Kaepernick’s Protest Underlines Anthem’s Unique Role in Sports
By SAM BORDEN
The pressing question for many viewers tuning in to a preseason football game on Thursday night will be whether San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick will once more refuse to stand for the national anthem.
But that question obscures some more meaningful ones:
Why is the national anthem a staple of sporting events to begin with? Why does the United States stand apart in making the anthem a part of the pregame ritual? And what does it mean to be patriotic?
Kaepernick, once regarded as one of the N.F.L.’s top players, has suddenly become its most provocative ahead of Thursday’s game in San Diego because, in a country that is unusual in its marriage of sports and public patriotism, he has chosen the anthem as the moment to communicate a message of protest.
After declining to stand during the anthem before a game on Friday night, Kaepernick explained that he was motivated by issues of police brutality and racial injustice in the United States — eliciting vitriol from fans who believed his gesture was an affront and praise from those who admired his decision to take a public stand at a time when few prominent athletes are willing to do so.
Lost in that debate, though, is that while high-level sports are a type of entertainment, few other forms of mass-consumed entertainment — movies or concerts or exhibitions — have the anthem ingrained into every performance.
Tens of thousands of theater goers, for instance, have packed a Broadway musical that is devoted to the life and times of one of this country’s founding fathers, yet “Hamilton” does not feature the national anthem. On the other hand, a game between the Cleveland Gladiators and the Arizona Rattlers in the Arena Football League could not begin without it.
For the athletes the juxtaposition might be even stranger: The president of the United States is not required to listen to the national anthem before beginning his day, but Jay Bruce must hear it before taking the field as an outfielder for the Mets.
“I don’t think it’s unusual because every baseball game I’ve ever played there’s been an anthem,” Bruce said. “I was thinking about that the other day: Like, how many times have I been involved with an anthem? It’s so many times. It’s what I’m used to.”
Historically, the roots of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in American sports have been traced as far back as baseball games in the mid-19th century, and the song became more widespread in baseball during the heightened atmosphere in this country around the First World War.
Other sports followed, folding the anthem into their own protocols and, decades later, the pattern seems inextricably linked — though it is unclear why.
READ MORE: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/kaepernic...

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Ya’ateeh, Shalom Alaikum, As Salaam Alaikum, Hotep, Hola, Konichiwa, Privyet, Hallo, and Hello To One and All!
I for one hopes he sticks to his guns... I wholeheartedly agree with him as I did Bro Muhammad Ali! ...Have we forgotten what he said about the mantra of the United States? What about the statements of Brother 'Paul Robeson?
...Is it okay to not agree with white America? When you don't, suddenly you are/become the enemy!
This brother took a courageous stand, as did Ali and Robeson (and many others), by not agreeing with what white America wants! Why can one not think and believe what he or she wants to believe? I believe that Colin is correct in what he has said about what the American flag is supposed to represent. And when it does not, it becomes a lie!
We as people of COLOR, are not seen as equals in this country, in the eyes of many white Americans...aka Chump! Some call him trump. Ask yourself, how many white sons of politicians fought in the 'Viet Nam War?' ...A worthless war that cost millions of Black Lives! They fought and died for the illegal interference/investments of white American politicians and business persons; in the affairs of someone else's war and country. Remember the "MAAFA?" White America tells you to your face, with the advent of their current advocate who has the audacity to run for president...a person who is a blatant law breaker, racist, and tax cheat! He has committed "Sedition and Treason" in the face of the American Public while not being charged with a damn thing! What do you think would happen to you and me if we committed such an act? Cops murder our young and old with malice and walk away unscathed while laughing in our faces...what do you think would happen to you and me if we committed such an act?
How many of us remember the Brothers who protested with raised fists in black gloves at the Olympic games a while back? ...The massacre and annihilation of the Black Panthers by the FBI? Remember that?
Ali told us of what The flag stood for when white America wanted to send Black Boys over seas to kill so-called Yellow and Brown Boys while coveting white boys right here in the US. Now just like Colin, I'm not advocating hatred for our country or our military personnel...I hold nothing but admiration, love, and respect for those who serve and have served! But you know as I, that there is something seriously wrong with what is going on in our country.
White America continually points out and searches for those of us who think and speak for ourselves while spitting on every thing we as people of color stand for...I know it and you know it too!
This young brother's courage has embarrassed the anti-Black culture in the face of the world and they truly resent it - big time! What is embarrassing to me is that the other brothers did not stand, excuse me, sit down right along beside and/or with him...provide him the support he needed while not asking for a damned thing from anyone!
He protested peacefully while being cursed and hated with outright and outrageous condemnation from the coach, his white and black teammates and many who hate us as a whole...making excuses for why he should or should not disobey the way things are expected to be. I say, when this country does not do the right thing for everyone, it walks the path of hypocrisy while holding onto the lie of equality and brotherhood for all mankind while traversing the world in a police mode, spewing what is wrong with other countries who practice separation, racism, and hatred.
Like Ali, the young Brother said he didn't give a damn about the money...what about the rest of the league? It's obvious if all of the Black players stood with Colin and walked out on the game, there would truly be no football, not to mention basketball, baseball, soccer, and many of the sports well loved in this country and the world at large. A report filed by the 'United Nations' condemns the atrocities of American Justice as it stands accused of blatant murder of oppressed people while having the nerve to criticize the beliefs and practices of other cultures world-wide - Go Figure!
Oh, How Soon We Forget!
They killed Brother Malcolm and a host of others for speaking their minds and truth...Marcus Garvey was wrongfully convicted and deported while standing up for the rights and beliefs of People of Color! Did we forget that?
Can you tell me it's wrong...to think and believe what's right or wrong in your own mind as opposed to what someone else has to say? Would you succumb to the whims, orders, and/or mandates of white America?
I wonder...
Thanks for posting this article Brother Deacon Ron Gray...it's a mind blower! Many would choose the money as opposed to Truth and Justice in the American way!
RIGHT ON BROTHER COLIN KAEPERNICK!
In Truth, Justice, Peace, and Love,
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~"SANKOFA" the "MAAFA"~
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