To Kneel or Not To Kneel
Taking a Stand
I’ve always stood for the anthem. I was only taught, however, to put my hand over my heart for the Pledge of Allegiance. This has caused my wife great consternation, as she keeps telling me you are supposed to do so. Mostly out of stubbornness, I’ve refused to change my ways, since I was taught what I was taught, and was too lazy to look it up.
So in writing, I did some intensive scholarly research on Google. As it happens, she may be right. I am not yet committing to changing my ways. I will, however, take it under advisement.
In all my education on proper anthem etiquette, never did someone provide a detailed lecture on the importance of the standing position. We were told to stand up. It was just what you do. It was standing as opposed to sitting that was usually the decision. Taking a knee wasn’t even a thought. It certainly isn’t an option when trying to juggle nachos at the at the ballpark.
Actually, sitting with nachos in hands seems worse than kneeling. Kneeling still requires some level of physical engagement of your legs and abdominal muscles. It requires changing positions. Sitting (when not disabled) seems far more disrespectful, if one were to grade such a thing. Kneeling just doesn’t seem as bad by comparison.
Yet kneeling has become all the rage, and an insult to millions of Americans, as well as one inhabitant of the White House. People have a right to be offended by anything they want (I think — that’s in the Constitution somewhere, right?). If so, then I have the right to not take them seriously when they are offended, if their offense doesn’t seem justified.
Huge Heffner, the Founder of Playboy, just died. To some he was a marketing genius, and to others the beginning of the modern way of objectifying women for their physical attributes (not that it’s a modern concept, just that he modernized how people do it). Yes, one man’s hero will always be another man’s pariah. No, I’ve never bought a Playboy, and I’m not taking a side in that debate, but it seems more justifiable to be offended by Playboy then kneeling during the anthem.
When it comes to Colin Kaepernick — who despite the recent solidarity of NFL owners, is clearly being blackballed — I am not offended. I am mostly surprised. When he began the movement, my feeling was essentially, “I don’t think it’s going to amount to much, not sure I get it or like it, but sure, go for it.”
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Even though he is not even on an NFL roster this year, his protest has gained far more attention than it did while he was playing. Everyone has to have an opinion. So here is my uneducated, not historically fact-checked, off-the-cuff opinion. The is slightly expanded/modified version of something I wrote on Facebook a few days ago.
Is Kneeling an Offensive Form of Protest?
I believe people in this country have the right to peacefully protest, and that includes not standing for the anthem. Many citizens in this country ignore that in many other countries, even peaceful protests can get you put in jail, tortured, or killed. We generally do not want to emulate those countries.
This country was literally built on the idea of protest (though the Boston Tea Party may not have been considered peaceful to the British). The civil rights movement was built on largely non-violent protests (though yes, there were clearly some violent members and actions associated with it).
The purpose of a protest is to bring attention to an issue that, generally speaking, is not being heard or acted upon through “traditional” means. A commenter I saw on FB said the protesters need to put aside their “agenda” and understand how insulting they are being with their protests — the form of the protest was more important than the issue behind the protest.
I disagree. It is not the protesters that need to put aside their “agenda” — it is everyone that is going crazy over this peaceful, completely non-intrusive form of protest, that needs to reflect and understand what people are angry about.
The people who are protesting are doing so because they believe there is endemic inequality in our legal and law-enforcement system, and they want attention brought to it.
You can gain attention making insulting comments on Twitter like Dear Donald (because what else does he do with it?). Or you can gain attention in a way that NFL players chose to do — peacefully, but in a way that will be noticed without actually being in your face about it.
Realistically, I would imagine that kneeling for the anthem isn’t much worse than my failure to put my hand over my heart (though the latter is not an official act of protest, just stubbornness apparently). No one at any event has ever given me a hard time about not putting my hand over my heart for the national anthem (except my wife). This despite attending countless sporting events in large stadiums surrounded by thousands of people. No one was pointing TV cameras at me, but clearly no one really cared.
However, if you’re insulted by the “form” of the protest, well, there have been many other more “traditional” protests (marches, sit-ins, etc.) that have not gained much attention or spurred action. They have been derided just as much by the conservative movement. So when traditional forms of protests do not help, you turn to non-traditional methods and to whatever platform you have.
Does Everyone Get a Say?
NFL players who want to speak have a right to do so, and they don’t necessarily have the option of skipping work to go lay down in front of City Hall. They are using the platform they have. Their employer has the right to tell them to quit doing so since it’s an on the job protest, but that is up to them. Given that they haven’t interrupted the games themselves, the employers are likely not going to do too much about it. So far they are siding with the players, though if they start to lose money they may change their tune (but that will be hard to do).
