---

 

This writing was accepted for publication in the 108 page perfect-bound ISSN#/ISBN# issue/book “About the Arts” cc&d, v283 (the May 2018 issue) Order this as a 6"x9" paperback book:

Order this writing in the issue book Across the Wall the cc&d May-Aug. 2018 issues & chapbooks collection book		get the 372 page May-Aug. 2018 cc&d magazine issue collection 6" x 9" ISBN#035; paperback book:

A Quarterback’s Call

John Amendall

    “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 ...”. The above quote is the opening line of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. Strangely Voltaire’s dictum: “I may not agree with what you say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.” receives little recognition influencing our First Amendment containing free speech. Regardless of Voltaire’s nay-sayers for the origin of this statement, the concept was clearly adopted by the founding fathers.
    A San Francisco NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick made a call. The call was about unarmed African-Americans who died at the hands of police. Michael Brown was among those killed in 2014. During the same year 126 law officers also lost their lives in the line of duty.
    During a 2016 preseason NFL game Kaepernick took a seat on the bench as the national anthem was played. Before the next game he knelt during the anthem continuing this gesture for the season. For accuracy’s sake a number of team mates joined him and players from other teams followed suit. It took almost two weeks before the media solicited the reason or purpose for his gesture. Kaepernick explained that his call or gesture was a protest about inequality and social justice in the United States. For football fans at least it would not be an exaggeration to say that his gesture/protest generated a large vocal response by supporters and dissenters alike. As of this writing Kaepernick did not play in 2017.
    Supporters rallied around Kaepernick as a citizen exercising his First Amendment right of free speech. There is some degree of irony here as his gesture was a silent one.
    Who denied Kaepernick’s right? No abridgement of free speech occurred. Moreover there are more than a few exceptions to free speech.
    One can not gratuitously yell fire in a crowded public place. One can not knowingly provide false information to authorized law enforcers. Under oath one can not lie in a law court nor disrupt the proceedings with random outbursts. One can not preach or exhort others to physically attack or destroy local or national government. Depending on whose Bible you quote; for Catholics it’s the 8^th commandment and for Protestants it’s the 9^th, “You shall not bear false witness.” This commandment has been broken so frequently it’s evolved to cases of slander in court rooms. Our First Amendment is not as omnipotent as early England’s Divine Right of Kings where the law was anything the monarch said it was.
    In the U. S. there have been a number of incidents where police have shot and killed unarmed African-Americans. While the public is rarely privy to all the background surrounding these incidents, there have been situations where multiple shots were fired at fleeing suspects later deemed guilty of minor misdemeanors. What did these citizens do to warrant 10-16 wounds and death? In one case a black suspect died after being throttled by an officer applying a dangerous and unauthorized neck hold. Black citizens and white also want to know what is the legal disposition of police behavior? Were officers charged with cruel and unusual force to handle these incidents? What has been the outcome of legal proceedings surrounding these cases? Are white officers targeting black citizens? Are the former held to a lesser level of responsibility for their actions than black citizens would be?
    Kaepernick’s protest deals with these and other questions about police behavior. While discussing this issue with a former chief of police and a former Chicago lieutenant. Both men adamantly defended the authority and right of police officers to administer the law. Based on what they knew about these cases they agreed that some of the cases seemed almost like executions. They also allowed for the randomness of collateral deaths which are even more complicated and tragic.
    Kaepernick’s call and charges have merit and his right to protest has never been a question. Kaepernick and other black leaders have underestimated the degree of support by white citizens about these issues. The major reservation concerning Kaepernick’s protest is not the argument of the protest. The major reservation is about the venue or platform used in his protest.
    Again. This is an important distinction. The spectators came to see a football game. Not a political tableau. Only rarely have I heard any sports commentator meekly raise this distinction in the face of the tsunami wave of First Amendment arguments.
