Consumers and other social media enthusiasts have taken to their various internet platforms to express their distress over Colin Kaepernick, quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. He recently refused to stand for the national anthem during an NFL game. In a press conference, Colin said he made this decision because “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

This has caused a lot of outrage within various communities and subcultures, including the Social Justice Warriors, the politically correct, military veterans, general nationalists, etc. One of the reasons this particular altercation has become so poignant is because there are so many perspectives to choose from. Is he the black man who rose from nothing, a martyr for the sake of his people? Is he a man speaking up for the hundreds of years of discord inflicted upon his people? Or, is he a pretentious guy with no real inkling as to how things really are? Does the fact that the man makes $19 million a year imply his disillusion? Could he ever really feel even an iota of the widespread suffering experienced daily?

I’m a naturally cynical individual. So when I perceived all of these people getting riled up about the singular decision/statement of a glorified sack of meat, I couldn’t help but feel frustrated. The masses won’t rise up in opposition to the systematic oppression and endless wars that our bourgeois zookeepers keep in perpetuity, but some rich guy doesn’t stand up for the special song, and suddenly everyone wants their voice heard. There is a plethora of videos of people literally buying his $60-$80 jersey just to light it on fire, releasing god knows what into the atmosphere and strengthening Charles Darwin’s theories on evolution.  We have a reality show host and a lizard person running for office, and this is what we spend our energy on.

But then I talked to someone currently serving in the armed forces.His name is Colton Gilbert, and he’s an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician (EOD) currently stationed in Japan. What he had to say made me consider my perspective on a lot more than just our topic of conversation.

“I think what he did is a disgrace to American soldiers,” said Gilbert.  “I’ve seen friends who have come home from deployment, mentally and emotionally messed up.  I’ve seen people physically messed up.  for what reason?  Because of that flag.  What he did is no different than stomping on the flag, spitting on the flag, or burning my flag.  I don’t disagree with his opinion.  It’s his opinion.  He has a right to that.  But what he did is disrespectful to the men and women, my brothers and sisters that have sacrificed so much for that flag.  I wear that flag on my right arm every single day.  That’s the reason I do what I do.  A guy that has been given so much by this country and sacrificed so little, should have more respect.  You can protest and do it respectfully.  He chose not to.”

His words stretched my eyes wide open. It’s always easy to consider your own perspective, you do so whether you’re aware of it or not. But as i tried to self insert into his position, I realized I could never understand the magnitude of the commitment and dedication of someone in the armed forces; and therefore had no right- by my own standards, morals, and practices – to even comment on the matter.

When I told Colton how his words had affected me and my perspective, he went on to provide further insight into the mind of a man fully dedicated to nationalism, and the American ideal.

“It’s his right to freedom of speech but that’s because of the men and women that are the true heroes of this country,” said Gilbert.  “I am not one to hold back what I think.  So let me tell you, the true heroes are the ones that haven’t made it home.  The true heroes are the ones who wake up every night with nightmares because of what they have seen.  I visited Arlington National Cemetery today.  I was told they have over 400,000 grave sites.  400,000! That’s 400,000 men, women, children, and family members that have sacrificed so much to give that sorry excuse his freedoms.  You’re right… He has the right to sit down.  But the true question is… Should he?”

“Should he disrespect my flag and my brothers and sisters?  Should he be able to do the equivalent of spitting, stomping on, and burning my flag?  Hell no,” Gilbert continued “I and many others, wake up every morning and put a uniform on with that flag on our right shoulder.  Why?  Because that flag represents our country.  That flag represents our people.  That flag represents us and everything about us.  The good, the bad, and the ugly.  Most people cannot understand that until they have marched over 12 miles with 65 to 95lbs on your back with your feet bleeding since mile 3.  They do not understand until they have to attend a military funeral and watch his son ask the mother why daddy had to die. They will never understand until they have to walk down on an explosive device and wonder if you’ll make it home that day or smell and see what explosives can do to a human body. Kap doesn’t know what sacrifice is. Kap doesn’t know what honor, duty, and respect is. Standing for the National Anthem is respect. Not for this supposed racist country, not for the supposed racist cops, but for the men and women that have given everything for his worthless opinion.  

“Sorry if this is hard to follow, understand, or has spelling errors… I am currently on a C17 US Air Force aircraft flying across the ocean on my way to protect the US President.  Away from my family and friends knowing what sacrifice and respect are.”

My original intention in writing this article was to verbally bash everyone who paid anything Colin had to say any mind, but that’s no longer my purpose. I think a lot of the world’s issues are rooted in the fact that we can’t see past our own perspectives. We become so wrapped up in trying to convince people of our convictions, that we never take the time to consider the foundation for other people’s beliefs: their lives. A commonality that we all share. I don’t think absolute truth exists. Everyone is the good guy in their own head, and until man can truly consider the needs of the many instead of the needs of himself, the proletariat, the people who keep society in motion, will continue to lose their heads over society’s entitled benefactors. It’s frankly all some of us can do to escape from the looming truth of the reality we’re living in.