Two Sides Of The Fence Analysis

Both Sides of the Fence
We live in America. A society that will turn the other cheek to football players who beat their children but let one kneel during the national anthem and his career is over. America; a place where the same people who support our troops in war will turn away in sight of a homeless veteran. America; the city on a hill full of diversity and as a result opposing viewpoints. Most recently, in sports news, a man by the name collin kapernick has decided to kneel during the national anthem saying “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,”.Some support the reason behind this bold statement others are quite bothered. While both viewpoints are standing

up for a greater cause they fail to understand each others perspectives.
Lots of controversy has been sparked by kapernicks decision to sit or kneel during the national anthem and people are very incenced “I don’t want him anywhere near my team,” one front office executive told Bleacher Report.

“He’s a traitor.”(The Guardian), while others support his decision. At a autograph signing seccion one of the fans called out “You’re the voice for us,”. The decision to be against or support kapernick is obviously dependent on whaich side of the fence youre on. One who has never been exposed to racial oppression at any ppoint of their lives might not neccisarrily agree with kapernich while one who has will find his action inpirational. Eric reid one of kapernicks teamates expressed his opinion on the situation saying ““Things have happened in Louisiana and the injustices that are happening could have happened to one of my family members,” said Reid, who is from Baton Rouge, La. “It touched close to home and I just wanted to show my support to him and let him know that he is not the only person who feels the way that he feels. There are a lot of people out there that feel that way.” kapernick has brought alot of light to an industry far from worried abour social injustice. What was once just football has been exposed to a situation much bigger than that all thanks due to collin capernick who is using his fame for a greater cause to be the voice of the un heard and he is deffinelty being

heard.
But on the other hand there are people who do not support his atempts at granting the oppressed a voice. Saying “I guess Kaepernick doesn't understand that while he barely throws a football for a ridiculously rich living, there are underpaid U.S. soldiers scattered across the globe - multiple races, ethnicities, religions and sexes; bible-thumping and God-questioning - who would give up their lives without blinking to protect and preserve his.”. The fact that there are people who fight to pretect america from desinigrating while he lives a very little problematic life is very valid as an argument. Taking into all that kapernick has been granted as a black american should definetly be considred as justification against his “idiocy”.
One thing that these two views have in common is the fact that they are both standing up for a greater cause. Collin Kapernick is bringing atention to the social injustice of afrian americans to an industry (football) that was never worried about it. He is influencing change in a place whos primary concerns are completing plays or who gets injured, abd thhis can jumpstart somethin great. If rosa parks never made a decision to sit where she wanted to sit change would not have happened as readily as it did. Someone needed to be the first domino to create a reaction. On the other hand, the people who are against kapernicks actions are standing up for people should be recognized for our liberties like the people who have fough in wars. Jonathan Felix, a U.S Sargent stated some words concerning the Kapernick controversy. “I understand his message,” said Staff Sgt. Jonathan Felix, who said he has been deployed four times to Iraq and Afghanistan. “There is a lot of oppression in the world and he’s fighting for people just the way I have been. It’s mind-boggling that so many people are against him when he’s fighting by taking a stand.” Had both opposing viewpoints had been as undertanding as Sargent Felix, and seen the bigger picture, maybe the controversy would not have been stemmed from a foundation of anger and ignorence.

Work cited
Sport, Guardian. "Colin Kaepernick Branded a 'traitor' by NFL Executives over Anthem Protest." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 2016. Web. 06 Oct. 2016.
@ChronBrianSmith. "49ers QB Colin Kaepernick Has Rights, but He's Not Correct." Houston Chronicle. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2016.
Wits, Billy. "This Time, Colin Kaepernick Takes a Stand by Kneeling."Nytimes.com. The New York Times, 1 Sept. 2016. Web.