When I was in elementary school in New York City, the national anthem was broadcast every morning. At that point, my teacher would instruct the class to stand up, place their right hand over their heart, pledge allegiance to the American flag that rested in the front corner of the classroom, and sing “The Star Spangled Banner.” We never thought anything of it. We did as we were told and obediently sat down after the hymn ended.
That was in the 1980s. Honoring “Old Glory” also applied to sporting events. Athletes and fans alike stood in an orderly manner as they paid homage to the American flag during the anthem. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick recently changed that, refusing to stand during the anthem before NFL preseason games. Police brutality and the mistreatment of black people in America were the impetus for Kaepernick’s protest, which drew a lot of attention.
Not surprisingly, Kaepernick’s stance has drawn criticism (some so vile I won’t address it here). It has been said that not playing the anthem is a lack of respect for the flag and the soldiers who defend it. Kaepernick took an initially unpopular but courageous stand that may cost him his NFL career.
He is not alone. Seattle Seahawks defensive back Jeremy Lane also decided to take a knee before games. Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall knelt on the sidelines during the national anthem before the Broncos’ season opener with the Carolina Panthers on Thursday. As of this writing, the entire Seahawks team will show an unheard-of display of solidarity ahead of their 2016 season opener with the Miami Dolphins. Considering the NFL season kicks off on the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, it’s easy to see how many people will take these gestures from Kaepernick and the Seahawks as disrespectful.
But there is nothing unpatriotic about not standing for the anthem. A Facebook friend of mine correctly pointed out that these athletes’ First Amendment rights are not protected during the anthem because their employment is dependent on the NFL and their respective teams. The 49ers, Seahawks, Broncos and the NFL have yet to punish Kaepernick, Lane or Marshall for their stances as of this writing. Why haven’t they? Because there is no league mandate requiring that no one stand up and pay homage to the American flag or the anthem. It is a personal choice. Admonishing Kaepernick and others sends a message that the league doesn’t care about peaceful protests that won’t hurt the NFL viewing experience. After all, refusing to stand up for the national anthem has No effect on who wins and loses these games.
Kaepernick is willing to lose his NFL career and his endorsements as he continues to kneel during the anthem. Also, opponents of kneeling players have not come up with reasonable solutions that really address the reasons for their postures. Until those talks and actions take place, or the league institutes sanctions against these players, there’s no reason to believe the anthem kneeling will end.