Most agree San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has every right to not stand during the national anthem, in protest of what he says is this country’s tolerance of racial injustice and oppression of minorities. But there is significant disagreement over whether Kaepernick’s method of protest is appropriate.

Kaepernick was in the news when he remained seated during the playing of the national anthem prior to a preseason football game. This week he knelt during the anthem and was joined by teammate Eric Reid, a former LSU Tiger. It was reported that a Seattle Seahawk player also sat this week during the national anthem.

Kaepernick has been the subject of lots of attention over his means of protest.

A sign at this week’s game urged Kaepernick, “You’re an American. Act like one.” Former NFL star Jim Brown is known for supporting many civil rights efforts. He expressed support for the quarterback’s position but disagreed with his method of protest.

Many others have said Kaepernick should find another way to protest, that not standing during the national anthem is disrespectful to members of the armed forces and to veterans who fought and died to provide the freedoms Kaepernick enjoys, including his right to protest.

There’s no question Kaepernick is within his rights as an American to protest in the manner he has chosen just like he’d be within his rights as an American to burn a flag prior to a football game and use the attention that act might draw as an opportunity to express his opinions.

I agree with Kaepernick that our country needs to work to address incidents where a person is treated unfairly because of his or her race. But I disagree with the quarterback over his sitting or kneeling during the playing of the national anthem. I think it suggests he’s saying our country endorses unfair treatment of minorities, when we know there are laws and rules on the books expressing our nation’s official policies against such acts.

Yes there are too many incidents where race is a factor in wrong acts by individuals or groups but those acts are not endorsed by our government and are not indicative of any official position. Those incidents are certainly not representative of the attitudes of the majority of our nation’s citizens.

Not all police officers are racists going out of their way to hassle minorities, nor are all white Americans. Our country does not endorse racial discrimination so protesting against our country by not standing during the national anthem suggests the whole country is at fault when the problems are with just some individuals or groups.

Do we need to continue to address incidents of racial injustice? Sure.

But kneeling or sitting during the national anthem suggests America is at fault in all of this, I think an inaccurate and unfair allegation.

WILL CHAPMAN

PUBLISHER