Kneeling Down to Stand Up: Right Or Fight?

We all know about the Nike x Kaepernick ad. It has exploded all over the internet and reignited the debate. For some, it was shocking, but to others, it was a true sign of heroism: when Colin Kaepernick kneeled, was he right, or should we fight?

It’s Hibba, your weekly debating blogger. I want to apologize for skipping a few weeks. That cursed auto-publish decided not to work!

I usually don’t choose such sensitive topics, but in this case, I feel like it’s important I say something. And, I’m sorry to say it, but Mr.Kaepernick was right.

First of all, to debunk some crazy myth Roy Moore threw out in the open: It is SO NOT illegal to kneel/sit during the anthem. Colin had every right to kneel and still has.

It's against the law, you know that?" Moore said to TIME. "It was an act of Congress that every man stand and put their hand over their heart. That's the law."

 Roy, but you are a bit off!

He is indicating 36 U.S. Code § 301, which is all about what is required to do during the national anthem. Let me quote you a snippet of this.

So first, it states that members of the military must salute to our beloved flag during the “Star-Spangled Banner”. But then it indicates this: “all other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart."

Should is the key word, my friends.

When I Google up the difference between should and must, I got my answer from www.myenglishteacher.eu. . Here it is:

“MUST is used when expressing an obligation or an unavoidable requirement, whereas SHOULD is more of a recommendation, or simply a desirable goal. – You mustn't smoke indoors, it is illegal. – You must arrive on time; otherwise, we will leave without you.”

Did the lightbulb click?

And that is why kids,  you should- er, I mean MUST always pay attention to your grammar. Don’t be like Roy Moore.

Second, let’s get over the fact Kaepernick was kneeling during the anthem. Sure, I know it can literally be considered one of the New Seven Deadly Sins to Trump and his party, but let’s think for one minute:

Why was Colin Kaepernick kneeling in the first place?

He was peacefully protesting against social injustice against the people of color.

One thing I’d like to, unfortunately, point out is that most of the people who won’t stop complaining about Kaepernick kneeling are rich, white people who put their luxurious privileges and egos in front of basic human rights. Kind of like Trump.

By burning down Nike products, we aren’t proving that we are patriotic to anybody but self-obsessed, white politicians. The only thing we are manifesting is that we are blind to the struggles that we don’t face, to the rest of the world.

We are seething with anger because a man of color is protesting against the injustices others face in a country that was born from protesting.

Why?

Focus on the fact that he is doing this because we are treating one part of the human race so rudely because they are not as fair-skinned as one part.

Many people think they are being outraged my Kaepernick’s act, but in reality, they do not want to admit that: “Yes, I’m living in a country where this is happening. But I don’t want to lose my luxuries in life!”.

I think it’s crystal-clear that we, “Americans” are favoring a flag over basic human rights.

I agree it was kind of disrespectful for him to kneel down. It was purely controversial. Shocking, and even appealing for some.

There were many another way to do it, some people tell me. And I can’t disagree with that in any shape or form.

There would be other ways to do it. That was less controversial; less effective.

One thing I want everyone in this country to realize is that Kaepernick’s message was more important than his method. And that for one minute,  we need to sit and remember that America wasn’t the perfect, freedom-filled country the whole world sees. Every country knows America and has it as some kind of role-model country that it’s not.

Kaepernick is literally doing what heroes do: standing up against all the odds to achieve one goal. But we are so delighted to have fictional characters fight against society’s injustices, and go purple when our own athlete does it?

Last, we all saw the ad Nike posted. It has the oh-so-evil Colin Kaepernick in black and white with the quote: “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.” with the Nike logo and motto on the bottom, of course.

For a moment though, think about why they chose Kaepernick for that quote. Or vice versa.

This man put his multi-million dollar sports career to risk, just to end injustice, and to make our treatment better. Not his, our.

Colin Kaepernick kneeled down to stand up for us because he had a voice that would be valued.

America is truly a melting pot, with people of all genders, races, colors, and religions. We come in all shapes and size. If I take the phrase “melting pot” literally, let’s say all of the American lands is yummy soup in a pot,  and we are all each a little piece of veggie, floating inside the soup.

So if there are more onions than tomatoes, we are going to let the onions totally overpower the flavor of the tomatoes. No way! The soup, obliviously, is only good if all is in balance. You don’t need to be any chef or food critic to know that.

I know what it feels like to be treated bad. We all do. So why does nobody have the courage to go up  and say: “Hey, treat me right, or I will fight?”

Because this government of the people, from the people, by the people is no longer a government of the people. It’s a corrupted system filled turpitude, and all it depends on your social status, wealth, and nevertheless, your color.

This is not just in America, it’s all over the world.

But America influences, basically the rest of the world. Just imagine being from another country for one day.

Almost every other country’s second language is English. Literally, everyone in other countries assumes you’re rich if you are American. If you go to study abroad in America, the country natives will think that you are going to come back as some mathematical prodigy or whatever.

America is a role model for other countries.

So, if we kneel down to take a stand, America, one day will listen. And America will change. And then, the world will change. We don’t need to change, to change the world.

And for that to start, the world needs you to speak up.

And you can start right now, by commenting. Was it right of  Kaepernick to kneel down? Why or why not? Did Nike do good by featuring Kaepernick in its ads? Again, why or why not? Is America really as unjust as Colin says it is? What other ways could have Mr.Kaepernick protest? Would they be as successful? Why or why not?

Happy debating to all!

Truly Yours- Hibba