Tomorrow night Colin Kaepernick, so convinced that America is a racist hell hole that he refuses to stand to honor America when the National Anthem is played, goes up against Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers at the Chargers’ home yard in the one of the biggest Navy towns in America.
In addition to being up against Rivers et al. on the field, he will also be up against thousands of active duty and retired military personnel who very likely are not all that enchanted with the way Kaepernick has chosen to diss his country and his flag. Forty-Niners head coach Chip Kelly said Kaepernick will play, and likely regular season starting Forty-Niner quarterback Blaine Gabbert will not. Gabbert has played in and led his team on touchdown drives in all three pre-season games. Thanks to injuries, Kaepernick has been limited to one game appearance and 13 undistinguished snaps.
It would be interesting enough for Kaepernick to play in San Diego any time after his toxic attitude and disrespectful behavior toward flag and country became known. But the cherry on the sundae is that Thursday will be the 28th annual Salute to the Military ceremony at Qualcomm Stadium. A United State Marine Corps band will provide pre-game music and a military parachute team will perform. “The Star Spangled Banner” will be sung by Navy Petty Officer First Class Steven Powell. A huge American flag will be displayed across the field by 240 sailors, marines, and soldiers while the anthem is being sung. Could there be a less congenial venue for Kaepernick to display his oafish and ill-considered view of the country that has rewarded him so generously?
Thousands of veterans, active duty military personal, and military families will be saluting America on their feet with hands over their hearts during ceremonies at Qualcomm. Many of these may also salute Kaepernick at some point. And it doesn’t take a genius to figure out which finger they will use to render that salute.
