I’m not sure if you follow sports or the San Francisco 49ers, but I am sure you have heard about quarterback Colin Kaepernick not standing during the national anthem.

Now most likely the first thing that comes to your mind is, “that’s so disrespectful” or “ he doesn’t respect the people that fought for our country”.  Think again.

Kaepernick gave his reasons for his actions. In an interview the former 49ers starting quarterback said “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. 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.”

Let’s take some time to fully understand Kaepernick’s decision not to stand during the National Anthem. He is not doing this for attention or for a publicity stunt. He made a point to say “This is not something that I am going to run by anybody. I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people that are oppressed. … If they take football away, my endorsements from me, I know that I stood up for what is right.”

Usually people’s views on this are one-sided and typically rule out any other opinions.

Automatically Kaepernick is made the bad person because there is freedom in the world and that means he should stand, right?

Or is the situation bigger?

I believe that he had a reason not to stand. I am glad to see that people higher up are seeing the problems in this world today, and are willing to sacrifice their carrier to make a stand.

I agree with his statement and I think other people should stop looking at it as an act of disrespect and an act of respect on different races. We need people like this who stand up and don’t care what the consequences are.

People need to stop worrying about what’s going to happen to them if they stand up for what they believe in and worry about what’s happening to other people when they aren’t standing up for what they believe in.