Conflicting opinions are nothing uncommon. Most recently, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick stirred the nation when he refused to stand up for the national anthem before the Aug. 26 49ers-Green Bay Packers Game. Through a sweeping influx of backlash, accusations and threats, Kaepernick has stated that he will not stand for the flag of a country which allows such abuses against African-Americans and minorities in the United States.

While it is certainly within his rights as a United States citizen to exercise this decision, and is admirable to use his social influence and position to bring attention to a severely pressing issue, outraged critics have called his actions disrespectful and unpatriotic. They are appalled at his refusal to honor a country that is one of the most, if not the most, democratic in the world, a nation whose people have fought and died for its freedom.

Patriotism has always been an essential tenet of our nation’s identity; from its founding, American citizens have possessed a strong faith in the ideals and strengths of our country. This nationalistic feeling has aided the United States through numerous times of trouble, supporting the army in the World Wars and helping the country pull itself out of the Great Depression.

And we have reason to be proud. As the world’s oldest standing democracy, the United States endures as a beacon of morality, a guardian of human rights. America is a land of innovation, leading the world in Internet advancements, music, movies and more. Our universities are some of the best in the world, and we have continuously striven to ameliorate the standard of living of our population as a whole. Within the United States, we are given innumerable liberties we take for granted but which are considered radical in some parts of the world. While we have one of the shortest histories among other first-world countries, America has quickly established itself as a pillar in many areas of life.

However, stereotypes such as “barbaric” and “low-brow” have surrounded the country since its beginning. This stereotype has evolved as we have grown as a nation. Despite America’s progressive human rights record compared to the rest of the world, we are not exempt from condemnation: the struggles of sexual, religious and racial minorities affirm that discrimination remains rampant in our society.

With such differing views, it is no surprise that the issue of patriotism can polarize our citizens.  When one thinks of the word “patriotism,” one may imagine a person who only sees the good in the country, someone ignorant to the truth and who embodies the very ignorant ideals that vex many.

Many Americans want to support and respect their national identity, yet refuse to take its criticisms seriously and may be offended on a personal scale when they feel its virtue is being attacked. On the other hand, people can focus on the weaknesses of our nation and thus overlook its strengths; they may take actions that can be viewed as disrespectful or ungrateful to those on the opposite end of the spectrum.

But patriotism does not have to be such a polarizing concept. There is a certain objective balance associated with being a responsible and informed American, one that we must uphold regardless of our political alignment or set of ideals. It is important to see our country for what it is, and not to simply dismiss what does not hold true with our personal views. We must redefine patriotism. We must be cognizant of both America’s strengths and shortcomings in order to grow as a nation.

Kaepernick has made his stance clear. He, joining other athletes such as several WNBA players and the NBA’s Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony, still refuse to stand for the flag. They use their status to make a social statement and to underscore human rights violations towards minorities. In the wake of repercussions, however, Kaepernick has taken a more respectful position: he kneels during the anthem, honoring the flag yet protesting the injustices within the country it stands for. It is important we follow this example.