I could have used a number of different titles for this article, no doubt many of them clichés, such as; “When the Genie’s out of the Bottle…” or, “Wrong Time, Wrong Place,” or, “Yes, You Can, but Maybe Your Shouldn’t,” or, “You Can’t Fix ___,” Okay, we won’t go there.
As wannabes all over the country now appear to have been infected with “Take-a-Knee-itis,” I feel an obligation to offer some advice that I am ashamed to say I should have offered to Mr. Kaepernick, way back when.
Before offering my advice however, I must say that I am perplexed by much of the discussion and apparent confusion on the part of team owners and NFL executives about team players’ “rights.” Because these are paid employees with contracts that specify standards of behavior, both on and off the playing field, based upon previous actions by the NFL, I believe that modification of the players’ rights of free speech and expression are within the bounds of employer policy.
For example, the NFL said “no,” when the Dallas Cowboys wanted to wear small decals on their helmets to honor the police officers murdered in July 2016. Cowboy owner Jerry Jones concurred, stating, “There are tons of things out there that need to be recognized. Once you open that Pandora’s Box, how do you ever stop?” Were the players’ intentions noble? Sure. But do they have the freedom to express themselves, even when they’re at work? Apparently, in some cases, no.
It’s much like in any business. An unhappy customer may stomp in and call an employee every name under the Sun—“Idiot,” “Nitwit,” “Useless Piece of Garbage.” But the employer won’t (if they plan to remain in business) tolerate an employee being disrespectful of that same customer—regardless of whether or not they “deserved” the same comments in return.
So, back to the exercise of free speech during professional sports events. Will the league and team owners fall in line and support players if they decide to “make a statement” by temporarily donning t-shirts over their jerseys (when they’re not actually playing), with a giant, emblazoned message on both sides proclaiming, “JESUS SAVES?” Come on! At least this is a positive message with a suggested solution for all that ails humanity.
Many voice their support for the kneelers’ rights to express themselves at these events. But what about messages we may not agree with? The ACLU says that Nazi symbols and Confederate flags are in bounds when it comes to free speech. Or how about a big, black ISIS flag? This is America, after all—surely there are people who support these causes too.
I am old enough to recall the raised black fists during the medal ceremony at the 1968 Olympics. Are all hand gestures protected?
Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should do something. When the “I won’t stand for our flag” thing began, I believe Kaepernick acted solely on emotion with little thought of the long term ramifications. Maybe he should have consulted with a PR firm before launch! As soon as it was revealed that he had never even bothered to register to vote, his credibility was, as they say, “toast.”
Beyond that, when he justified his protests by referring to the September 2016 police shootings of Terence Crutcher and Keith Lamont Scott, by saying, “This is a perfect example of what this is about,” he merely dug his lack-of-credibility-hole deeper. In both cases, Kaepernick accused the police of murder, but the investigations in both case by both local law enforcement and the United States Justice Department, exonerated the officers in both cases.
I won’t get into lots of facts and figures about racism in America today, because in truth, that isn’t really the point here. This is more about the perception and impact of “Taking a Knee.” Is it having a positive effect on professional football? No. Ratings, viewership and attendance are down. There is even a movement now circulating among veterans groups to boycott all football games—in person and on TV—on Veteran’s Day. The vast majority of American’s are clearly saying, “I support his right to do it… but I think it’s disrespectful.”
Now for the Advice
If you’re goal is to draw attention to inequity or injustice, be certain that what you’re offering as evidence truly exists somewhere beyond the social media universe. And don’t accuse anyone, police or otherwise, of being a “murderer,” until you hear a judge and jury foreman say it first.
Think long term. Does your action really encourage the response you’re hoping for? Kaepernick drew attention to his point by doing it once or twice. Now that has become some kind of “in your face whether you like it or not conga-line spectacle,” it has no real meaning other than division.
Where Do You Stand (Or Kneel)?
There is an even larger issue here also having to do with perception, but in a different way. What does the American flag and the National Anthem represent? What do they stand for? How does Kaepernick see America? How do the “kneelers” see America? How do you see America?
I don’t deny that there is work to be done. There always will be, so long as human beings are running the show. It seems there will always be plenty of reminders of our flaws, but is this the right place and time to be reminded? Does this protest draw us together to address a real problem, or does it mainly serve to divide, foster resentment, and make people dislike the messenger(s)?
Certainly, one of the things that makes America great is our right to differ. I tend to lean toward seeing the glass as always half full. I don’t deny the empty part; I just think it’s more productive to count our blessings and recognize those who enabled us to have the “water” in this glass that is America, in the first place.
To that end, I happen to believe, strongly, in standing at attention and saluting our flag; in singing along with the Star Spangled Banner and saying the pledge, because these are ways to say “thank you” to the patriots who have given so much so that I can live here, today, in this time, in this America. These are actions I am inspired to do. To my way of thinking, these are the things I can do. These are the things I should do.
