When Colin Kaepernick knelt for the national anthem, I think he was showing reverence for the ideals of our country, in particular “liberty and justice for all.” He chose to dissent in a way that was nonviolent, nonobstructive, yet very noticeable and effective.
No blocking of streets, no looting or throwing things, no shouting or name-calling, just silent rebuke. He didn’t burn the flag, he didn’t interrupt the national anthem. He just knelt, usually considered an act of respect.
A good, patriotic citizen has not just a right to dissent but a responsibility to when there is injustice. When people criticize this, they are confusing the symbol with the reality. A flag is mere cloth, songs and oaths mere words. The Supreme Court understood this and stated that compelling someone to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance is a violation of the First Amendment. Actual freedom and justice are more important than expressing fealty to a symbol, be it a flag, a song or an oath.
If your house was burning down which would you choose to save? Your marriage license or your spouse? And yet people, led by our president, complain about these dissenters who just ask our country to live up to its ideals. Sad.
