American flag blowing, close-up
Just think about the words that you are about to see here. Before you get angry, before you get defensive…just think about the words that you are about to see with all of the empathy of a true human being…
We all know that Colin Kaepernick is protesting police brutality and police profiling of millions of people. When the quarterback-activist kneels at the Star Spangled Banner, he is trying to spark a meaningful dialog about life and death. Stop there…just process this; don’t think about the protest itself, but rather, think about what it is that he is protesting.
Is it unreasonable to protest the unpunished murders of American citizens by kneeling when the national anthem is played? In part, the flag stands for our constitution. I am fairly certain that one of our constitutional rights is to not be murdered by the police.
When you stand for the anthem, when you see this flag…does it wave back at you in assurance of your rights? Do you feel confident that it protects those rights? Imagine that suddenly; it only protects half of your rights. Look at your neighbor…his rights are still fully protected. Do you still feel the same about the assurances of that flag?
Suddenly, the police can murder you for the way you look. Suddenly, you think that police car behind you might contain someone who is determined to kill you! Your survival instincts are telling you to get away from that police car…even though you have done nothing wrong. Your spouse needs you…to raise the children! To provide for them! You must save yourself–for their sake!
Your neighbor knows that if he gets pulled over, he might have a pleasant conversation about good traffic etiquette, or maybe the cop will see his daughter’s picture on the dash and the cop will be all like “I’ve got a daughter about the same age.” You see, the flag still protects your neighbor. He might even offer to donate some money to a police ball or something like that…
We applaud similar acts of protest when they are recorded in history. Let us remember the 1968 Olympic Games. Is Colin’s protest so different?
To mount a protest by sitting through the anthem…this is not such an easy thing to do. People hurl insults…they spit at you. They boo. Some plead…but still, you feel like a target, surrounded by hostility.
But then, another person remains seated, and then another. Fortitude starts to build. An unspoken solidarity builds between you all. Those who are hostile find it more difficult to be aggressive in the face of increased numbers. I am a primary source in this respect. In years past, I have witnessed such things in person. I’m not telling you to stand, to kneel, or to sit. That decision rests upon your own shoulders, but I do personally declare that there is no wrong answer…and I mean that legally…you do have the constitutional right to protest.
By the way…others are taking a knee with Colin Kaepernick:
“Megan Rapinoe stood with Colin Kaepernick by taking a knee during the national anthem on Sunday.” (USA Today)
Anyone who refuses to talk about the real issues surrounding Colin’s protest is clearly uninterested in a resolution.
Colin said it himself, he respects the troops, he respects the first responders, he respects the very anthem to which he is kneeling.
Photo credits in order:
https://quote.com/blog/9-perfectly-patriotic-quotes-american-flag/
http://www.sfchronicle.com/49ers/ostler/article/Colin-Kaepernick-s-absence-adds-to-his-mixed-9203153.php
The Black Power Salute That Rocked the 1968 Olympics
http://www.usatoday.com/videos/sports/soccer/2016/09/05/89876832/
Some people complain on and on “These celebrities…never using their status and prestige to make a difference…” Oddly, now that one is doing just that, people have a problem with it. To use a proverbial colloquialism WTF. Smh…