Dear Leslie Delaney,
Thank you for taking the time to post a comment regarding my article entitled “Just Because Your Can Doesn’t Mean You Should,” that appears in the current issue of ALIVE.
First off, as a publisher, I essentially live and breathe in the realm of communication. It is with that frame of reference, considering the kneelers’ messaging in a purely pragmatic way, that one of the main points in my article is to ask the question: “Are the kneelers accomplishing what they hope to accomplish?” As is often true about facts, those in this matter—being right or wrong, justified or otherwise—are secondary. It is overall public perception that matters most. With that in mind, based upon the controversy and a largely negative reactive backlash thus far, one must wonder if the kneeling tactic, in this particular instance, is a well thought-out course of action, wouldn’t you agree?
As for your point “that by kneeling during the national anthem they are showing a great deal of patriotism,” I don’t see it that way, and here is why:
The act of standing at attention during the national anthem or pledge of allegiance is a symbolic gesture intended to express a general sentiment of respect, honor, and support for our country—flaws and all. And particularly at sporting events and the like, it has become, essentially, a cultural tradition that likewise pays homage to members of the military, veterans, and oftentimes, first responders. This is why it is, for all practical terms, universal, that a military color guard presents the colors (the flag) and why members of the active military and veterans are asked to stand and be recognized at these events. At major events like the Super Bowl, there is even an Air Force fly-over. And it is important to remember that even with all of this “honoring our country,” symbolism, it is by no means a declaration that “America is perfect.”
On the other hand, choosing to kneel at this particular time expresses a very different, sentiment. Kneeling as opposed to standing says: “I deliberately and purposely choose NOT to demonstrate my appreciation at this time, but instead, I choose to display, in THIS moment, my dissatisfaction with America, because of ______________(any grievance can be inserted here).”
And I would argue that that is precisely the point. These protests are intended to say that “Because of bad things done by the police / to my race / etc., I do not feel proud of my country, and I do not offer my gesture of honor or respect at this time. I choose instead to use this opportunity not to express thanks or recognition of what is good about America, but instead to remind everyone of what is wrong with America.”
But, as I stated in my article, and as its title, “Just Because You Can Doesn’t Mean You Should” suggests—while everyone certainly agrees that Colin Kaepernick and others have every right to protest, I just question his and their wisdom in doing so, in this way, at these events. This is why even President Obama, while he agreed with Kaepernick’s right to do so, cautioned that his actions just might be perceived as hurtful.
And with all due respect to many others who now appear to me to be trying to “walk it back” a bit by now claiming that kneeling is being offered as some form of patriotic gesture, I would say that you can’t have it both ways. It’s either a smack across America’s collective cheek, or it isn’t. It can’t be both an expression of tribute and one that intends to shame America at the same time. It’s like someone actually standing and speaking up at a traditional wedding ceremony when the minister says “If any of you has reasons why these two should not be married, speak now or forever hold your peace.” You can’t pipe up and label the groom a ‘gigolo’ and the bride a ‘trollup’ and then claim that you support their marriage.
Aside from the messaging and the protest itself, to address the underlying issues of brutality and injustice, I agree with your statement that, “Unfortunately, the justice system in this country isn’t perfect.” But when you then say that “the fact that someone has been deemed not guilty of a crime doesn’t mean they are innocent,” I must then ask you: By what system or standard of justice are we to use to determine guilt or innocence? This is again not to say that the system is by any means perfect, but we must either abide by its boundaries or we risk anarchy.
I have no doubt that there have been instances where police officers have used excessive force, but the problem with many of the video clips offered as “proof” (of either guilt or innocence) is that they rarely, if ever, record the entire record of the incident, in context, from every point of view. And witnesses in many of these events are often biased and/or unreliable. Whenever a controversial incident occurs, it is only by way of a thorough, unbiased investigation that the “facts” can be determined. Again, I recognize that even this system is imperfect (this will always be the case as human beings will always be fallible), but we have nothing else!
Your example of the Rodney King beating and subsequent acquittal of the officers that beat him is a good example of where it appears that a colossal failure in our system of justice occurred. I cannot watch that video without feeling sickened, and know of no one else who doesn’t feel the same way.
But what then of the events that followed? Was goal of eliminating racism in America helped or hindered by the reaction of some in the African American community, when riots erupted in Los Angeles, taking 63 lives, injuring nearly 2,400, and destroying over 1,000 buildings? Were destructive, negative stereotypes diminished or made worse? Was the cause of justice served, and more importantly, how do you think the relationship between African Americans and members of law enforcement fared after the riots of 1992?
Rather than allowing the video to exist as it was—something that clearly spoke of excessive force along with what also appeared to be a miscarriage of justice—those who decried the police brutality proceeded to become brutal themselves, thereby diminishing the impact of the entire Rodney King incident in terms of its potential positive effect on racial relations in America. The violence that ensued only made matters worse, not better.
