Getting Tests Back and Kneeling During National Anthem

Today in class we got our first tests back. I did very well on the multiple choice and short answers, but not as good as I wanted to on the essay. I didn't do as good on the essay because I didn't write about Socrates meaning I kind of switched to Elbert Hubbard, which I understand now. After we went over the test, we started to bring up Colin Kaepernick and him kneeling during the National Anthem. While we were talking about this a lot of people said it was very wrong and he shouldn't have done it during his football game. I did say some things during the discussion, but I didn't get everything I wanted to say off my chest. I do think that it is disrespectful that he kneeled, but sometimes being disrespectful does not mean that the person is wrong or is doing something bad. Our national anthem represents America and how we have freedom. Colin Kaepernick was kneeling because of police officers being abusive or killing black people for no reason. I believe that when he kneeled he was peacefully protesting the fact that not everyone is free. America is supposed to be a free country, but when police officers are stripping black people's freedom from them because of their skin color, how is a colored person supposed to feel proud of their country? I think a lot of people who think it is totally wrong and disrespectful only think of it as Kaepernick was disrespecting our country and that's it, but there is so much more than that. I am a biracial person and even though I have not been criticized because of my skin color I know what it feels like because of my family and friends. The people who don't see it as what Kaepernick meant, which was standing up for his race and protesting against American morals that aren't so true, probably have never been shamed because of their skin color or race and so they have no other perspective. Also, some people were saying that he shouldn't have kneeled because he is only there to play football. Yes, Colin Kaepernick is there to play football, but because of that and his following he has a large platform. He used his platform as a way to get everyone's attention about a serious issue going on in America. I think that it was good that Kaepernick kneeled because it means that when he sees a problem, especially one that can hurt him or his family and friends, he knows that he can take advantage and use his platform for good. Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem may have been disrespectful, but it does not mean that he hates America; it means that he loves America's policy of freedom and he expects it to be applied to everyone.