I do not think the players are protesting the anthem or the flag. Those things are symbols — they represent our country, they are not the country. I’ve never served in the military, so count this as another uneducated opinion. Our military personnel, I like to think, aren’t putting their lives on the lines for a symbol such as the flag. They are risking themselves for people. They are training and fighting and sometimes dying to protect and provide for the individuals that make up this country. For the ideals and opportunities that we try to instill in the citizens of this country.
A flag burning is insulting not because of the cloth, but because it represents a hatred of what our country represents — the civil liberties enshrined in our laws and the opportunity this country provides. We see a flag burning and it hits us personally — it feels the person burning the flag hates us.
A Confederate flag is insulting not because of its color pattern, but because it is a representation of the severe pain inflicted on millions of individuals through slavery; the flag represents people trying to maintain and justify that pain. Flying the Confederate flag is painful for many people because it seems like it shows support for the pain intentionally inflicted on so many people. Full disclosure — I once gave a friend of South Asian descent a Confederate flag as a gift in high school when he became a U.S. citizen. It was purely a gag gift. I had to meet a shady guy over a trash can in a parking lot during a snowstorm to buy it. In retrospect, perhaps it was not a funny gift. Please do not judge my high school self.
So when people are kneeling for the anthem, I don’t think they are saying they hate the military or they hate this country. I think they are speaking to the country, trying to say we aren’t doing a good enough job providing for or protecting the individuals that are the country. I think they want all of us to stop fighting and arguing over symbols, and start standing up for people.
Just my rambling (un-edited) two cents. Please leave your two cents below.
First, I’m glad you acknowledged that they don’t in fact have a right to protest on the job. If their employer tells them to knock it off, they must knock it off.
Secondly, I disagree. For some, it does amount to near flag burning. The same flag they refuse to stand for is the the flag that represents the people of this country who fight, have fought, and died for their right to peacefully protest.
Finally, you are right, that when it does begin to hit the pocket book, maybe their employers will get a clue. I don’t watch it so that others can use my time as a political statement. Make your political grandstanding on your own time. I might even listen then.
And on a side note, if they really wanted to make a difference, they could probably all collectively put a portion of their money in a pot and basically eradicate poverty for those that are living a life that leads to decisions that tend to end in a not so positive way, one way or the other.
And on a second side note, it is not only tradition to stand, but to put your hand over your heart.
cd :O)
I think the term “right” gets thrown around too loosely (including by me in this post). Players do have a “right” to protest — it is not illegal to protest on the job. Employers have the “right” to fire them for it — also not illegal.
If we’re going to grade “levels” of insult/protest, I can’t personally equate burning a flag with kneeling during the anthem. Other than the fact that we point towards a flag during the anthem, so maybe it’s really the kneeling towards the flag that insults people. The anthem is a nice patriotic song, but I never have viewed it the same way as I do the flag itself. Someone doing a bad job singing it (i.e. Rosanne) is more insulting to me than someone kneeling while someone else sings it.
Individuals have the right to be insulted by any form of protest, but it seems that most of the people who are insulted by this form of protest already had their minds made up that the entire recent movement of protest is ill-informed/wrong. I don’t see many people who support police department reforms and have concern over inequality in our justice system who are incredibly upset about the kneeling. To me this is as much a mindset about your general beliefs about our society/country as anything.
Re: the grandstanding — you mean grandkneeling? 🙂 I don’t see what they’ve done that interferes with the game — as far as I’ve heard, the players are putting in the same level of effort/intensity as they always were (I have almost completely stopped watching the NFL). However people have been doing political activism on their own time — as I said in the post, there have been plenty of traditional protests — it hasn’t changed many people’s mind.
Re: the side note — isn’t it the job of our country to protect our citizens? Or only people who have a connection to a distinct subgroup should be the ones helping others in that subgroup? White people don’t need to help black people? Muslims don’t need to help Christians? I just completely disagree with the implication of your statement. There is an undertone that it’s just someone else’s problem — as long as we’re getting ours then they can deal with them getting theirs. Donald Trump could take the billion dollars he wants for his wall and do way more than a handful of NFL players could ever do. The destruction of Puerto Rico isn’t “my” problem — I am not obligated in any formal way to help, but I do plan to donate anyway. I can’t help everybody, but that doesn’t mean I can’t at least acknowledge who needs help.
Clearly there’s a degree of responsibility that people need to have on their own, but not every person in bad circumstances is there because they lacked that responsibility. Circumstances and luck dictate a lot more than people want to admit, even though hard work is required to take advantage of those factors.
Lastly — a LOT of people don’t put their hand over their heart for the anthem. Plenty of people did not get that memo. 🙂
I wasn’t making this a race or religious issue. I didn’t say only football players of one race or religion. They could collectively eradicate poverty. Most of them, will not put their money with their mouth is. Most of them want to “grandkneel”, but not really take any real, constructive action. Giving a collective “finger” to those that are paying your check, might not be the smartest decision in the world, but we shall see, I guess.