Injustice doesn’t only happen in one direction or exclusively toward one race. For example, in the more recent 2014 shooting of Michael Brown by Officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson Missouri, where it could be argued the “Black Lives Matter” movement came to be, the credible investigations conducted by an independent Grand Jury and the FBI, as well as a United States Attorney’s Civil Rights investigation ordered by President Obama’s then Attorney General, Eric Holder, all concluded that the shooting was in self defense.
Even so, well before these investigations even began, many rushed to pronounce this as yet another example of racial injustice, as riots took place in Ferguson and in other cities around the country. And even as all of the credible witnesses supported the officer’s claim and what turned out to be the truth about the shooting, a false narrative persisted, as the chant of “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” became a symbolic mantra for police brutality. To my way of thinking, this apparent “lie” only serves to undermine the credibility of the BLM movement itself, doing nothing to help promote or insure racial justice.
To be fair and in the interest of justice, does anyone today even know or care about Officer Darren Wilson? He was forced to resign and as far as I know, his career and life has been negatively impacted forevermore. I would consider his fate as one of injustice. Do you think Colin Kaepernick thought of Officer Wilson’s family, as he mockingly wore “Pig” socks during a nationally televised football game?
As for the larger issue of injustice in America, I see the claim that racial injustice is a pervasive or institutional national problem as largely exaggerated, and sadly, it is being done so by some who profit from perpetuating racial division in this country. Likewise, I believe that the charge that there is widespread, racially motivated, institutional police brutality in America is simply not true, for much the same reason. While I agree that there are “bad” officers and that injustice and corruption does exist, I believe it is rare, and that little consideration is offered to the individuals—the police—who spend their lives working in what are often thankless, no-win or nearly-impossible situations.
Unfortunately, as flawed beings, the distasteful and evil characteristics of human nature will always be with us to some degree; but to judge American society as a whole based upon the “bad apples” is an even greater injustice in and of itself. The reality of America is that, more than any other place on Earth, we have progressed a very long way toward the “dream” of Martin Luther King Jr..
While America’s past includes a multitude of sins that must be recognized, we ought to feel proud that they are just that—largely in our past. And until each of us can see each other as Americans—not as Catholic, White, Asian, Jewish, Native, Straight, Black, Italian, Gay, African—our journey toward justice and equality will be longer than it needs to be.
Again, thank you for your comment, Leslie. I appreciate your point of view, and that you took the time to express it here. I believe America is better when we are able to share our points of view with each other, as we have done here, and I look forward to future conversations.
Dear Mr. Editor,
I’d like to respectfully disagree.
I want to take this opportunity to assure you that EVERY American is very proud to be an American.
Standing for the flag is something that we are all proud to do and I for one enjoy singing the National Anthem in addition standing because in my mind it further demonstrates my strong feelings of Patriotism.
What some of the NFL is doing by kneeling or linking arms during the anthem; however, is not about dishonoring the veterans who have bravely defended this country and it is not a show of their lack of patriotism either.
I argue that by kneeling during the national anthem they are showing a great deal of patriotism.
Kaepernick began kneeling during the anthem because he wanted to STAND UP for African Americans and other minorities who have been and continue to be treated unfairly in the country on the basis of skin color. That idea is supposed to be the very antithesis of what America stands for; however, for many of us being mistreated because of race (and/or gender and/or religion) is a regular occurrence. His show was not to disrespect the flag or veterans, but to make people take notice of the fact that the American idealism isn’t the way of life for many Americans as it should be.
Unfortunately, the justice system in the country isn’t perfect. The fact that someone has been deemed not guilty of a crime doesn’t mean that they are innocent. For example, I take serious issue with anyone who can watch the Rodney King beating video and believe that those police officers were in fear of their lives as they circled around the man on his hands and knees and took turns beating and kicking him. Those officers were found innocent as others in similar incidents have been since then. A question that I have is “what do people have to gain that they refuse to acknowledge the suffering and plights of others?”
Patriotism means showing support for what this country believes in and holding it accountable. This country prides itself on its values of liberty, democracy, equality, equal opportunity and diversity. If the country is moving in a direction that is in opposition to those ideals or allows any faction of society to ignore those ideals, we Americans need to voice our dissention and it is our right.
Many professional athletes are African Americans who have lives outside of sports that are undoubtedly affected by racism despite the fact that they earn a lot of money. They have a voice the rest of us don’t because of their position. They are the very people who can and should bring awareness to the general population regarding the mistreatment of fellow Americans who otherwise would be them. One of my favorite quotes is “There but for the grace of God, go I”. That is why the NFL is kneeling.
Wow well said! Thank you for this article! I really appreciate the thoughtful insight and the research done and reflection! God bless you for this article!