Posted Aug 28, 2016 by Michael L. Brown

Dear Colin,

You’re obviously getting a ton of responses to your decision to sit during the national anthem, both negative and positive, but as I just read that you intend to continue to sit during the singing of the anthem, I felt your actions and comment deserve yet another response.

In short, I admire your courage but I question your judgment, and there is due cause for many to charge you with hypocrisy. Are you sure your actions were righteous?

Explaining while you will continue you sit, you said. “I'm going to continue to stand with the people that are being oppressed. To me this is something that has to change. When there's significant change and I feel like that flag represents what it's supposed to represent, this country is representing people the way that it's supposed to, I'll stand.”

Again, I admire your courage, since it is very possible that this incident will cost you millions of dollars in the coming years and will follow you the rest of your professional career. So this is not an easy thing to do. And I think it’s excellent that you feel a responsibility to use your very public platform to be a role model.

That too is commendable – but that doesn’t mean it is right.

First, when you take an individualistic stand like this, you are putting your whole organization, and most particularly your whole team, in a negative light.

Isn’t “team first” the mentality on which the NFL is built? Aren’t you taught to put the good of the team before your personal interests and points of view? And as you’ve been struggling on the field for some time now, haven’t you expected your team to have your back?

Yet now you’ve decided that getting your personal message out is more important than cultivating team solidarity. Is that a right thing to do?

As New York Giants player Victor Cruz said, “The flag is the flag. Regardless of how you feel about things that are going on in America today, and the things that are going on across the world with gun violence and things of that nature, you've got to respect the flag, and you've got to stand up with your teammates. It's bigger than just you, in my opinion. I think you go up there, you're with a team, and you go and you know you pledge your allegiance to the flag and sing the national anthem with your team, and then you go about your business, whatever your beliefs are.”

You said last week, “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way.”

Perhaps it’s the exact opposite? Perhaps your act was actually selfish?

Second, many of your fans find it odd that you can so easily bash the very country that enabled you to earn more money in a few years than most of us can imagine earning in several lifetimes. In fact, you’re playing in a league where more than 70 percent of the players are people of color, yet they enjoy equal opportunity, equal stardom, and equal pay.

Perhaps you could have chosen a better setting for a protest then during the national anthem before an NFL game? Can you see how this can seem hypocritical?

And why protest our flag, which stands for the things that make America great? As Dr. Ben Carson said, you “disrespect[ed] our national anthem and flag after so many people have sacrificed so that [you] could have the freedoms that [you have] today, so that [you] could make a very, very good living in this ‘racist’ land.”

Third, and most importantly, you need to ask yourself if you are being moved by truth or by political talking points.

There’s no question that there are grievous examples of white police officers mistreating black suspects, but recent studies have indicated that black officers are more likely to shoot black suspects than are white officers, while there are also examples of black officers mistreating white suspects. And there are plenty of examples of white officers mistreating white suspects.

Are you sure that your stance is fair and righteous?

Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke, himself an African American, recently asked, “Where is Black Lies Matter? If they cared about the lives of black people they would be marching against the liberal establishment in these large urban areas and demanding a better quality of life and a better way of life. But no, that’s not what they’re doing. They’re instead using the police as a straw man…”

Maybe you could be focusing on the larger, very real challenges faced by African Americans today?

You said, “There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

But is this the biggest issue in the inner-cities of our nation? And how many law enforcement officers are actually “getting away with murder”?

When Dwayne Wade’s cousin, the mother of four, was shot to death while pushing her stroller, was that the fault of allegedly racist police?

When there are now 90 shootings a week in Chicago, is that the fault of allegedly racist police?

When 3-year-old Devon Quinn was shot and paralyzed when the car he was riding in was shot up, was that the fault of allegedly racist police?

There’s a reason that many black Americans are raising their voices against the Black Lives Matter movement – some have dubbed it the Black Lies Matter movement – and you would do well to consider what they have to say.

