My real issue with Kaepernick’s “protest” is the disrespect he has shown and is continuing to show. He is disrespecting the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have fought and died for the flag of the country he lives in.

Colin Kaepernick is disrespecting the Americans who defended the freedoms we all take for granted, like, in this case, freedom of speech.

On Aug. 14, Colin Kaepernick sat down during the national anthem. On Aug. 20, he sat down again. Kaepernick was not in uniform during these two games nor was he to play during them. On Aug. 26, people began to take notice.

“I am not going to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick said. “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder,” said Kaepernick in an interview with SB Nation.

He is sitting during the national anthem, the song written to honor the American flag and the lives lost in order to defend it. Although he has now chosen to kneel, the point remains the same. The song was not written to honor the government, nor the law enforcement officials who are actually discriminating against people of color.

Does he have the right to free speech and the right to peacefully protest? Sure – yes he does. Do you know who defends those rights that he is taking advantage of? American men and women who volunteered to serve in the armed forces.

Kaepernick’s protest is taking a problem and pointing it in a direction that is negative. If he wanted to try and improve the problems, he would select a more appropriate way to protest racism. Instead, why didn’t he create a campaign specifically targeting systemic racism?

Instead of trying to promote his cause in a manner that would appeal to those who can make changes, he made a statement that presented himself as someone with no respect to authority or the country he lives in.

James Keller is a Copy Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.