Anthem protesters need actions

Editor’s note: Another Viewpoint is a column The News-Herald makes available so all sides of an issue may be aired. Charles Gates lives in Russell Township.

In recent weeks, our country has been focused on the national anthem protests by many National Football League players. First, these people have every right to show their disapproval with the social systems in which they live. The question that many people have asked is, “What exactly are they protesting against?”

Their protests have listed inequality and mistreatment of minorities by police as among the reasons for their actions and no one can deny this is a cause for many of the problems in our culture today. The one thing they have not included was that inequality exists not only in the black community, but also in the Latino, Asian, and low-income white communities.

When the average person and sport fan sees the demonstrations, they ask exactly what these acts by the athletes really stand for and what do they expect to achieve? This is not properly understood by most viewers.

Here is the question: How could the demonstrations be more effective in helping to solve the problems that they are trying to improve?

The first thing would be to take politics out of the entire problem. Let everyone say what they want to about our government and even our president. Next, the people doing the protesting should define what they would like to realistically accomplish by their actions. These people do not realize what a great opportunity they have to do good. With proper goals, it is unlimited what they could accomplish.

Defining their goals in broad terms like inequality defeats their purpose at the start. They should look at the root problems causing the inequality and ask themselves, ”How do I, within my capabilities, make a difference”? Some of the things that contribute to the problem could be addressed by the protesters:

• Improve the education system so more students stay in school and graduate. While this is primarily an educational problem, players from NFL local teams could visit schools and explain to the students how much a high school diploma will help them in their adult life.

• The problem of single-parent households must be addressed. In single-parent households, the parent raising the children often must work numerous jobs and is not available to supervise their children’s activities. Without this supervision, the children tend to do poorly in school and this may lead to crime in the streets. High-profile athletes, who are respected by young people, could address this problem at schools, churches and community centers. Many of the athletes may have firsthand experience with this problem. Their experience in overcoming this condition would be invaluable to give to young adults.

• Interacting with local police. This could be accomplished by having the athletes go with police officials for a day in the field. Developing strong associations between athletes and police will show the community that working together can benefit everyone. Their association with police will show young adults that they can trust each other.

A perfect example of how positive actions, by groups expressing their disfavor with the present system, is LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers. He lived through many of the problems the protesters are including in their general term “inequality.”

He has voiced his feelings about these problems, but he has taken positive steps to try to improve the inequality of the young adults in his home town of Akron.

James realizes the value of education and is presently providing a program to help Akron students complete high school and he will then provide funds for their further education. By doing this, he is providing a way for these students to stay out of poverty and crime, and narrow the inequality they presently live in.

James was willing to use his reputation, character and resources to positively help correct the problem.

If the present protesters do not follow through and create positive change as James is doing, their protests are for naught. I am sure when the public sees positive actions by the protesters they would be willing to help the cause.

Charles Gates