Perhaps they could help you focus on the very real problems that do exist in America, including issues of racial discrimination and injustice, and perhaps you could determine to act first and speak later, using your influence in a positive way behind the scenes, and then saying to others, “Follow my lead.”

That would be both courageous and righteous.

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Comments

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Soughtful7 posted a comment · Sep 30, 2016
I disagree with some of your points, and somewhat agree with others. Rather than attempt to respond point by point, I thought this article was very interest, written by another believer. Take a look Dr. Brown, and see what you think: https://pjmedia.com/faith/2016/09/12/why-as-a-christian-i-dont-pledge-allegiance-to-the-american-flag/1/
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Rev. Randy K. posted a comment · Sep 25, 2016
Great letter Dr. Brown. The only people that have a problem with it are people who walk around with a victim mentality. Asians and Hispanic people come to America all the time with nothing but the clothes on their backs. They are just grateful to be able to come to this great country. Ten years later they have a good job, own a car, and are buying a house. It happens all the time. How can this be? It is because they take advantage of all the wonderful opportunities America has to offer instead of standing around whining about this supposed injustice and that one. It is really getting quite old for people to always be using the race card as an excuse for everything that happens in their life that they are not happy about. It's gone from the absurd to the ridiculous. There's beginning to be a backlash to it too. Obama couldn't have come close to being elected to two terms in the White House if it hadn't been that many white people voted for him. Many people are still in bondage today. Until they can get set free from a victim mentality, they will live in bondage in their own little world. This goes for black people and white people alike.
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Danielle posted a comment · Sep 22, 2016
Used to be a listener of your broadcast Dr. Brown. I don't disagree with everything you expressed in this letter, but your bias is extremely evident. You have the power as a white person with a radio show to bring awareness to so many of your listeners, especially those who continue to pretend that the social injustices perpetuated against blacks over many centuries have not negatively impacted blacks, poverty, breakdown of the nuclear family, crime, violence, etc.. May I suggest that black Christians who may be struggling with their faith need to see God's love through the words and actions of our so called white brothers and sisters, who in my opinion generally mention social injustice concerning blacks in a very passing, seemingly removed and insincere way, while focusing much energy on black on black crime, blacks acting like victims, protests, etc.
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Danielle posted a comment · Sep 22, 2016
Used to be a listener of your broadcast Dr. Brown. I don't disagree with everything you expressed in this letter, but your bias is extremely evident. You have the power as a white person with a radio show to bring awareness to so many of your listeners, especially those who continue to pretend that the social injustices perpetuated against blacks over many centuries have not negatively impacted blacks, poverty, breakdown of the nuclear family, crime, violence, etc.. May I suggest that black Christians who may be struggling with their faith need to see God's love through the words and actions of our so called white brothers and sisters, who in my opinion generally mention social injustice concerning blacks in a very passing, seemingly removed and insincere way, while focusing much energy on black on black crime, blacks acting like victims, protests, etc.
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Rev. Randy K. posted a comment · Aug 30, 2016
It's quite ironic Mary Lewis that you would refer to Colin Kaepernick and the Bible and truth in the same paragraph as Colin has apparently renounced his Christian faith. The fact is that he now has an Islamic girlfriend, and has sent Ramadan greetings out on his social media accounts. True Christians don't do such things. Understandably, the godless, liberal media doesn't want to report this fact. It is no surprise that he has such an anti-American attitude now. When so many black leaders are speaking out against Colin's actions, you have to ask yourself what is really going on here. Did you actually read Dr. Brown's entire article Mary? Frankly, by your comment it doesn't sound like you did. You did not address any of his excellent points.
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Mary Lewis posted a comment · Aug 30, 2016
