PREPS ALCOVE

Preps Alcove: Kaepernick's stance unpopular, but also valuable

JR Radcliffe
jr.radcliffe@jrn.com
Colin Kaepernick knows his protest may cost him sponsorships or even his career.

Rarely does my column dip its toe into the waters of politics, just as sports and politics rarely collide head-on. But Colin Kaepernick took the risk of blending the two worlds together, so forgive the brief detour into dangerous territory.

The San Francisco 49ers quarterback -- who was born in Milwaukee but raised on the West Coast -- put himself in the center of a media maelstrom when he revealed he would no longer stand for the national anthem at NFL games. He could be seen sitting during the anthem before the Aug. 26 exhibition game against the Packers.

Kaepernick cited injustices within the American ideal, specifically mentioning the treatment black citizens face at the hands of the police, as a reason to refuse the customary respect of standing during game day playing of the anthem. The chorus of opposition has been significant, from incensed radio call-ins to even some fans burning his jersey.

I find the issue fascinating, largely because I think the majority of the backlash fails to consider the broad scope of what Kaepernick is trying to do. While I think it’s fair to disagree wholeheartedly with his stance, I also think it’s unfair to criticize him as an unfit ambassador for the cause or to suggest his stance cheapens or disrespects the effect of the United States military.

For the troops

The American flag has become synonymous with the men and women of the armed forces who helped procure the freedoms it represents. It’s a fine view, that to salute the flag is a nod of thanks to those people who gave their lives and limbs for such a noble cause. But that’s only one take. The flag does stand for the military, but it also represents the overall virtues of our country.

Kaepernick has tried to articulate this duality. He has said that he does respect the U.S. military, and essentially, he’s speaking out against the country that has failed to preserve the ideals for which they fought. There has to be a space where we can separate speech against the nation from speech against the military, especially because the symbolism of standing for a song and admiring the flag isn’t an obvious nod to the military; it’s just something we’ve accepted over time.

Giving a voice

To say this is the wrong way to go about sending his message is also, in my opinion, incorrect. What better way to send a message? If he said, point blank, to a TV station camera, that he was disheartened by how America treated its black citizens, it would make news for a day or two. Not standing for the anthem, a revered tradition so passionately defended by many, is a much greater gesture to raise attention (and in a broader sense, an appropriate measure of passive resistance that doesn’t elevate to harmful speech).

This will keep his message in the public eye for weeks, especially if he continues to sit for the anthem. There are countless stories dedicated to his actions, not just a glossed over soundbite. America’s preoccupation with the anthem is obvious when considering how gymnast Gabby Douglas was criticized for not holding her hand over her heart during the Olympics, as if there is a specific, regimented way each citizen should demonstrate his or her patriotism. I personally think there is an overabundance of enthusiasm for these sort of judgments, but that’s another article for another time.

Kaepernick is also the perfect ambassador for the cause. He’s a big enough name that people will pay attention, and he has the means to sustain the consequences that could follow, such as loss of endorsements, suspension or even getting cut by the 49ers. Regular people cannot reach an audience by sitting down for the national anthem or even chaining themselves to a flagpole. That’s local news material, and this is national.

When we disagree with an athlete, the reaction is frequently to consider the athlete a poor ambassador for a cause, or question his timing, largely because he’s benefited handsomely from the American priority order that puts pro sports on a pedestal. Many athletes would choose to keep their head down and simply continue reaping the benefits. Kaepernick feels he’s giving the marginalized a voice, and he’s uniquely qualified to do so.

What comes next

Make no mistake, there is a rush to quiet the view espoused by Kaepernick. For many, the reaction to “Black Lives Matter” is to counter with “All Lives Matter” or “Blue Lives Matter,” a seemingly well-intended aim at inclusion that nonetheless accomplishes the opposite. We are uncomfortable with race, and particularly the disparities that exist in our world because of it. We don’t want to confront the reality that so many members of the black community are disadvantaged in a way we can’t appreciate as white Americans, and to avoid the conversation, we discredit it.

It is important to keep talking about these issues. It’s important to keep brainstorming how these disparities can be softened, how we can work together to make our communities stronger. It’s important that high-visibility leaders, even perhaps pro athletes, keep these issues on the front burner.

It would certainly help if Kaepernick, who appears to have given the protest a great deal of thought, adds to the conversation in other meaningful ways beyond what happens on game day. If nothing else, it would dispel the criticism that he’s simply seeking personal advancement and perhaps compel a few more people to listen. It wouldn’t hurt to donate money to related causes, such as victims of gun violence or scholarships for students from impoverished backgrounds.

I consider myself extremely lucky to have benefited from my citizenship in the United States. I live in a home where I feel my family is safe, I have advanced in my career, I can afford the luxuries I desire, and when a police car rolls down my street, my reaction is to feel cared for. It’s great for me, but it makes me a poor judge of the cause for which Kaepernick stands. I don’t know what it’s like to be afraid of law enforcement or the dark corners of my neighborhood, and I don’t know what it’s like to see the short end of the stick in the United States. When I stand for the national anthem, I’m proud of my country, and I think it’s fair to talk about what it takes to permit everyone that same experience.