Tank Spencer is the host of a weekly sports talk show, “The Sports Tank,” on Asheville’s News Radio WWNC (570-AM) that airs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Spencer also serves as WWNC’s news anchor, reporter and afternoon producer. 

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The following is his Aug. 30 blog posting:

Oh, Colin... 

Colin Kaepernick, a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, is taking all kinds of heat for not standing during the national anthem during a preseason game Friday night. 

As to be expected, Americans — the ones who love this country and honor what the American flag stands for — are ticked off. Since the reporting of Kaepernick’s pregame sit-in on the bench, he has been the talk of the town. 

No matter how angry you may be, remember that Colin Kaepernick is an American, exercising the freedom that so many fought and died for him to have. He has every right in this country to highlight societal issues and take a political stand (or sit).

The thing people defending Colin Kaepernick forget is, we have every right to oppose his position and criticize him for it. We also have the right to boycott his team, his business and refuse to support his livelihood. 

Those calling the criticism of Colin Kaepernick’s protest “un-American” should be aware that the First Amendment door swings both ways. Colin’s right to an opinion does not trump everyone else’s. 

I admire Colin’s willingness to attempt to “fix” a problem he sees in our society. (Whether just sitting on a bench during the anthem can fix anything, is another story. It doesn’t, by the way.) 

Colin has put his livelihood on the line in order to seek change. He has probably ruined any future opportunities at endorsements or any job after football that will rely on the public’s respect.

He had a lot to lose, regardless of the downward spiral his football career has taken in recent years. In that sense, I respect the hell out of taking the stand. 

However, I do not tolerate anyone who refuses to respect our flag, our nation (flawed as it might be at times), and the men and women who have made great sacrifices for freedom. That includes the freedom to protest, the freedom to speak against oppression, the freedom to have an opinion that conflicts with the status quo. Those are luxuries many countries do not allow.

We stand for the anthem to show respect for those freedoms. We remove of hats in remembrance of the ones who died fighting and defending those freedoms. 

We civilians put our hands on our hearts to show love for what this nation is supposed to stand for. Veterans salute to honor their brothers and sisters in battle. If you cannot show the proper respect, you will be criticized. You will be challenged to explain yourself. 

I would find this political stand by Colin more believable, more sincere, had he not shown up to the news conference that followed the outrage wearing a Fidel Castro T-shirt. This tells me it’s all either a gag to get coverage, or he’s completely ignorant. If you want to talk about human rights atrocities, Colin, I’m pretty sure the millions who fled Castro’s dictatorship could fill you in. 

There are flaws in American society. There are massive divisions in our cultures. There are ignorant racists. There are violent sociopaths. But there are also good men and women. There are tolerant and respectful people of all races, colors and creeds.

We honor the American flag for what it stands for. It serves as a reminder of the free and equal nation we want, not the flawed union we have.