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.
Copyright 2018 Business Theatre
Unlimited
