BlogHer

Friday, September 7, 2018

Protest vs. Respect—A #TakeAKnee Compromise


Football season is now in full swing and the controversy surrounding players who #TakeAKnee during the playing of the #Star-Spangled Banner, our #nationalanthem, shows no sign of abating. There’s little agreement among players, coaches, managers, team owners, media pundits and politicians on who is “right.” There’s even less agreement on how these protests (and protestors) should be handled.

I’m suggesting a compromise that might help bring closure to the discussion. Or at least reduce the volume. Maybe I’ve watched too many of the memorials following John McCain’s death, with their messages of hope. As #SenatorMcCain wrote, let’s not “despair of our present difficulties”. Let’s celebrate “the promise and greatness of America” by meeting in the middle.

The players insist that they are not taking a knee out of disrespect to our flag. They’re doing it to protest “systemic oppression”—the unfair treatment of minorities, especially in our criminal justice system. Taking a knee during the anthem turned out to be an effective way to bring attention to this issue, if not a resolution to the underlying problems.

In addition to standing for the Star-Spangled Banner, many Americans place their right hand over their heart as they face the flag. That gesture is considered a further sign of respect. What if a football player placed his right hand over his heart as he knelt while facing the flag? This combination of gestures would signal that he was still respecting our flag while protesting oppression and injustice. It might even earn him respect for doing so.

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