Freedom to be a jerk: San Francisco quarterback doesn't know what freedom is

San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick has the right to not stand for the playing of the national anthem as his way of protesting what he calls the wrongs that are being perpetrated against minorities in this country. He is an American citizen.

He has the right to look like a jerk, too.

We wonder how Kaepernick would react to the playing of the Russian national anthem or the Chinese national anthem if he was an athlete playing soccer or another sport in one of those countries. Somehow we don't think he would have the opportunity to show his displeasure with their governments' policies as he does here, where thousands of men and women -- of all races and colors -- have fought and died to give him the chance to do as he sees fit.

As we said, he has the right to take a seat during "The Star-Spangled Banner." Being an American gives him that freedom. Too bad he is too spoiled to know that that freedom did not come free.

Published in Editorials on September 5, 2016 9:36 AM