Maybe I get outraged easily,but when I saw this,I can no longer keep my mouth shut.

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/08/colin-kaepernick-49ers-national-anthem-sit-explains

Let us first get this out of the way. Say what you want,I will not lash out. But I will not apologize for my views. This piece of garbage has the nerve to sit during the National Anthem. He says it is a political statement. I think it is either a publicity stunt or he knows he is possibly being cut,so he wants to make noise.

Kaepernick,you have been given the opportunity to play pro football for a healthy chunk of change. You get to play a GAME for a freaking living. When the National Anthem is played,anyone who has even the smallest amount of respect should stand. This song was inspired by the attack on Fort McHenry during the war of 1812.

Francis Scott Key was negotiating the release of a friend from British custody. He was successful but was detained onboard the ship as the British bombarded Fort McHenry. The overwhelming amount of firepower made it seem that Fort McHenry would fall,but after the battle,the American flag still flew in defiance of the British. He was so moved that he penned the rough draft of what we now know as The Star Spangled Banner.

Now you have morons like Eric Reid and Megan Rapinoe either sitting or taking a knee while it is played. Despite my personal opinion,I want to hear what you have to say about this. I promise to be nice.

What blows my mind more than anything, is behind closed doors (though there are photographs that show it), there are dozens of members of Congress / Senate and other politicians who don't bother to stand for the National Anthem either, and on an extremely consistent basis, but no one seems to make a peep about that?

I mean has it gotten to the point where everyone just expects the government to be so corrupt we no longer care about their actions, but will create a national outrage over an athlete doing the same thing a handful of times, trying to spread a message he believes in?

I've heard arguments from both sides, veterans of our military included in each. I can understand why so many people find it disrespectful, but at the same time, what he did is exactly what our country stands for. If you want to protest something in a non-violent way, that is your right.

It just comes off to me as something else the media is blowing way out of proportion to distract us from real problems facing this country, and the many problems that affect our world as a whole.

Kaepernick is just a lil rich baby boy seeking attention. 

That's sad if someone does that....the only exceptions are the people who are really too sick to stand up. I mean I know I am not able to stand long on my feet, but I still stand and make the effort to the national anthem its a sign of respect I have. Those who are not being considerate enough to respect that is doing something bad. :/

I see where he's coming from.

I don't like the political things the US does but if I was American I would stand up for the national anthem. Standing up for a national anthem is more about political things so I disagree with what he did.

However, he has the right to not to. To him the national anthem does represent political things and I understand that. There is not much need to get mad at him. Criticise, yes, getting mad at him no.

I think the bigger outrage is that a man not standing for the national anthem is what it takes to get the American audience's attention riled up against a football player.

Ray Rice has video of him beating the crap out of his wife in an elevator. That's no big deal. Whatever.

Aaron Hernandez went and killed Odin Lloyd.

Ray Lewis either (a) killed two guys or (b) had other people take care of it for him. The case was dropped despite evidence against Ray Lewis.

Darrel Russell, who many probably many of you don't know, recorded himself and two friends brutally attacking and raping a woman over a five hour period. There's evidence. There's a freaking video because they recorded themselves. However, he was released and the case dropped because the jury refused to convict him, because, you know, football.

There are more problems. Spouse abuse is all over the place. Greg Hardy still has people buying his jersey despite his background with guns, violence against women, and drug use. Some players have killed people while driving drunk.

But no one has brought this much attention to a player since O.J. I'm baffled. Players are using drugs, hurting and killing people, doing all sorts of things and this is what gets the attention.

I don't have a problem with what Kaepernick did. I was in the Marines and I fought for our country for six years but he can make a decision for himself. He's not backing down or backing away from the scrutiny and he's trying to use the platform to make a statement. It's his 1st amendment right to do so.

It's also Oldschool's first amendment right to call the guy an idiot and refuse to watch NFL games, don't buy tickets, don't buy their merchandise and don't talk about them in real life or on the internet. Heck, skip all the fantasy football leagues too, while you're at it. If you disagree with what's happening, stop their revenue.

Are there big problems in the U.S.? Yeah. There's a lot going on and we don't have solutions. But a lot of people don't watch news on television, or if they do, they get it from TMZ or E! programming. Kaepernick realizes this so he's getting attention the only way he can. No one will listen to him unless he gets their attention.

He got our attention, didn't he?

