I am pulling an AW here. This is from a friend of mine (white) that had an interesting post that I thought I would share.
My hope is that we all can agree to disagree, civilly.
Before First – I wrote this and I doubt most will make it to the end, so I’ll start with the most important part. Listen with Empathy – when millions of POC are crying out – the very least thing we can do is at least listen with the intent to understand.
First - protesting during the anthem is not the same as protesting the anthem. It muddles the message to confuse the two, but I guess that is the point.
Second - This all started last year when Kap decided to quietly raise awareness of police brutality and racial inequality. He didn’t announce his plan or tip off the media, in fact it was the 3rd game before anyone noticed. If your opinion is this that police brutality & racial inequality doesn’t exist, skip to the end, there will be a list of books you can read.
Third – Title 36 Chapter 10 Section 176 of the US Code defines activities that disrespect the flag, let’s review some of them:
• The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.
• The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery.
• The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard.
• No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform.
So I guess we get to be pretty choosy about what we get offended about.
Forth – This weekend was inflamed because out POTUS called anyone protesting the anthem a ‘Son of a Bitch’ at a campaign rally. Put yourself in the shoes of a POC and hear that in the light of the same POTUS being unwilling to denounce the confederate flag or other symbols of the confederacy or Jim Crow intimidation. There is no worse disrespect to the stars & stripes than the stars & bars.
Fifth – The third verse to the Anthem shows itself to be written by someone that had a very narrow view of land of the free and home of the brave.
Sixth – After many police brutality cases there are protests that often turn messy. White people get all up in arms and complain about the method of the protest of being too violent. Kap finds a quite way and we find new windmills to tilt at. It’s easier to attack the method and not do the hard work of listening to the cry’s of injustice. Be still and listen…
Be nice civil on here. I won’t read your comments but I am willing to sit down at Luke’s and share a pint or two if you want to discuss.
Further Reading:
The New Jim Crow
They Can’t Kill Us All
The History of White People
The Color of Law
Tears We Cannot Stop
How Does It Feel to Be a Problem?
White Like Me
Racism without Racists
Citizen: An American Lyric
Yellow: Race in America Beyond Black and White
Chokehold: Policing Black Men
Slavery by Another Name
Between the World and Me
The Invention of the White Race
Black Stats
Stamped from the Beginning
White Rage
…But I’m NOT Racist!
Trump has just as much right, regardless of how distasteful, to say what he did.
I have zero issues with protesting. Where I have an issue is making a protest during the national anthem, quietly or not.
I won't go as far as correlating the anthem with service members and all that. The anthem, when sung in public is a sign, a representatation, and a moment of togetherness as a country that transcends any other nonsense going on.
So, the idea of using that as a platform for protest is egregious. It's disrespectful to America. I equate it to protesting a funeral. While people have the right and free speech to do it, it doesn't make it
morally right. Some would say practicing free speech is the most American thing to do. I'd argue that the most American thing to do is to respect America.
The second issue is simply that issues of various sorts, be it political, race, sexuality or any other issue if protest, is more important than what our country is, and what is represented by our country. That my issue if protest is more important, damn everyone else and our country. Now, I don't necessarily believe that was the original intent, but that is the perception and that is the reality.
Thirdly, that NFL players live in a whole different world. I would be fired over doing something like this. Trump has it right. We have the freedom to protest, but business has the freedom in most instances to fire for publicity it doesn't want. And everyone else who applauds the NFL players need to understand the real world and that consequences could come if they choose to make such gestures.
Lastly, and possibly most importantly, is what problem does it solve? Are police forces going to magically change? Are we talking about the real issue here or are we talking about the protest? What change will really come?
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