Take a Knee or Stand Alone: It's not about Disrespect

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.

(b)Conduct During Playing.—During a rendition of the national anthem—

(1)when the flag is displayed—

(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...”)

Sources of Reference:

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-anthem
5. 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