Caffeinated Politics

Colin Kaepernick is one of those Americans with a steadiness and resolve that send a message many in our nation need to hear right now. He is the football player who used his First Amendment rights to send a message. A message that uplifted many, angered others. By taking the knee, he became the quarterback-turned cultural lightning rod. But here is the thing: when faced with flak of all types, Kaepernick didn’t flinch. He never has. He simply pressed on.

He took the knee several years ago because he could not show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color. He specifically pointed to the high-profile deaths of African Americans killed by law enforcement or while in police custody, noting a lack of accountability for officers involved. He has said over time that he believed the First Amendment wasn’t just a decorative flourish in a civics textbook. It was a tool. One might add that it is available to every American, whether they’re a quarterback, a teacher, a truck driver rolling down I‑39 in Wisconsin, or a high school student in Madison trying to figure out the world. Kaepernick used his right to free speech (by kneeling) because he believed the country needed to look at itself, and because he knew the most powerful thing you can do is sometimes refuse to stand up.

I am not a football fan of any stripe, so I am not going to overanalyze his on-field metrics. I can say with fact he took the 49ers to a Super Bowl. He was obviously a legitimate NFL quarterback. I know that some tried to tear down his football credentials once they disagreed with his right to free speech. Frankly, I do not care if he had a good throwing arm or ran circles around the other team.

What drives me to deeply respect this man is that he forced our nation to have a conversation too many of our citizens refused to face. There are many in our land–far too many–who fail to understand that patriotism isn’t obedience. Rather, patriotism is using the rights the Constitution gives you and me, even when people vehemently would prefer we didn’t. When that happens, and you press forward, as Kaepernick did, you earn the respect of millions of Americans.

Kaepernick didn’t kneel because he hated America. He kneeled because he expected more from it. If some people are willfully ignorant of the difference, then that is on them. Whether you agreed with him or not, whether you cheered or cursed, the truth is simple. Kaepernick exercised a right that belongs to all of us. He used it loudly, visibly, and at great personal cost.

When was the last time you used our American ideals to make the nation a better place for everyone?