The Colin Kaepernick story has been out there for a long time and the right-wingers have been using this to keep the outrage machine running at full speed. Things changed this weekend. When Jerry Jones kneels with the team and then locks elbows during the National Anthem, this is different.
In my circle of friends there are many who are feeling and expressing this vague outrage. What are they angry about? Some folks are praying on their knees during the Anthem? If Tim Tebow did that, these same people would be all for it? There is a huge level of cognitive dissonance happening right this minute and this is a great opportunity for us.
The people having the most trouble with this are not the White Supremacists. They would be happy just shooting all the black players on the spot. They are evil people and no salvation is possible. But it seems to me the ones reaching out with these vague expressions of outrage are truly the swing voters who pushed Trump over the top.
We have an opportunity to change their thinking in fundamental ways. Please, everybody, be active. When you see these vague expressions of outrage, treat this as a plea for help. Treat it as if your best friend called with “I just wanted to say goodbye to you before I kill myself.” They are asking for help.
IMHO, the best way to help many of them is not to attack they or question their intelligence or their patriotism. But instead, ask them questions that force them to reason through the situation. Here are some ideas:
I understand you feel something isn’t right when people don’t stand during the Anthem. Let me ask you if you feel the same way when people yell “Play ball” at the end of the Anthem? I’m asking because that deeply offends me and my sense of country and patriotism. I’m not asking you to agree with me, but I am just asking you to think about how others feel.
Is there really any good reason why we should have this ritual at the beginning of games that celebrate violence and conflict? We don’t have the Anthem at the beginning of most concerts. We don’t do it at the beginning of news broadcasts. We don’t do it each morning when Congress comes to order. Why is it a ritual at football games? Is that really the true meaning of the Anthem?
Do you have any clothes that include the flag or parts of a flag? There are few things that I find more disrespectful than people wearing a flag bandana on their sweaty head. It is just my opinion, and I am not asking you to agree with me. But I am asking you to understand why others don’t agree with your opinion on this.
When you go to a Super Bowl party, do all the guests stand up, put down their food and beer and sing the National Anthem when it comes on the TV? If not, then how “patriotic” are you? Are you saying that it is only a requirement when you are inside the arena? Why is that?
Do you have any idea what the people doing this gesture are trying to point out? Please take some time to learn how many times non-white people have been gunned down by police in the past year when they posed no threat whatsoever. And then research how many of those police have been convicted of murder or manslaughter. How would you prefer that these people make their point? Would you rather see bloody riots in the streets? Is that really better than people silently praying on their knees?
I am sure you can think of many more ways to approach this. The point is that there are millions of not-very-empathetic people begging for help right now. This is a chance to bring them out of the darkness.
