William McRaven urges University of Texas athletes: Don't be like Kaepernick
Athletes at the University of Texas have been urged to stand during the national anthem and not follow in the footsteps of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who has refused to do so in protest over perceived racially motivated police brutality across the country.
In a memo sent three days after Kaepernick’s initial demonstration to school presidents and athletic directors through the state’s university system, University of Texas System Chancellor William McRaven wrote:
“I spent 37 years defending freedom of speech and freedom of expression. Nothing is more important to this democracy. Nothing! However, while no one should be compelled to stand, they should recognize that by sitting in protest to the flag they are disrespecting everyone who sacrificed to make this country what it is today – as imperfect as it might be.”
McRaven rose to the rank of admiral in the U.S. Navy and most notably organized and oversaw the missionto kill Osama bin Laden in May 2011 as the commander of the Joint Special Operations Command. Later that year, he was given command of the entire U.S. Special Operations Command, a post he held until his retirement from the military in 2014, after which he was appointed chancellor of the university.
Kaepernick’s protest has ignited intense debate in parts of the country and on social media. Several of his fellow athletes have staged similar protests in a show of support.
For McRaven, however, those protests are misplaced.
“Those that believe the flag represents oppression should remember all the Americans who fought to eliminate bigotry, racism, sexism, imperialism, communism, and terrorism. The flag rode with the Buffalo Soldiers of the 9th, 10th, 24th and 25th Cavalry and Infantry regiments. It was carried by the suffragists down the streets of New York City. It flew with the Tuskegee Airman of WWII. IT was planted in the fields where Cesar Chavez spoke. It marched with Martin Luther King Jr. It rocketed into space on the shoulder patches of women, gays, Hispanic, Asian and African American astronauts. Today, it waves high over the White House. It is a flag for everyone, of every color, of every race, of every creed, and of every orientation, but the privilege of living under this flag does not come without cost. Nor should it come without respect.
“The nation and everything it strives for is embodied in the American Flag. We strive to be more inclusive. We strive to be more understanding. We strive to fix the problems that plague our society. But in striving to do so, we must have a common bond; some symbol that reminds us of our past struggles and propels us to a brighter, more enlightened future. That symbol is the American flag.”