I think him not standing for the anthem  is ok. He's using a public platform to bring a bigger issue to light, because he knows that football is not everything. I have always had, and always will have a tremendous amount of respect for pro athletes (especially) who are not afraid to make bold political statements like this one, whether I agree with it or not. It shows that they're not just worried about their paycheck and their sport, and are actually concerned about the state of our country. Also, I don't really understand how him being a rich, famous, athlete should discourage him from exercising his 1st amendment rights. He did not harm anyone, he did it peacefully. I feel like if someone else did it (since he doesn't exactly have the best reputation among people), or if the anthem was not involved, no one would oppose him using his right to peaceful protest. The Constitution did not come with any ifs, ands, or buts regarding citizen's rights, so why should certain things be considered "too far". I agree with Ghostbear, there have been several things people have done that are worse than this, but are basically ignored. I honestly feel like if a legend, or a highly respected player like maybe a Peyton Manning (I know he's retired) or a Drew Brees kind of a guy did this, no one would really oppose his decision. I see that many people have said that the anthem is a common respect. If America really valued "respect" that much, why do we have such a disrespectful person running for president?I think it'd be pretty cool to see some white NFL players join in, so people can't just say the minorities or whatever is opposing the national anthem.

Since he is exerting his rights to free speech, his actions are a non-issue. Sure, we can point out the irony of denouncing oppression while making a salary no one could earn in a lifetime, but he is in great part right to do it.

Just look around: nearly every day there are stories of police abuse where they (literally) get away with murder nearly every time. This complete lack of accountability is only akin to a police state, which is growing more and more every day.

I can't help but laugh at the butthurt conservatives are feeling right now. They, who supposedly support free speech and small government, now basically want to FORCE him to honor their sacred song and piece of cloth. You know, countries like North Korea do just that; are they a model?

To me it doesn't really matter, if he wants to sit or kneel to the anthem that is his choice and he has the freedom to do so. I mean we fought for freedom, he is just using what we fought to keep.

Wow,so many differing views. Now if he wants to devote his time to causes,that is wonderful,but do it on your own time,not during a game. I still think it is a stunt. I still think he is an over-rated piece of crap. I still think he should bow in humble reverence every time he takes the field. He might have the right to do as he pleases,but remember,you can do what you want,but there will always be a price to pay for your actions. I guess I should let karma do its job and when he is either put into the astroturf by a 350 pound tackle or the 49ers cut him loose,he will have plenty of time to think about his actions,since many will not be lining up to give him an endorsement.

Ghostbear,you do make a decent point. But I would think as a former service member you would be appalled at his indecency. He is basically turning his nose up at what our forefathers fought and died for. I agree,maybe,just maybe,he is trying to bring things to light. But I still think he is doing it as a stunt. Like you said,many players get into trouble with the law and unfortunately that is commonplace. Ray Rice is a good example. When he beat his wife,everyone was mad at him. The Ravens even held an event to people to turn in the Ray Rice jerseys for another player's. But fast forward a bit and he is again playing football and his wife begged people to forgive him. But she only did that,because their cash was drying up,not for people to back off.

Janus,I agree that you hear more and more about police shootings. But if the suspect had complied with the police,they would still be alive. They died by their own ignorance. The guy that was shot when he pulled a vape from his pocket? Now,if you are a cop,you would think he is going for a gun. You never go in your pockets or make a sudden move or a threatening gesture when the police stop you. If you are a CCW holder (Concealed Carry Weapon),and you are pulled over,you roll down your window,and tell the officer that you have a CCW and are armed. You then tell the officer that you will get the required papers and do it in a controlled manner.

Janus,let me give you a little reading. It is the story of how the song was inspired. You have to remember,this is when our nation was starting to come into its own.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-story-behind-the-star-spangled-banner-149220970/?no-ist

(I apologize for the long post.)

Oldschool777 : I know it might have happened in some instances, but from what I see too many policemen are trigger happy. I mean, how can a sane person claim self defense when they shoot a SIX YEAR OLD?! And I know about the anthem; after all Canadians helped burning down the White House . However I stand by what I said. This country is VERY far from its founding principles and is getting closer everyday to a dictatorship than to a Republic where individual rights are respected.

I know,some cops have pudding for brains and some have less than that. I saw a story that a cop said he was going to run over a homeless guy that they were called to take care of and his partner tells him to go for it. After they miss the homeless guy the cop gets out and shoots him 14 damn times. Those two should be hung with rusty,excrement covered,dull razor ribbon. (the giant coils on top of fences).

I agree that slowly but surely this country is turning Communist if not totalitarianism. You cannot smoke in buildings,you have to wear seat belts,can't say how you feel without someone being butthurt. But I stand for the ideal,that night that Mr. Key saw the bombardment of Fort McHenry and was so moved that the United States withstood the attack that he wanted to express his joy. Maybe we are not perfect,we have certainly screwed up in some places,but you know what? For a country that no one gave a one in a million chance of surviving,that no one thought we would amount to anything,we have done okay for ourselves. We forced the British to give us our independence instead of waiting 150 or so years before they gave it to Canada. I am not saying that to be a jerk,just stating facts.

And Kaepernik,the loser that he is,he was raised in a loving family,did not know what it was like to go without,was given talent,was given a college education,and was good enough to make a pro NFL team. Now there are people out there,far better than he ever will be,that would kill for his life. And he wants to throw it away for a stunt.

Like I have said,if he wants to use his fame to help people that is wonderful. But at the same time,he should do it on his own time. Not like this.