On September 4, Megan Rapinoe, the U.S. Women’s National Team star, took a knee during the national anthem in her Seattle Reign’s National Women’s Soccer League match against the Chicago Red Stars. It was a show of solidarity with San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who has ignited controversy by refusing to stand for the anthem during NFL preseason games.
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” says Kaepernick, whose comments on race relations and police brutality infuriated local police departments—including Santa Clara police threatening to boycott working 49ers home games—and led one fan to film himself burning Kaepernick’s jersey.
Rapinoe’s issue is a bit different.
“Being a gay American, I know what it means to look at the flag and not have it protect all of your liberties,” she says. As she told American Soccer Now:
It was a little nod to Kaepernick and everything that he’s standing for right now. I think it’s actually pretty disgusting the way he was treated and the way that a lot of the media has covered it and made it about something that it absolutely isn’t. We need to have a more thoughtful, two-sided conversation about racial issues in this country.
Rapinoe’s protest brings up a potentially uncomfortable but important point. She isn’t actually the first pro athlete to join Kaepernick in his anthem protests; teammate Eric Reid and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane both have followed Kaepernick’s lead.
But both Reid and Lane are black. Rapinoe is white.
“It’s important to have white people stand in support of people of color on this,” she says. “We don’t need to be the leading voice, of course, but standing in support of them is something that’s really powerful.”
To be absolutely clear, this isn’t about a social issue needing white support to be seen as legitimate. That notion is absurd. But the reality is that the presence of someone of an ethnicity different from the core protestors could potentially make it more difficult for those angered by Kaepernick’s actions to be so dismissive of the issue.
And that’s the point here. Think what you may about using the national anthem or the flag as a point of protest; some believe sitting for the anthem or burning a flag to be admirable actions, others believe them to be extremely disrespectful and inappropriate. The key is putting the delivery aside and focusing on the message itself.
Now, if one doesn’t agree with the message, well, that’s still a key element of the dialogue that needs to take place. President Obama even says as much.
“I think [Kaepernick] cares about some real, legitimate issues that have to be talked about," Obama said Monday. "If nothing else, what he’s done is he has generated some more conversation around [these] issues."
He also has generated sales. Fans are showing their support by making Kaepernick’s No. 7 the best-selling jersey on the 49ers’ online store, with more being purchased in the last week than in the eight prior months combined. The jersey also ranked third in sales on NFL.com’s store.
And by taking a knee Sunday night, Megan Rapinoe added her support and her voice to the conversation.
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We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.