernick must always be mindful of their actions because they can be thrown under public scrutiny at any time. With the ubiquitous presence of the media in the modern age, public figures are in the spotlight constantly. Kaepernick could have expressed his views on discriminatory police brutality through alternative means. For example, he could have addressed the national problem during a separate press conference or through social media. Additionally, many people considered his kneel during the anthem to be incredibly disrespectful to those who served and currently serve in the military.
On the other hand, Kaepernick’s right to protest is protected under constitutional law. Kaepernick deliberately chose to protest during an NFL game to reach a greater audience, understanding that he would create a stir in the American media. Ultimately, I respect Kaepernick’s courage because he risked his professional career to make a statement about a matter he felt strongly about. He surely recognized the consequences before he took advantage of his celebrity platform. In the end, Kaepernick sacrificed his football career; NFL owners retaliated by colluding to keep him out of the league. His methodology was undoubtedly controversial. I completely understand why stakeholder groups like veterans and the NFL might take offense to his decision. However, his public protest was highly effective and garnered a lot of attention to police brutality against minority groups.
I agree with your statement. I understand why people were upset with Kaepernick for kneeling, but at the same time Kaepernick had every right to kneel. We live in a country where we have freedom of speech and he used that. It is a shame that he had to lose his football career just because he wanted to speak his mind. However, I believe that him kneeling was a powerful message because it showed that sometimes in life we may have to do things that may have us risk everything, but that risk may be necessary in order to grow and to have the right thing be done.
I appreciate how you are keeping an open mind in seeing both sides of the situation. Most people are quick to choose sides, but I’m glad you articulated both sides fairly.
I like how you address both sides of the argument. It is critical to step back and look at the big picture. People usually choose one side quickly without evaluating the pros and cons of each alternative.