“I don’t agree with the state of this country. Three days after the deadly shooting in Ulvade, Texas, San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Klaper said he would no longer appear on the field for the national anthem before games.
Posted at 8:19 p.m.
“I have no intention of standing for the national anthem until I feel better with the direction of our country,” he told the media on Friday before the Giants’ game against the Cincinnati Reds.
Earlier today, Kapler posted on his personal blog Kaplifestyle a long text entitled “Home of the Brave? » [La patrie des braves ?]in which he explains in detail his feelings and his position in the situation.
“The day 19 children and two teachers were killed, we held a moment of silence at sporting events across the country, then we played the national anthem, and we went on with our lives,” it reads. .
Players, staff and fans stood during the moment of silence, mourning the lives lost, and then we (myself included) continued to stand, proudly proclaiming ourselves the land of the free and the home of the brave. We haven’t stopped to reflect on whether we are truly free and brave after this horrible event. We just stood at attention.
Giants manager Gabe Kapler on his blog
In his text, Kapler then explains that his father taught him to defend the oath of allegiance only when he believes that his country “represents its people well”.
“I don’t think it represents us well right now,” he wrote.
On Wednesday, before the matchup between the Giants and the New York Mets, Kapler listened to the tribute to the victims before removing his cap and bowing his head to the sound of the national anthem. But he would have liked to act, he said.
“My head was telling me to get down on one knee, but my body didn’t listen,” he wrote. I wanted to go back inside, but I froze. I felt like a coward. I didn’t want to draw attention to myself. I did not want to take it away from the victims and the families. »
“There was a baseball game, a rock band, the lights, the pageantry. I knew thousands of people were using this match to escape the horrors of the world for a moment. I knew thousands would not understand the gesture and would take it as an offense to service members, veterans and themselves. »
“But I don’t agree with the state of this country. I wish I hadn’t let my discomfort compromise my integrity. I would have liked to apply what I learned from my father, that when you are not satisfied with your country, you make it known through protest. The homeland of the brave should encourage that,” he concludes.
Kapler isn’t the first sports figure to speak out following the shooting at Robb Elementary School. Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr notably made a powerful plea for gun control on Wednesday before the 4e NBA Western Conference Finals game.