U.S. Code: Title 36,
Subtitle 1, Part A
(a)Designation.—
The
composition consisting of the words and music known as the Star-Spangled Banner
is the national anthem.
(A) individuals in uniform should give the
military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position
until the last note;
(B ) members of the Armed
Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military
salute in the manner provided for individuals in uniform; and
(C) all
other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their
right hand over the heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable,
should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left
shoulder, the hand being over the heart…. (Pub.
L. 105–225, Aug. 12, 1998, 112
Stat. 1263; Pub.
L. 110–417, [div. A], title V, § 595, Oct. 14, 2008, 122
Stat. 4475.)
The code says that you stand at attention during the playing
of the National Anthem. The code was written in 1923 in the aftermath of WWI
and under the influence of the American Legion. It wasn’t ratified until we
were at war in 1942. Perhaps it seemed an appropriate way to standardize
unified support of the nation in the face of war.
So, when NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeled during the
playing of the National Anthem prior to a 49ers game 13 months ago, the scene
went viral. It blew up into a wave controversy where some people couldn’t believe
that the NFL—an institution of paid performers—was entering into the political
fray, some angrily opposed it, and some supported it. Recently, as the NFL
season has started again, Kaepernick is currently without a team. Some believe
it’s because he is being “blacklisted” by the NFL. But the kneeling hasn’t
stopped. In fact, it’s been continuing in waves across various other NFL teams.
On the other hand, another video gone viral is of a lone
Pittsburgh Steeler player standing and singing the National Anthem while his
team waits back at the edge of the tunnel (some claimed the locker room). Opponents
of the “kneeling” have lauded him as a patriotic hero, one article claiming
that his actions came because, as a former army ranger who served two tours of
duty, he had more reason to respect the flag.
We won’t spend too much time on the over-eager ramblings of
the current administrative head of our nation who seems to be much more
interested in tweeting complaints about the NFL than the crises situations in
Syria, Puerto Rico, or elsewhere in the world.
So on to the point. As I read through all the dogmatic
articles and scrolled down the pictures and videos from one side of the
political spectrum to the other, I found myself surprised at the vehement,
derogatory responses. I’m an Army brat whose Dad served a tour of duty in Afghanistan
and whose Grandpa was sent to Korea. I spent years of my undergrad studying how
to combat terrorism. I consider myself staunchly patriotic, and yet it seems
that almost everyone involved in the vicious verbal battle is missing two
crucial points.
One: everyone has the right to peacefully protest. That’s
one of the rights so many have fought and died for. And yes, you have the right
to disagree with their reasoning. But they have the right to kneel.
Two: kneeling is not sign or symbol of disrespect. And that
is the point I will focus on here.
Okay, I know what you’re thinking. The code says to stand at
attention. And they are not standing. Case cold. And I would agree that I feel
a personal, overpowering devotion to supporting our troops and commemorating in
reverence the lives of those who gave all for their country. I believe in pledging
allegiance to the flag and standing for all of its encompassed ideals. I
support them without a doubt.
But it has never been a fact of American history that the expectation
of “all men created equal” has been fully actualized in practice. And while we
must respect the sacrifices of the past, it would seem almost un-American not
to look to improve areas where we are not living up to the nation’s very
ideological core. By that standard, to “disrespect” the flag or the nation
would be to act in ways contrary to the sense of justice, freedom, and equality
that we have dared to proclaim as attainable goals of our very unique country.
And that takes us back to kneeling. Hear me out on this.
From a religious background and perspective, kneeling has
always been a sign of respect for me. For example, when one is asked to pray in
public, he or she is expected to stand. When one is alone and in private, it is
generally customary to kneel. When one is in a close-knit group, however, there
have been times when the particular prayer to be offered begs a greater sense
of unity, and we have knelt together. In families, for example, prayers are
generally carried out with all members kneeling together. For me, it has always
represented a sense of reverence and humility to God, as well as unity with one
another. In short, it is a sign of respect.
Now, this does not mean I feel the need to defend or critique
Kaepernick’s political views, or make a comment here about injustice or police
brutality, and whether or not the accusations of it are misconstrued. And I
honestly wouldn’t know whether he sat that first time out of weary frustration
of perceived injustice or deep-rooted disrespect. But whatever his personal
motivation, it has set fire to something else. Something that I believe shows
more hope in the ideals of our country than it does disrespect.
When I see teams of players, black and white, kneeling
together with arms locked, some with hands on their hearts – I can’t help but see
a symbol of unity. A message, perhaps, that if we can’t yet claim to have stood
faithfully by all the ideals of our country, at least we can kneel in hopeful
unity that one day we will be able to. That is not disrespectful dismissiveness,
it is a plea for fulfillment. If men have fought and died for this country’s
freedoms, then let us live to make their legacy become actualized in the lives
of every American, rather than a simple majority of them.
I do not believe that racism is winning the battle in America.
I don’t think everyone is a bigot or all laws are unjust, and I am certainly an
optimist about just how far our country’s come and just what it is capable of
doing if we don’t let go of our principles. But if kneeling during the National
Anthem is one man or woman’s way of remembering and revering the ideals upon
which the country was founded, and the hope that they will continue for every
American, then I say that is patriotic enough for me. Because sometimes, like
the faithful prayer in a congregation of believers, to stand alone is simply
not enough.
*(Editor’s
Note: After writing the above, I noticed a New York Times opinion
article written by Eric Reid, former teammate of Kaepernick who also convinced
him to kneel, instead of sit, during the National Anthem. I thought this quote
was critically relevant:
“After hours of
careful consideration, and even a visit from Nate Boyer, a retired Green Beret
and former N.F.L. player, we came to the conclusion that we should kneel, rather
than sit, the next day during the anthem as a peaceful protest. We chose to
kneel because it’s a respectful gesture. I remember thinking our posture was
like a flag flown at half-mast to mark a tragedy…It baffles me that our protest
is still being misconstrued as disrespectful to the country, flag and military
personnel. We chose it because it’s exactly the opposite...”)
1. "Legal Information Institute." Cornell Law School. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/36/301
2. "United States Code: What is the U.S. Code?" The Flag of the United States of America.http://www.usflag.org/us.code36.html
3. "What must Americans do during the National Anthem?" BBC News: US and Canada. September 25, 2017. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37208404
4. Dator, James. 'Alejandro Villaneuva, a U.S. Army Veteren, was the lone Steeler on the field during the National Anthem." SBNation: Lookit. September 25, 2017. https://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2017/9/24/16357738/alejandro-villanueva-u-s-army-veteran-lone-steeler-on-field-national-anthem5. Reid, Eric. "Why Colin Kaepernick and I decided to take a knee." New York Times. September, 25, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/25/opinion/colin-kaepernick-football-protests.html?mcubz=1&_r=0
You make some great points.
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