OPINION: NFL anthem protests shed light on national conversation

“Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I don’t always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views.”  – President Donald Trump in a tweet from Jan. 22, 2017.

Well Mr. President, I couldn’t agree more. Peaceful protests are a prime testament of the ability to exercise a right within the land of the free. So I was confused when President Trump made the following statements at a rally Friday, Sept. 22, for Republican senator Luther Strange:

“Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a b**** off the field right now. Out! He’s fired. He’s fired!’”

President Trump’s statement sparked protests across the NFL on the following Sunday. Hundreds of players, coaches and even members of teams’ front offices chose to showcase their discontent with President Trump’s comment. While a majority of the players and staff chose to link arms in solidarity during the national anthem, many players kneeled, sat down or even ignored the anthem altogether. The Seahawks, Titans and Steelers elected to skip the anthem completely.

I touched on this in my column last week, but to reiterate, personally I don’t agree with the anthem protests. While I believe it is a legitimate protest, I think that it further hardens those who need to hear the discussion it is trying to create.

However, I recognize that kneeling/sitting during the anthem is not an attack on the anthem or the flag or the things that both of those symbols stand for. It is simply a protest – a call to action – similar to the protests of the NFL that people are calling for in response to this week’s protests … protest-ception?

I don’t think these people hate America. I can discern that although the protest may be interpreted to some people as disrespectful, I don’t believe it was the intention of those who protested to show disrespect to our country or offend millions of people who have put their lives on the line for our country. I simply think it was a protest, a very controversial one, but still a protest.

It is our right as Americans to protest as expressed in the first amendment. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

These players have the freedom to take a knee during the anthem. Just as people who disapprove of their actions have the freedom to turn off the TV, to rescind their season tickets, to denounce their support of the NFL. But once again, that’s the beauty of America. We all have a choice – there’s a lot of places in the world where that isn’t true.

We live in the land of the free, a land so free that if someone so chooses, they can peacefully protest the government without expecting to be apprehended for it. A land so free that people can choose to make a statement by kneeling during the national anthem.

Now, just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. As I mentioned before, I think that choosing to protest during the anthem can further cause divide and altogether miss the discussion that needs to be heard. However, it could also be said that by choosing to protest so controversially, the discussion has been brought to the spotlight – and there’s no denying that this discussion has caught national attention. But again this draws the question– was a national discussion created at the expense of further dividing those who need to hear the discussion most?

I can sympathize with those who are hurt by these protests. Those whose families are serving, or who have served or even given their life for this country. I can also sympathize with those who feel so strongly about a conviction that they would go as far as protesting during the national anthem to make their point.

As a Christian I am burdened by the fact that there is injustice in this country that would lead hundreds of athletes to purposely protest during the national anthem to start a discussion. As part of the body of Christ this compels me to listen to that discussion in order to help those who are hurting, which ultimately means pointing people to Christ, He is the one thing who can truly heal the brokenness we encounter in this world.

I am also burdened because I am very grateful for my country, a country in which I can worship God freely without repercussions because of its freedoms. And while I respect the right for those to protest, I don’t believe that protesting during the anthem is the most productive way to start a conversation, and I recognize that some people have interpreted it as an act against the anthem.

My prayer is that people on both sides of the discussion can come together for a civil conversation. A conversation where people can understand why players feel the need to kneel and a conversation where those who knelt can understand why that choice of protest may be interpreted as hurtful.

The truth is that we live in a broken world and until Christ’s return we will never see true unity here on Earth, however that should not stop us from working together and striving to unite as one.