    While recognizing that sports and politics have been intertwined (Jessie Owens 1936 Berlin Olympics, Jackie Robinson 1947 L.A. Dodgers, Muhammad Ali 1961 draft protest, John Carlos and Tommie Smith 1968 Mexico Olympics, U. S. Olympic team 1980 boycott, Soviets Olympic team 1984 boycott, Soviet suspension 2018 South Korea), Kaepernick’s call chose the platform of the flag and national anthem. The former president (Barak Obama) said on Larry King’s TV show that if he could, he would replace the national anthem (The Star-Spangled Banner) with something less bombastic and aggressive (... “rockets red glare, bombs bursting in air” ...). According to the former Commander-in-chief our anthem was too war-like and offensive to other countries. If I remember correctly Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture called for canon fire or its sound as Russia commemorated it’s successful defense from Napoleon’s invading army. Witnessed this piece played by an Army orchestra along the Potomac River in Washington D.C. I try not to use the word awesome too much but when real cannons were used the whole piece was immensely impressive.
    It’s rumored the Russians provided useless information concerning Napoleon’s ascent to power. Of course since its Russia, we’d be disappointed with anything less. Our Commander-in-chief wanted something more harmonious and friendly. Perhaps. “I’d like to teach the world to sing/ In perfect harmony ...”
    Indeed a ESPN commentator asserted that the marriage between the flag and our anthem found its origin with WWII and it was too militaristic But wait.
    At the beginning of summer Olympic games each country is led into the stadium by a team elected participant proudly justified carrying their nation’s flag. Gold medal winners are honored on a podium with their flag and national anthem. Accordingly many countries have adopted this ritual completely independent of our country. International pride in a flag and anthem are widely practiced.
    At sporting events and other assemblies it is quite common to recognize the flag accompanied by the anthem. For a minute or two the crowd falls silent, focusing on, and pausing to recognize how fortunate we are to be Americans with all its warts, wrinkles, and yes, injustices to be addressed.
    A precedent to Kaepernick’s call occurred in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. Tommie Smith and John Carlos won a gold and bronze respectively in the 200 meter sprint. When they appeared on the podium for the traditional awards ceremony with their nation’s flag and anthem both athletes responded with the Black Power Salute. When these men qualified for the event in the United States they had the opportunity to inform Olympic officials that they chose not to represent the U. S. team. Or after the presentation they might’ve made their protest. Rather they decided that an international platform would provide a broader audience for their protest. One can only wonder what the rest of the Olympic team presumably representing the U. S. thought of their cooptive gesture.
    In 2017 prior to the 2018 Winter Olympics a premiere, woman’s down hill skier Lindsey Vonn said that failing an injury before the event, if she won a gold medal she would be representing the U. S. but not President Trump. Obviously Ms. Vonn was protesting the president’s performance or lack thereof. Whether you agree or disagree with her political position she has demonstrated considerable integrity and chutzpah with her protest expressing it before the event. Smith and Carlos were required to return their medals. As of this writing Kaepernick has not been picked up by any team. Considering the professional risks the above men took with their protest and its outfall, Ms. Vonn has exceeded their courage with her pre-Olympic statement.
    Professional athletes are considered celebrities. As such they have many venues or platforms to express social issues without resorting to the nation’s flag and anthem. February is African-American History month. Symposia, conferences, debates, university and college visits within this month and others would provide multiple opportunities to vocalize protests pursuing a variety of socio-political issues. In addition there are a number of talk radio shows and TV programs looking for timely topics or issues where celebrities, in this case professional athletes, would be welcome to express their opinions. TV shows alone provide an audience of millions of people.
    While watching the 2017 Army –Navy football game, viewing all the young men and women who some day may be defending us and our loved ones, I saw no gestures of protest. Both starting quarterbacks were African-American together with other black teammates. These men and women may some day put their lives on the line and in the days parlance “walk the talk.”
    In summary then I support Kaepernick’s call but not at the expense of our flag’s and anthem’s significance. Many Americans feel the same way.

Copyright of written pieces remain with the author, who has allowed it to be shown through Scars Publications and Design.Web site © Scars Publications and Design. All rights reserved. No material may be reprinted without express permission from the author.

Problems with this page? Then deal with it...