Regarding the letter “Athletes disrespecting our flag, country”: Often when a professional athlete kneels during the national anthem, somebody somewhere begins to feel distressed. This person buys the story he or she was fed that this is “disrespecting” the flag and that the professional should “just play the game.” That person often says that this is an insult to our veterans, who served to defend the Constitution — which protects the right to free speech such as kneeling. And whenever freedom of speech takes more direct routes (like the nationwide protests this summer), the individual is sold the narrative that the protesters should demonstrate more peacefully (statistics show that 93% of the protests have been completely peaceful).
But why should athletes be forced to stand and show unquestionable reverence for a flag that doesn’t necessarily show that respect to many, especially the Black/brown communities? This nation has not done the work needed for true reconciliation, nor has it repaired the systemically racist institutions that permeate our culture. Major athletes recognize their privilege, and they choose to use their platform to promote a message of growth and healing by acknowledging the ongoing struggle.
America is a beautiful and incredible nation, but the citizenry needs to recognize that there are serious problems here. We have massive racial tensions, an ongoing pandemic, a startling recession, and many other issues. An athlete kneeling is nowhere near as serious as those points. My advice to those who are grumpy about an athlete kneeling: maybe just watch the game.
Broderick S. Gerano
Apollo
