Is kneeling for the national anthem such a big deal?
In a recent nationwide poll, those who supported NFL players kneeling during the national anthem outnumbered those against by a 56% to 42% margin. In any given election, that would be considered a landslide.
The demographics of the future aren’t hard to figure either. By and large, those currently against kneeling are in the 50 or over age group. The younger folks are definitely on the side of the players. As time goes on and the oldsters fade away and are replaced by future generations, those numbers will get even more lopsided.
When Colin Kaepernick started this whole situation in 2016, the NFL didn’t know what to do, so they tried to split the middle and make everybody happy. Didn’t work. It blew up in their faces because, as we know, they were getting ripped from both sides. So Roger Goodell and Co. were forced to make a decision. They have, and it’s firmly on the side of the players. See the recent statements the Commish has uttered, the BLM/equality slogans in NFL end zones, etc.
Back in 2016, and up until recently, NFL owners were scared to death of Donald Trump and his patriotic bluster. No more. Even the most conservative ones have shifted, or are no longer there. Jerry Richardson of Carolina got caught up in a PR mess and had to sell. Bob McNair of Houston died a couple years back. Robert Kraft of the Patriots, long a Trump friend and supporter, has ripped the prez on this issue. Even Jerry Jones of Da Boys has mellowed out. Others are likely too busy running their billion dollar businesses or sailing around on their yachts to much care what the “lowly” players do, so they’ll go with the flow.
The hangers-on speak of boycotting the NFL, but as long as COVID is still raging (see no or very few fans allowed in the stands), that’s a non-issue. Tell me longtime NFL fans won’t still be tuning it at home, and
I’ll tell you I don’t believe it. And when sports bars are allowed to fully reopen, they’ll pack them in there as well.
It would appear this battle has been fought, a clear winner has emerged, and it ain’t the old-timers.
Personally, as I’ve said before and often, I’ve always stood for the anthem. Were I to go to another game, I still would. Where I differ fromsome is I don’t give a rodent’s behind what the guy next tome does. He can stand, sit, kneel, or do a nude moon walk or break dance for all I care (though I must admit the latter would be very entertaining and probably get him on the Jumbotron). Regardless, it’s none of my business what he does. As they say — ain’t no skin offmy backside. Why would I try to tell himwhat to do? If he gave me such orders, I might just tell him to put it where the sun doesn’t shine.
And to me, that’s been the whole problem. People trying to force their ways on others. If they’d shut up and mind their own business, 90% of this problem would go away. The only “hurt” such offenders are suffering is to their own prideful ways, when others tend to see and do things differently.
Thing is, like Bob Dylan once crooned, times they are a-changin’. And there just...ain’t... no... stopping it. One doesn’t have to like it, but to deny the reality of it is delusional.
Given all the other problems going on in America and around the world, is whether somebody kneels or stands during a song such a big deal? I think not.