Kantian Ethics Article
The situation that I chose to write about is the Colin Kaepernick sitting during the National Anthem. Colin Kaepernick the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers chose to sit during the National Anthem because he said that refuses to “stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color”. Kaepernick faced a lot of scrutiny from military veterans, current players, former players, and fans for his actions he has even received death threats from people because he has decided against standing for the pledge. Videos have been posted across social media of fans even burning his jersey while playing the National Anthem at their homes, a restaurant in Virginia right now is currently using his jersey as a doormat.
Though it may be seen as disrespectful in the eyes of many, having to stand for the flag is not a rule enforced by law enforcement in the country. You have the right to either sit, stand, talk on the phone, keep your hat on, or do whatever it is that you want while the national anthem is playing. I believe it’s just an unwritten rule in this country to stand for the national anthem. You just know that growing up whenever the pledge of allegiance or national anthem came on your parents told you to stand up to pay your respects to our flag, and the people who died protecting this nation. I believe there was so much outrage toward Kaepernick kneeling on opening day because it just so happened to be 9/11, which is a day we pay our respect to all those who lost their lives during the Twin Tower attack. But in all kneeling for the national anthem can be universalized, because there’s no law against it, and it causes no harm to anybody, though people will most definitely not like it.
Colin Kaepernick is kneeling for a reason. He’s not just kneeling because he doesn’t feel like standing, he’s kneeling because of the social injustice that is going against people of color. A lot people commend Kaepernick for using his platform as a well-known professional athlete shedding some light on a problem that desperately needs to be addressed. Through all this I don’t believe he is actually using anybody as a means to an end. Kaepernick was actually kneeling for the anthem before the media even knew it, just nobody thought to look for him during the anthem because he wasn’t in uniform. He has also gone on the record saying that he’s not trying to persuade anybody to join him in his silent protest. His own teammates have told the media that he spoked to them about it but didn’t ask anybody to join him. Those who have joined Kaepernick are doing so on the own will because they believe in the message he is trying to send.