I write this diary with some trepidation, knowing it is likely to draw fire from some in this community, but I hope there is room for some well-intentioned dissent on this issue.
Before I dive into my argument, a few background points:
- I am a 47yo white male, raised by Democrats (including a fervent liberal mother), who has proudly voted for Dem’s my whole life, based on the firm belief that there is only one side who actually gives a crap about average Americans and those who have been mistreated and left behind.
- I loathe Trump and the current iteration of the Republican Party with every fiber of my being, to the point that I see, for example, little difference between what they are trying to do to our health care system and straight up “evil.” This is made worse by the fact that I work for the federal government, which means Trump is not only my “President,” but technically my boss.
- I firmly believe there are deep seated problems in our criminal justice system, most notably a systematic willingness to turn a blind eye to egregious behavior by what I believe is a minority of violent, racist, and/or incompetent police officers whose behavior leads to the senseless deaths of too many, particularly young African-American men.
Sorry for the extended preamble, but hopefully anyone who reads this understands that I am neither a Russian-paid “bot,” or some Breitbart troll.
Nevertheless, I am not a fan of Colin Kaepernick’s (or other atheletes’) decision to protest the issue of social justice by kneeling during the national anthem. While I wholeheartedly support the right to free speech, I think Kaepernick’s specific form of protest is unfocused, counterproductive and plays directly into the efforts by Trump, Bannon and others to deepen and utilize racial divisions and tension in the United States for the purpose of attaining and maintaining political power.
I believe protest is most effective when it is obvious to anyone who sees it what message that person is trying to send. Kaepernick’s form of protest does not do that. It gives the impression to the uninformed that he is protesting the flag, the anthem, or “America” itself, a perspective which the likes of Trump and Bannon are more than eager to foment or manipulate to their ends. It lets the right wrap itself in the flag and cast Kaepernick as unpatriotic or as someone who hates America. And remember, the whole point of “raising awareness” is to target the “uninformed,” and not just likeminded people in some kind of an echo chamber.
I understand that Kaepernick is trying to “raise awareness” and “foster a discussion,” but it’s not clear to me that his protest has done any of that. Instead the country seems more focused on Kaepernick himself and whether he is getting blackballed by the NFL, or the form of protest itself, instead of the issue of social justice. Let me be clear, I wholeheartedly support the right of public figures, including atheletes, to express their views on social and political issues, but some forms of protest are more helpful and effective than others. Take the picture above of the then Lebron Jame’s-led Miami Heat protesting the senseless murder of Trayvon Martin. In my opinion it is genius — powerful and very clear what it is referring to.
Returning to Kaepernick, what if he, for example, instead of kneeling during the anthem, chose to stand, with his hand over his heart, but wearing a black glove with the name “Tamir Rice” or “Michael Brown,” or “BLM,” or “Charlottesville?” He could change it every week if he wanted. To me that form of protest keeps the focus on the cause, instead of the person or the form of protest itself. Would he still be targeted by the likes of Trump? Of course. But it would be much harder to play the “patriotism” card.
I would also like to add that complaints about the NFL seemingly “blackballing” Kaepernick, or infringing upon his “freedom of speech,” are a little disingenious. That is the same type of argument the Right uses when progressives target public figures who say something offensive by going after advertisers or protesting at public speeches. Some might respond: “Those are two different things! Rush Limbaugh calling someone a “slut” is not the same as what Kaepernick is doing.” At one level, they are right. Rush is being a misogynistic ass, and Kaepernick is trying to draw attention (if in my opionion in an unhelpfull manner) to an important social issue. But, progressives need to understand that there are plenty of Americans out there who are supportive of aspects of our cause, whether it be economic inequality or a woman's right to choose, who nonetheless would see Kaepernick’s specific form of protest as “offensive.” If your response is to lump those people in with the rest of the “deplorables,” and are too naive to see that this plays directly into Trump’s hands and his playbook of racial division and “identity politics," then get ready to lose a lot more elections.
I also think it is not unreasonable to draw a distinction between what someone says and does about their political and social views during their personal time, and what they do at the “workplace.” Are you free to trumpet your views in a vocal and visible manner while you are at work, “in uniform?” The NFL, after all, is a business, and for Kaepernick, the playing field is his “workplace.” Freedom of speech is not without limits (or risks), and other atheletes, like Lebron James, have been successful at being public about their views, while keeping the focus on the issue itself, instead of the place and form of that protest. (Again, see the picture above.) It doesn’t surprise me in the slightest that teams are wary of hiring Kaepernick. The NFL is not some sacred “public commons,” but an entertainment product (one which I don’t particularly like) that directly depends on the number of people who buy tickets or watch it on TV.
None of this is meant to defend Trump’s disgusting remarks about NFL owners going after “SOB’s,” but, again, the debate has shifted away from the original issue and is now being fought on Trump’s terms, which is the issue of “patriotism” and showing “respect” to the Flag. And I’m sure there is nothing he would more like to see than more African-American atheletes “taking the knee” to show solidarity for Kaepernick.
I’m reminded of a quote attributed to President Obama, and I’m paraphrasing here: “I’m not against all wars. Just dumb ones.” I’m not against all forms of protest, just those that aren’t helpful in advancing the cause for which they were originally intended.