by John
Stevenson
A
side-by-side picture titled "Two Quarterbacks" is circulating on the web.
Tim Tebow taking a knee and praising God; Colin Kaepernick taking a butt to
protest the Star Spangled Banner and, he says, America itself. The caption says: "Tebow prays---Media
criticizes him for expressing his beliefs on the field. Kaepernick sits during
National Anthem---same media praises him for expressing his beliefs."
Looked to me
like an issue crying to be written about.
So I researched. As often
happens, there was more to it than the side-by-side and its caption.
First of
all, the caption was absolutely correct.
Heisman
trophy winner Tebow was indeed vilified for expressing his faith. Commentary included: annoying, overexposed,
religious nut-job. Descriptions of the
commentary included: nastier, more
personal, more intense; a torrent of mockery.
Detractors were quoted as: delighting
in every errant pass, wanting him to fall flat on his face. Tebow's worst offence was appearing in an
anti-abortion Super Bowl commercial---he had good reason to participate since
doctors had advised his mother to abort him
because of anticipated birth defects. He
owed his very life to her refusal. Among
Tebow's defenders were fellow athletes Tim Hasselbeck, Curt Schilling, Kurt
Warner, and pastor Howell Scott, who named the hatred "Tebow Derangement
Syndrome."
Kaepernick, on
the other hand, was lauded for dishonoring "The Star Spangled Banner." USA Today's headline proclaimed : "More
power to 49ers' Colin Kaepernick for taking a stand against social injustice." Later, USA Today ran another article
featuring the pro-Kaepernick position of Tommie Smith, who was ejected by the
IOC from the U.S. team and from the Olympic village for his anti-American
protest in 1968. NBA owner and
billionaire Mark Cuban posted his support, including "Kaepernick has
taught us we can still disagree in this country." The Boston Globe jumped in, praising Kaepernick's
anti-American activism as similar to the
"hands up don't shoot" and "I can't breathe" movements.
Why do I say
anti-American? Well, here's why. The anthem,
and the flag, are symbols of America.
You can't diss the anthem and the flag and then still claim to love
America and its military. And Kaepernick
himself saves us from debating that obscure and ludicrous position. He says: "I am not going to stand up and
show pride in a flag of a country
that oppresses black people..." He
opposes the country, not just its
symbol. He comes right out and says so.
Now you may
think that Kaepernick has a First Amendment right
to speak his beliefs---to disrespect our anthem, our flag, even our
nation. And of course he does. But just because you have a right to do something does not mean that
it is right to do it.
I was hoping
(since there's a sequesl coming) to end this writing on a high note. And I found that high note in White House
spokesman Josh Earnest's statement: " I certainly, don't share the view
that Mr. Kaepernick expressed....but we surely all acknowledge and even defend
his right to express those views." Earnest
also said Kaepernick's refusal to stand for the Anthem
"objectionable." So I thought
the White House had gotten it right:
condemn Kaepernick's disrespect but acknowledge his right to be
disrespectful.
Unfortunately,
President Obama then weighed in. He
pulled the rug out from under his spokesman and turned the high note sour.
Here's what
Obama said: "...my understanding,
at least, is that he's exercising his Constitutional right..." And:
"...when it comes to the flag, the national anthem, and the meaning it
holds for our men and women in uniform and those who fought for us, that is a
tough thing for them to get past, to then hear what his deeper concerns are.
But I don't doubt his sincerity...I think he cares about some real, legitimate
issues that have to be talked about. And if nothing else, what he's done is
he's generated more conversation around some topics that need to be talked
about."
So Obama
found nothing to criticize except that military people might find it difficult
to overlook Kaepernick's action and thus not be able to appreciate his "deeper
concerns." Obama voiced agreement
with the importance of Kaepernick's message, but not even a hint of
disagreement, let alone condemnation, of Kaepernick's disrespectful
action. And he seemed to think only
military people would care about that.
Ex-Niner
Jerry Rice managed to say what Obama didn't: "don't disrespect the
flag."
Next time,
the sequel: "Kaepernick---Like Minds Think Alike."
