Now that some of the heat surrounding Colin Kaepernick has died down we can take a breath, step back and examine some of the greater and less obvious dynamics involved in the situation that seemed to send the nation into a frenzy a few weeks ago.
Did you notice how Kaepernick’s actions were immediately framed as a slight on the U.S. Military? This indicates a couple things. Apparently many people around this country believe that the Military is there to defend novel traditions such as the National Anthem rather than the actual “inalienable” rights of its citizens. It is also a shining example that if you don’t want to have an uncomfortable conversation you can always just change the subject. This technique is annoying when used by a boyfriend or girlfriend but truly problematic when employed by the media, especially when the original conversation is about a race of people being disproportionately executed in the streets.
Kaepernick’s decision to sit for the National Anthem has also indirectly inspired another conversation. What do our cherished American traditions really represent? I’d guess that a very small fraction of our population had any clue that there was a third verse to the Star-Spangled-Banner which confirms Francis Scott Key’s hefty inclination towards white supremacy.
This leads to the question; What does it mean to be a good American? Does it mean flying as many flags as you can find at Wal-Mart, on July 4? Is it buying Budweiser exclusively when they temporarily change the name of their beer to America? Do we really believe that doing these things and getting mad at a second string NFL quarterback really shows how much we care about this country and all that it stands for? Or are we just trying to convince ourselves that we are contributing to freedom by buying into these prescribed patriotic narratives?
Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln even Muhammed Ali are universally adored American icons who stood fiercely in opposition to the status quo. Most of us were taught to honor these men for their unprecedented humanitarian accomplishments in the face of intense scrutiny. Many people have strong beliefs but what sets them apart was their unwavering willingness to ACT upon those beliefs. I would imagine the voices of those who hated these men for challenging evil in America sounded a lot like that voices of those today, who thoughtlessly condemn a man with the courage to do more than talk about his beliefs. Conversation is always healthy but when lives are being lost conversation is not enough. This country is founded on the belief that humanity and freedom are always more important than nationalism.
Adam Sorrell is a student at the University of New Mexico. He can be reached at Cjll41@unm.edu.