And your post was about kneeling, not all of the other things you decided to take a tangent on. I never said we shouldn’t help those in need. They aren’t kneeling for Puerto Rico.
I could say more, but have to make my employer and me some $. :O)
Well, I will agree I’m off on tangents. I’m definitely not accusing you of race or religious discrimination.
However I think many of these things are more connected than we say.
I bet more of them give money away than we know. But my main point is that we are more connected than we like to admit, and we are more willing to not help someone in need because their pain doesn’t impact is than we like to admit.
The Prez clearly had a different response to Puerto Rico than TX. Yes I know one is a state and one is not, but they are both filled with American citizens. And he has had almost no regard for PR, and quite a lot for TX (in his own selfish way).
Widespread outrage is generally reserved for specific groups — we don’t treat the same issues the same across different groups. That’s not an American thing though.
If the owners considered the kneeling the same as giving them the finger they are holding that opinion inside for now, though I am sure they don’t like it.
The “kneelthing” was in fact base on race what is happing is most ppl know that and they know the reason but they also know how to deflect so let’s make it about disrespect instead of harming unarmed ppl or red lining I can give you at least a five page example if there is no statue of limitation on murder and we have all these picture of public hanging there have been no arrest also if most ppl who had attack or killed police are in fact white males then how is it that black men who happen to be unarmed are killed or injured 5x more than white men who are armed or stop and frisk target young black men when that stats actually show both white men and black men often have the same stats actually white men lead is crimes almost every crime but murder let not talk about how crack was handle after it was drop off in the black community vs opoid what is handle as a sickness now me personally I don’t care because I understand I don’t take it personal because if one truly know histor how can you seek campassion from people who where capable of doing the things that good white folk have done and continue to do it just who you people are
Sam — thank you for your thoughts. I think a lot of cities and a lot of police departments have recognized there are both race-relation issues and potentially racial bias in some of the policies. While I still have a great deal of respect for law enforcement efforts, and certainly a need for them as they’ll be the first people *I* call in an emergency, we all should have an expectation they have a fair set of policies and rules they must abide by.
I have great respect for law enforcement and military personnel also my father was in law enforcement my uncle is the DA I have a host of cousins who or in law enforcement my first job was will law enforcement and trust me the good cops window who are the bad cops the problems is the bad cops or allowed to hide behind the good cops bad cops or often shield by great cops and bad cops used that and call it brothers in blue now I won’t run down a list of example because you seem very intelligent but I wall say if the FBI is saying hey the kkk has some how hidden amongst police would that be a problem for everybody not just poc but the funny thing is it actually hurts white ppl the most Johnson said it best If you can convince the lowest white man he’s better than the best colored man he won’t notice you’re picking his pocket hell give him somebody to look down on and he’ll empty his pockets for you just do some research America is build on it ugliness hate greed and it’s what will destroy it but for the time being i have a great stock list I’m up over 400% since Jan my 401k almost maxed out I’ve been self employed since I was 23 I’m able to live of 7% of my yearly income and I just made 35 so I’ll just sit back and continue to take advantage of these situation like shorting $depo
In my opinion, any type of protest such as this falls under the aegis of free speech (or I guess technically freedom of expression), and should be allowed and protected if we value the principles on which this country was founded.
I don’t like what a lot of people say, but I respect their right to say it. Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion when it comes to criticizing IDEAS, whether those ideas are political, religious, social, or otherwise. I would even go as far to say that, in some situations, people have a right to discriminate against certain ideas. This is not to say that discrimination against people (i.e. race, gender, ethnicity, sexual preference) is OK, but ideas are fair game.
If we are to defend right for NFL players to protest, we also must also be prepared to defend the right to inflammatory, conservative speeches on college campuses; protests (both right and left) in the streets; criticism of religions (which are, after all, sets of ideas); and anything else that may be unfashionable at the moment.
Dr. C — I agree that we have to defend many different forms of speech, including ones we dislike. Inflammatory speech and hate speech aren’t the same thing.
Kneeling is inflammatory, not the action itself. A protest of pro-gun people walking down a street with legally owned/licensed assault rifles saying that want more guns is inflammatory. Both should be allowed, even though I strongly dislike the latter.
Walking down the street and chanting that white people need to reign supreme and we should ban Jewish people isn’t just inflammatory, it is hate speech. I’m not enough of a Constitution scholar to know what level of that is protected (I’m not a scholar at all in that regards), but I personally don’t want any of that in this country.
I don’t know what exactly constitutes hate speech either, but I think we essentially agree. As I said, speech against someone’s race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. is an attack against the PERSON, not against an idea that the person has, and should not be tolerated.
Thanks for starting the discussion!
Personally I don’t watch football. I think if the media quit covering the kneeling it would stop.
I rarely watch the NFL anymore, maybe occasional college FB but not even that very much, though I do I watch the SB every year. But it is far an away the most popular sport in the country, so it’s going to keep getting attention.