The Colin Kaepernick National Anthem protest isn’t just a story confined to the sports world, but rather a discussion that penetrates all aspects of our culture.

This is a famous athlete using a very public platform to initiate a discussion about a terrible problem within our society.

Both support for Kaepernick as well as criticism has been passionate, and the Bay Area has perhaps become the epicenter for it due to Kaepernick’s status as a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers.

The Golden State Warriors share the region, and might be the most high profile squad in any North American sport right now.

There’s always going to be teams like the New York Yankees and Dallas Cowboys that will argue that they sit atop publicity levels, but their consistency within that department in some ways disqualifies them from that type of distinction.

If a team always leads in jersey sales and intangible buzz no matter their record, it’s hard to base that interest on anything actually talent based instead of an aura that lingers from past success, whether it’s a couple years or a couple decades in the past.

Right now, the Warriors have 4 of the best 15 players in the league. I don’t think a North American team in any sport can say that.

They are certainly on a pedestal, and they realize the influence that comes with that. Words matter.

Stephen Curry recently spoke up in support of what Kaepernick is doing, and now Kevin Durant has joined him.

Anthony Slater has a great story on how Durant praises Kaepernick for using his platform as an athlete to try to bring about change and voice his opinions.

“I’m behind anyone who stands up for what they believe in,” said Durant. “Colin Kaepernick is standing up for what he believes in. That’s what makes our country so great, right?  You have the luxury to do so.”

I applaud Durant for his show of support, yet if you really examine his choice of words, he’s more standing up for freedom of expression itself than the message that Kaepernick is conveying.

That’s not to say Durant doesn’t agree with the message Kaepernick is expressing, but he chose his words carefully.

Durant also addresses the misconception that Kaepernick was insulting the military, which Kaepernick has repeatedly denied.

“He was unapologetic about it, and in his defense, I don’t think he was trying to disrespect anyone,” said Durant. “I think he was trying to get his point across. I’m all for anyone who wants to do that.”

It’s easy to support expression that you agree with, but when it’s a message deemed disrespectful or hateful, it’s a lot harder.

Or course, there’s a big difference between tolerance and approval, and nobody has seemed to go as far as saying Kaepernick doesn’t have the right to make this stance in the manner he is.

For the record, I support what Kaepernick is doing 100%. It’s refreshing when athletes use their platform to try to initiate positive and meaningful change.

However, I do find Durant’s quote interesting within the context of supporting people who stand up for what they believe in.

It’s painting individual acts of expression with a very broad brush, because people have long stood up for causes in this country that are absolutely reprehensible.

Durant’s quote makes it seem as if we should applaud any exercise of the First Amendment just for expression’s sake, and I’m not sure I agree with his sentiment.

Again, there’s a difference between approval and toleration. I’m not going to approve of any stance a person makes no matter what, but I’m completely against censorship.

What Durant seems to be implying is that he would stand in support of anyone willing to put themselves out there to make a point they believe in, and I don’t think anybody can fairly make that claim, especially in the NBA.

Remember, Donald Sterling made it very clear his opinion of people of color, yet that was a stance the players didn’t stand behind, with good reason.

Adam Silver was right when he said there was no place in the league for bigotry like that, yet it’s hard to have it both ways.

Sterling was expressing an opinion the same way Kaepernick is, although to be fair, it’s somewhat apples and oranges, just because one of them was a private statement that got leaked and the other has been made publicly from the onset.

Did Durant support Sterling for standing up for what he believed in? Of course not, because it was a vile thing to believe.

My point is that it’s disingenuous for people to support Kaepernick within the guise of free speech the way Durant is doing.

Free speech protects people from government prosecution, not the social consequences of what they say.

Sterling deserved to be banned from the NBA, because it’s a privilege to be a part of an organization like that.

He didn’t go to prison for being racist, but his life did end up crumbling in a lot of regards. The First Amendment doesn’t protect an individual from that.

It’s why people have as much of a right to hate Kaepernick for what he is doing if they deem his actions disrespectful.

Personally, I think those people are missing the point of what Kaepernick is trying to convey with this protest, but they have every right to feel the way they do.

I wish Durant had been more direct in his comments about Kaepernick. Say that you support what he is doing because way too many people of color are brutalized by a select few police officers in this country, and that is unjust.

Hiding behind the “freedom of speech” phrase opens the door to a lot of hypocrisy. It’s not that he’s behind anyone who stands up for what they believe in, because that’s simply not true.

Sterling’s ban from the NBA proves that. No player in the NBA stepped up during that fiasco and defended Sterling’s First Amendment right to be a racist pile of crap.

It’s just as relevant, because the First Amendment doesn’t differentiate between Kaepernick kneeling during the National Anthem and Sterling saying he doesn’t want his mistress to associate with black people.

I’m not an expert in Constitutional law by any stretch of the imagination, but the First Amendment doesn’t give a person the right to incite danger by yelling “Fire!” in a crowded theater where there’s no fire.

That postulate doesn’t apply to Kaepernick or Sterling in these situations, though. Each one has the right to make the statements they made and be protected under that First Amendment.

Durant isn’t correct in saying what he originally said, but he shouldn’t feel bad about it. What if an athlete tomorrow made a statement saying that he supported racial segregation? Would Durant stand behind him just because that athlete is standing up for what they believe in? Of course not, and rightfully so.

Athletes are standing behind Kaepernick because they support his cause, not because of the virtues of freedom of speech, and there’s nothing wrong with that.