Hey Colin, What Up?

So, Colin Kaepernick does not want to stand for the national anthem.

Actually, that's fine. I don't begrudge his protest nor his reasons therefor.

But Colin, what are going to do on Sept. 11?  No, wait, you lucked out. You don't play til the 12th, on Monday night.

But the NFL will still be honoring the memories of those lost that horrible day 15 years ago, the memories of the children, the memories of people of various faiths and races, the memories of athletes and scouts and coaches who died on those planes or in those buildings.

Will you?

You're not the first to use the flag in a protest or make a statement. Michael Jordan and other Nike athletes used it in the 1992 Olympics to conceal a competitor's logo on the warm-up suits they were mandated to wear for their medal ceremonies.

They draped the flag over their shoulders in a show of solidarity for their sponsor while still embracing the gold medal they won in the Olympics.

And there was Kid Rock. He entertained at the Super Bowl. He wore the American Flag in a Superman-like outfit in what he said was a show of support for America and its great game, not a protest of any sort from the sometimes sideways rocker. He wasn't the first rocker/entertainer to do it and he certainly has not been the last.

And hey, remember Rick Monday? As a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, he scooped up an American Flag that protestors were about to burn in the Dodger Stadium outfield, preventing their act of vandalism.

I support you, Colin. I support your privilege to speak out on an issue you believe to be unfair and discriminatory. I support your right to protest.

In fact, I'm a journalist. I'd be happy to give up my blog space to you any given day or week, this one or the one I write for thesportspost.com, entitled "Juice This," in which I often skewer the NFL and some of its stars and most-visible athletes and administrators for unethical and sometimes unspeakable actions.

So where were you when I went off on Greg Hardy? On Ray McDonald? On Ray Rice? Did you sit during the National Anthem, especially before the Rice video went public? Where were you on violence against women? Why were you online in a Miami Dolphins' cap, by the way (just thought I'd throw that in)?

What will you do on Sept 11, OK Sept. 12, when they play the National Anthem before your game, and there's a flyover and a moment of silence for the lives of 3,000-plus people who sacrificed their lives that day so radical protestors could make a statement?

What will you do? Hundreds of thousands of people in NFL stadiums that weekend will stand and salute the flag, sing the anthem and honor America and those victims. Some of those people, many of those people, agree with the position that you've chosen. And that's fine. Race issues need to be resolved in this country, no question.

Last time I looked, we were all Americans, not just All-Americans, Like you.

All Americans support America. Hopefully, so do All-Americans.

Like you.