Express your opposition, but honor the flag

Colin Kaepernick, a professional football player, recently refused to stand during “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

When explaining why he didn’t stand, he said, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.”

Kaepernick’s behavior, I think, was immature and based on ignorance. He is young, and I hope he grows out of that. However, he is right that the USA has a long, deep history of oppressing people of color and treating them unjustly.

Nonetheless, our flag stands for the ideals because of which we fight against racial injustice and oppression. Therefore, Kaepernick — and all of us — should stand to honor the flag and then find other ways of expressing our opposition to injustice and oppression.

This story was originally published September 20, 2016 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Express your opposition, but honor the flag."