Nick Piccone
I always thought it was a bit disingenuous when people would say not standing for the national anthem was an affront to the United States military. I’ve heard the reasons why standing for the national anthem shows respect for the country and the people fighting for it, but I’ve also heard that if you feel something is unjust or unequal, you have the freedom to make a statement about that.
Colin Kaepernick’s statement was to sit down during the national anthem on Friday night. And he’s being vilified for it.
But it feels like it’s all become subjective anymore. So many people are saying it’s disrespectful to the military, and some people that are actually in the military or who have served before are saying they are fighting/fought for the freedom to allow Kaepernick to do what he did.
Sitting down during the national anthem was Kaepernick’s way of bringing attention to the race issue in America. Yes, there’s still an issue today. Eagles linebacker Myke Tavarres will bring attention to the issue on Thursday night. And according to Eagles wide receiver Jordan Matthews, he thinks what Kaepernick did wasn’t an affront to the military. It was an extension of the freedoms he’s been given as a U.S. citizen to make a stand for what he believes in.
“I think it’s one of those things where he does have freedom of speech,” Matthews said prior to Monday’s practice at the NovaCare Complex. “That is part of our freedom. I think sometimes when people say ‘Okay, why would you do something like that? This is our country … ‘ Well, this is part of our country.”
In addition to sympathizing with Kaepernick’s stance on race relations in this country and the methodology he used to bring light to his concerns, Matthews made it clear that he doesn’t believe that the quarterback’s actions were an intended affront to the U.S. military.
“I think he came back afterwards too and clarified that it was not an insult to the military. I don’t think anyone takes for granted what the military does for us. I know Colin wouldn’t do that. I’ve been around Colin. He’s a smart guy.”
Matthews said he never sat down during the national anthem, but rather he spent time with the police with some teammates. It’s a good example to try to emulate when that may be the best way to receive things from the other side’s perspective.
While Matthews, who has been sidelined for the entire preseason due to a sprained knee, hasn’t sat down for the anthem, the third-year wide receiver previously took an audience with Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey to voice his concerns along with teammate Malcolm Jenkins.
“Everybody understands the racial tension that has been going on,” Matthews said. “Everybody takes their stands different ways. That was his way of doing it. Other guys have done it other ways, but at the same time, I think when you get to the root of the thing, it wasn’t as if he was trying to disrespect the military or anything like that. It was moreso the racial things that have been going on.
“That’s just how [Colin] decided to do it. I know here, me, Malcolm and a couple guys spent time with the police force. We did that. There’s all sorts of ways to do it. I know he’s taking some backlash, but I know he’s been able to state his case and it isn’t as if the story is all about him disrespecting the one thing you should never disrespect. We have the utmost respect for our military here and I think the whole NFL does, too.”
Nobody’s gonna vilify Matthews for that. But he feels the same way Kaepernick does. So, it boils down to the act. When I see someone not standing for the national anthem, I don’t think about it much. I view it as a freedom we all are afforded as citizens. We can’t be arrested or jailed for it. Does is skew my view of said person? Maybe. It’s usually a case-by-case basis. What Kaepernick did had no malice intent behind it. I think that’s what Matthews is trying to portray here.