Almost a month has passed and Colin Kaepernick, football player for the San Franscisco 49ers, is still making waves from his protest made weeks ago.

Kaepernick decided to take a knee during the singing of the national anthem during one of his preseason football games. The NFL football season has officially started within the past week, and more players than expected have been following his actions by also taking a knee.

Although this country allows people the freedom to do and say what they believe, it is extremely disrespectful to act the way they are toward men and women who keep everyone’s lives safe every day by risking their own.

Instead of the national anthem representing pride and support for our troops, it is drawing attention to football players who do not even know what the word “respect” means or even how to apply it in life.

With all the focus on Kaepernick now, he begins to speak his mind about other issues that have no relevancy to the ongoing one. This continues to bring even more media focus on him than there was before.

I do not feel that it is appropriate for him to mix his views on racism with his professional career in the way he has chosen to do so.

It is ironic that he is exercising his freedom by disrespecting a song about freedom.

I give props to the teams that have decided, together, that none of them would be taking a knee as our country’s national song is played.

The Washington Redskins and Pittsburgh Steelers went a step above at their game Monday night, and held a huge flag across the field with veterans by their side.

Athletes all across America make more in one year than a veteran does in his or her entire lifetime. It is truly dishonorable to have such a reaction that insults not only our flag but our country as well. These war heroes did not risk their entire lives so they could be disrespected by a group of professional football players.

I think it’s time for everyone to get their priorities straight, don’t you?

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the writer and are not representative of The Slate or its staff as a whole

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