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What, exactly, is the history relating to the singing/playing of the national anthem before sporting events? I know it is a very long standing tradition, but I wonder exactly why it was started in the first place. I suppose I could try to do some research into that history, but I'm feeling a bit lazy, and really, it doesn't matter. Whatever the reason it was started, I think the more relevant question is whether it makes sense to continue it. To me, it feels like a symptom of that nationalistic, secular religion that carries the name of patriotism, but isn't a true patriotism. It is a glorification of the national symbols at the expense of the real work of working to ensure that our country always strives towards the best possible realization of its founding principles. It makes it too easy for people to salute the flag and feel like they are good citizens and then turn away and ignore our failings.
To listen to the loudest voices of outrage, you would think that taking a knee during the national anthem is the highest form of disrespect for our nation. But, historically, kneeling has long been a gesture of respect. I wonder how many of these vocal protesters are Catholics who regularly bend a knee every time they go to church? How can they perform that gesture of respect so mindlessly, and then find the very conscious act of taking a knee for the anthem as disrespectful? Perhaps it's because they haven't paused to think about what is happening. Instead, they are simply reacting to an action that breaks the norms, that intentionally calls attention to itself. They simply cannot abide the "other", those who refuse to conform. "Don't rock the boat" seems to be their motto. More evidence that their patriotism is just for show, because if they were truly patriotic, then they would want to understand the protest, to right the injustice, to make our country better for everyone.
In contrast to those protesters who take a knee for the anthem, let's talk about the actions of the fans that truly disrespect the anthem. Before a Baltimore Orioles game at Camden Yards, the fans routinely shout "OH!" when the singer reaches the light "Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave?", which clearly shows their pride in their local team, but certainly is not respectful of the anthem. Similarly, at every home game of the Washington Capitals, some 18,000 fans shout "RED!" when the singer reaches the light about the "rockets red glare" to show their "Rock the Red" pride in the home hockey team. I find both of these shout-outs for the home teams to be *FAR* more disrespectful than a silent protest that simply involves a player taking a knee during the anthem.
Ultimately, I think that those angered by these protests are less concerned with the level of respect being shown for the anthem than they are with the reason for the protest. They are offended because these protests highlight serious injustices in our country, which upsets their comfortable view that the country is fine the way it is. If they acknowledge the legitimacy of the protests, then they would be forced to acknowledge that their comfort is built upon a system that is biased in their favor, and that true justice requires them to confront the realities of racism and bias in our social structures. And since they are not willing and/or able to do so, they must find ways to discredit the protesters.
It is sad, really, that all of this energy is being expended arguing about the patriotism of the protesters, instead of addressing the very real injustices that they are trying to draw attention to. Addressing the issues of injustice would be true patriotism.
To listen to the loudest voices of outrage, you would think that taking a knee during the national anthem is the highest form of disrespect for our nation. But, historically, kneeling has long been a gesture of respect. I wonder how many of these vocal protesters are Catholics who regularly bend a knee every time they go to church? How can they perform that gesture of respect so mindlessly, and then find the very conscious act of taking a knee for the anthem as disrespectful? Perhaps it's because they haven't paused to think about what is happening. Instead, they are simply reacting to an action that breaks the norms, that intentionally calls attention to itself. They simply cannot abide the "other", those who refuse to conform. "Don't rock the boat" seems to be their motto. More evidence that their patriotism is just for show, because if they were truly patriotic, then they would want to understand the protest, to right the injustice, to make our country better for everyone.
In contrast to those protesters who take a knee for the anthem, let's talk about the actions of the fans that truly disrespect the anthem. Before a Baltimore Orioles game at Camden Yards, the fans routinely shout "OH!" when the singer reaches the light "Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave?", which clearly shows their pride in their local team, but certainly is not respectful of the anthem. Similarly, at every home game of the Washington Capitals, some 18,000 fans shout "RED!" when the singer reaches the light about the "rockets red glare" to show their "Rock the Red" pride in the home hockey team. I find both of these shout-outs for the home teams to be *FAR* more disrespectful than a silent protest that simply involves a player taking a knee during the anthem.
Ultimately, I think that those angered by these protests are less concerned with the level of respect being shown for the anthem than they are with the reason for the protest. They are offended because these protests highlight serious injustices in our country, which upsets their comfortable view that the country is fine the way it is. If they acknowledge the legitimacy of the protests, then they would be forced to acknowledge that their comfort is built upon a system that is biased in their favor, and that true justice requires them to confront the realities of racism and bias in our social structures. And since they are not willing and/or able to do so, they must find ways to discredit the protesters.
It is sad, really, that all of this energy is being expended arguing about the patriotism of the protesters, instead of addressing the very real injustices that they are trying to draw attention to. Addressing the issues of injustice would be true patriotism.
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