I commend Colin Kaepernick for his stand (pun intended). He is standing for something honorable with integrity. People are judging him for doing what is right. They are casting stones at what they call a sin when the majority of them are sinning against Jesus every day of their lives. I speak of the false doctrines they hold tight to the death. Are not false doctrines worthy of taking a stand against? I suppose it is easier to judge other people for other things, but lives are hanging in the balance. For some this moment is too late. Who is standing for the truth of the Bible with even a portion of the courage Colin has? If more stood for the truth of the Bible, there would be fewer reasons to sit during the National Anthem. We wouldn't have a flag to honor if it were not for the people who brought religious freedom to this country. We wouldn't have the freedom to honor that flag were it not for the gift of life and truth through Jesus Christ. You can read more about what I believe on the issue of honoring truth at amazon.com/author/mary_e_lewis I stand for the honor of Bible truth and I stand with Colin Kaepernick for the honor of this country.
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Rev. Randy K. posted a comment · Aug 29, 2016
Great article Dr. Brown. Once again you hit the nail on the head. It never ceases to amaze me how Hispanic people and people from Asia come to America with absolutely nothing but the clothes on their backs. They find a job, and 5 years later they own a car and are buying a house. They are so grateful for the wonderful opportunities afforded them here in America. You don't hear them whining and complaining about how they are so disadvantaged. Meanwhile, other minorities, who've lived in America all their lives and have had the same wonderful opportunities afforded them, continue to whine and complain about their lot in life and blame everyone else for their problems. The truth is that if they would simply stay in school (which is provided free of charge in America) and graduate--instead of dropping out and joining a gang-- it would go a long way in helping them make something of themselves in this life. The statistics prove this over and over again. Chicago is a prime example of this. There is no other country in the world that Colin Kaepernick could have achieved the success and prosperity that he's achieved here in America. There's no country in the world that has more freedoms, more opportunities, and more equality than the United States of America. That's why so many people in the world only dream of coming to America. Exactly what country in the world would Colin Kaepernick rather live in anyway? He's got the money, he should go ahead and move there. That would be a wake up call! Many people in America are getting fed up with the silly, selfish antics by people like Colin Kaepernick. All Colin is doing is drawing attention to himself. The reality is that what he is doing will ultimately hurt his "cause" more than it is help it. And that is usually what happens when people have a victim mentality. Nobody likes a whiner--especially an overpaid, spoiled one.
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ejbanks posted a comment · Aug 29, 2016
Dr. Brown, you are perpetuating the fallacious reasoning that has offended and will continue to offend the people you seem to be trying to connect with. maybe you are not trying to connect. the fact that David Clarke is African American has nothing to do with the veracity of the arguments he presents. what's more interesting is that Fox News pays him to present those arguments to counter the position of the VAST majority of Black people and agree with their audience. the fact that Black officers shoot more Black people has nothing to do with anything. Kaepernick didn't call out police. he didn't call out white police. he called out police brutality. by extension he called out a nation who organizes along racial lines to defend the group who is killing members of another with impunity. the fact that Black people kill more Black people than "allegedly" racist police has nothing to do with the morality of police brutality. if you owe 10,000 talents to your master, that doesn't change the fact that i owe you an hundred pence... i can't "forgive myself" of the debt i owe to you just because you owe a bigger one. that debt is between you and your master. actually... it's up to your master to deal with that debt. if i step into that arena to make that judgement, i'm standing in the place of your master. aside from the paternalism, what's also interesting is the "'allegedly' racist" comment. what is the logical end of your tone? that Black people are making it all up. the difference between this article and a Bill O'Hannity rant is the theatrics and the harshness. your conclusion is the same (if there's a real issue, it's all Black people's fault). your false concession is the same (there is racism. there is injustice. but every time we bring up an incident, it's "oh let's wait until we make a judgement. see he got off. and the dead guy had been pulled over 37 times and has mean facebook pictures."). so, i beseech you to be less dismissive of the issue. acknowledge that there is a real issue without conveniently dodging every example of it. just because someone who looks like me on the outside and thinks like you on the inside... doesn't mean i'm making things up. you are an abuser if you co-sign abuse against me YES even if i self abuse. love bears all, believes all, hopes all, endures all... dwelling together in unity is NOT a possibility if you fail in the above.