William H. Kelly III
Editor-in-Chief
Throughout the month of August, there has been a lot of attention given to American athletes as it pertains to their rights as citizens of the United States. The most recent occurrence involved San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, who refused to stand during the national anthem.
Kaepernick’s actions have caused an uproar via social media and sparked conversation on if his actions were indeed disrespectful or if they can be justified through his Constitutional Rights. Personally, I feel as though if he or any other citizen who decides not to participate in the singing of the national anthem shouldn’t be attacked and defamed by society.
As I grew older, I began making decisions that accommodate my lifestyle best. I, for one, do not participate in the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem, or anything else. While many might find this odd or unnatural, it is my decision and I live by it.
One reason is simply because I do not promote all of what our country has been involved with in the past and what it was built upon. Secondly, everything involves prayer of some sort and refers to a God, which conflicts with my non-religious beliefs.
Unfortunately, we live in a society that will “come for you” if you are to commit any actions or voice any opinion that is perceived as non-traditional or unethical, especially public figures. Along with that, society also picks and chooses how, when, and who they want to target.
During the 2016 Olympics in Rio, award winning gymnast, Gabby Douglas, and award winning swimmer, Michael Phelps were put on the spotlight for similar situations yet they received completely different online feedback.
Douglas was caught with her hands to her side during the “Star Spangled Banner” after winning gold along with her teammates. Gabby was inappropriately “came for” by Twitter users who referred to her as disrespectful and un-American, just to sum it up. Phelps on the other hand, who was caught laughing during the national anthem, was semi-praised and thought to be inspirational and heart-warming.
While Phelps did laugh due to something he overheard his hometown friends say, it does not ignore the fact that if the same situation would have happened to Gabby, there would not have been such positive feedback but instead an international riot.
Situations such as these make me sit back and truly assess our society as a whole. We tear each other down over the simplest of things when there are far more important things that we SHOULD be upset about. I dread the day that I, or some one in a similar situation, is attacked and exiled because of a religious standpoint.
I fear that the world’s only hope lies within my imagination, in an alternate universe where society will be structured to where we no longer are concerned or pressed by the next person’s opinion and we finally learn to mind our own business in the most beneficial manner.
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