Quarterback should have expected there would be a price to protest

With support continuing to build in the media for Colin Kaepernick, Christopher L. Gasper’s column deftly illuminates the blind spot sports journalists have regarding the quarterback’s refusal to acknowledge the national anthem (“Kaepernick saga cuts against the grain,’’ Sports, July 23). Football fans expect professional athletes, especially overrated professional athletes, to focus fully on the task at hand. It irritates them that one would use a televised sporting event to display his displeasure with society. Worse for Kaepernick, he chose a forum for protest that pits him against a huge slice of the public least likely to sympathize with him.

Racial and social justice continues to be a significant problem in this country, as it does almost everywhere. However, it is jarring to see an NFL quarterback take a knee in protest before a game. I believe Kaepernick is now boxed in by his stance; he wants to play football, but he can’t separate himself from his protest without looking foolish. He’s learning the hard way that there are consequences for millionaire professional athletes turning their backs to the flag.

Sean F. Flaherty

Charlestown

It’s not QB’s politics at issue — it’s that many won’t stand for his kneeling

Fairness and justice, like beauty, are often in the eyes of the beholder. In today’s multibillion-dollar NFL, justice is what 32 wealthy business owners say it is, no matter how arbitrary this may appear to Globe sportswriter Christopher L. Gasper (“Kaepernick saga cuts against the grain’’).

Gasper is a knowledgeable and respected football guy. However impassioned and reasonable his arguments on Kaepernick’s behalf seem to be, he missed the point. No fair person would deny Kaepernick’s civil rights to free speech or his personal political beliefs. Most football fans couldn’t care less about his haircut or his political viewpoint. However, many see his act — kneeling during the national anthem — as disrespectful to our country’s flag and to those men and women who selflessly serve in the US military on behalf of all Americans.

The 29-year-old is at a crossroad in his life — play football for a living or be a political activist. Or maybe both, but not at the same time.

Girard J. Fortin

Burlington

He bit the hand that fed him — and did so on the job

There is no question that Colin Kaepernick is not being hired because of his demonstrations against the national anthem. Football statistics are a nonfactor. However, what Christopher L. Gasper apparently doesn’t grasp is that Kaepernick was making his protest at the same time he was being paid to do his job.

If I were disrupting my employer’s business with my social protests during working hours, or if Gasper were disrupting his, I am sure we would both find our employability status greatly affected as well. There is a time and place for social commentary, and during working hours isn’t one of them.

Richard Swenson

Wareham