The land of the free

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s refusal to stand during the national anthem reveals an astonishing lack of perspective on the history of racial injustice in America. In a nation that treasures its First Amendment, it also happens to be an acceptable act of protest.

Kaepernick’s decision to sit during the patriotic pregame ritual while others stand at attention is motivated by frustrations closely linked to those driving the Black Lives Matter movement.

“There’s people being murdered unjustly and not being held accountable,” the QB told reporters Sunday.

That’s a legitimate grievance. But to distort such concerns into a seeming binary referendum on America itself is misguided, not to mention counterproductive.

Kaepernick further stated, “This country stands for freedom, liberty, justice for all. And it’s not happening for all right now.”

Those words are true — but far less true than they were, say, 60 years ago, when the promise of racial equality was openly mocked.

What motivates a nation to grow ever better is not gotcha cynicism. It is healthy respect for past failures and present progress, however halting.

Should football fans wish to boo Kaepernick for being wrong, more power to them. But public school children cannot be disciplined for declining to sing a song, or to repeat the Pledge of Allegiance. A man, even a fortunate man, shares that freedom.

Being wrong is a right.