For most Americans, the national anthem (“land of the free
and the home of the brave”) is a symbol of values which unite us all.
Thus, when sizeable numbers of professional football
players use an opportunity to, figuratively, turn their backs on the national
anthem, the outrage generated was to be expected.
The reaction was made even more intense by the sight of
Baltimore Ravens’ and Jacksonville Jaguars’ players at a London stadium for a
game “take a knee” on the sidelines during the playing of the Star Spangled
Banner. But they stood for God Save the
Queen. [Did the players mean to display
respect for Great Britain but not for their own country?]
For most critics of the athletes, their conduct was seen as
an attack on America itself. Why display
disrespect for a national symbol because of (unjustified) ire over police
assaults directed against African Americans as trumpeted by Black Lives Matter
and their media sympathizers? [Google the
subject; FBI statistics show it is a myth.]
Why protest those perceived injustices by showing contempt
for the nation itself? Most Americans
condemned the players’ conduct according to a CNN poll. Yet only 12% of black respondents felt that
way. Perceptions were obviously quite
different. Why?
Do most black Americans believe that the country as a whole
is responsible for what is considered wrongful conduct? Do most believe that America, today, is
permeated by prejudice against black citizens?
Do most believe that “white privilege”, “white supremacy” and “systemic
racism” explain disparities among various racial and ethnic groups in the
United States?
Are people who believe such things correct? Does that really matter? Deeply held beliefs do not change simply
because people “learn” that they are unfactual.
People believe what they want to believe. And beliefs that were once true (the prevalence
of racial bias, for instance) are even more resistant to alteration in the face
of changing facts.
The anthem story, on one level, is unimportant. Who cares what pampered, millionaire athletes
– of whatever color – think? But it has
highlighted, by the opposing reactions, the frightening racial divide in our
country over respect and patriotism for the United States of America.
