Earlier this week Colin Kaepernick's stunt of not standing for the National Anthem hit the media. As an NFL fan, it should piss me off that they allow this sort of behavior. Then again, what do I expect from an organization that turns a blind eye to wife beaters and animal abusers? It's not going to make me give up watching the game. After all, this was pre-game at a pre-season game, not some shenanigans on the field (i.e.Tom Brady.)
This could be a total blog about all of the hypocrisy surrounding C.K.'s stunt. That's already been done, ad nauseam.
In between all of the teasers about this stunt was another teaser. This one advertised an upcoming program for the 15th anniversary of September 11.
Of course, that brings back the flood of memories of that day. One of which involves a football game.
It was a chilly Saturday in October. The first home game at Memorial Stadium, in Lincoln, Nebraska, post-September 11. The Huskers were playing the Iowa State Cyclones. It was an early 35th birthday gift from my parents, who had bought the tickets at the beginning of the season...not knowing how important this game would really be.
Even though I'm a womb-to-tomb Husker fan, this was the only time I'd been to a live game. All of the tailgating and hoopla that one would normally expect at Memorial Stadium seemed to be somewhat subdued. The crowds ebbed and flowed, but the energy wasn't quite up to the normal rowdiness that would have been considered normal. Mom and I found our seats in the east section, just under the over-hang.
Not much later, the announcer asked us to stand. First for a moment of silence for those who lost their lives in New York in the attacks. Then band started to play the National Anthem. Many fans, myself included, had tears in their eyes.
Life was finally getting back to normal. The Star Spangled Banner continues to play. The United States had taken a massive hit, on our own soil. We had been attacked by outsiders for the first time since Pearl Harbor. The strains of the National Anthem signified and unified the patriotism spreading throughout the nation. The US would not be brought to her knees.
At first, hearing of Kaepernick's "sit down" irritated me. What arrogance!
Now, I just feel sorry for him. Sorry that he doesn't feel the pride of a unified nation. Sorry that he doesn't feel the unity the US had held for most of his young life. Sorry that he doesn't gratitude for what has been given to him, through the talents he has been granted then developed.
Whether he or other players stand, or not, is insignificant.
"The banner yet waves..."
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