In the article by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jabbar contrasts the patriotism between Sam Kendricks and Colin Kaepernick. He also discusses patriotism and what makes an act genuinely patriotic. He also mentions past athletes who made a stand for “un-American acts.” Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a legendary basketball hall-of-famer who can relate to Kaepernick because Jabbar himself took a stand for racial equality in the 1960’s. In this article, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is standing by Kaepernick who is facing threatening judgment.
Jabbar begins his article by comparing the highly patriotic manner of both athletes Sam Kendricks and Colin Kaepernick. Sam Kendrick was recently in the Rio Olympics for pole vaulting. Kendrick is also an Army Reserve 2nd Lieutenant. Kendrick was sprinting in the middle of his attempt when he suddenly heard the National Anthem playing. He stopped what he was doing to stand at attention for the National Anthem. Kendrick received more recognition on his act of true patriotism than…show more content… He talks about how patriotism is not getting emotional on a national holiday or at a patriotic memorial but how patriotism is honoring and remembering the meaning of that national holiday or that memorial. Still on the topic of the nuances of patriotism Jabbar brings in the Constitution by explaining, “The U.S. Constitution’s insistence is that all people should have the same rights and opportunities and that it is the obligation of the government to make that happen. When the government fails in those obligations, it is the responsibility of patriots to speak up and remind them of their duty.” Jabbar thinks it is ironic that people will boast about having freedom like the freedom of speech but will degrade those who apply this freedom to convey dismay with the government’s history in carrying out the
