Kaepernick’s stand revives idea of a rite of passage

By standing for change, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s protest is a sort of rite of passage.

Native cultures saw rites of passage as discovering one’s calling in life. Unfortunately, modernity has buried these traditions in the graveyard of superstition.

Kaepernick’s actions should be appreciated as his effort to be a meaningful contributor to society. Our culture has ignored the need for “wholeness” that’s characterized by a sense of community and higher calling. Consequently, our society is stuck in a perpetual state of adolescence.

Achieving a sense of wholeness demands great effort. A rite of passage was dangerous, and survival wasn’t guaranteed. However, it was understood that living authentically is the basis of sanity. It’s no wonder that our culture has seen the prevalence of mental illness increase with each succeeding generation.

We live in a highly political climate where Kaepernick’s stand was quickly misapprehended and misjudged. Obviously, there was no intent on his behalf to disrespect our troops. However, any willingness to take a controversial stand, especially by a black man, is often seen as a threat.

It’s ironic that the 49ers team headquarters is only a few miles from San Jose State University. On that campus stands a statue recognizing two young black athletes who stood for change during the 1968 Olympics. At the time, they endured a tidal wave of vilification, but today the courageous actions of Tommie Smith and John Carlos are celebrated.

A 1965 report by U.S. Sen Patrick Moynihan predicted the dire consequences of racism and poverty in our country. The report was a clarion call for change in response to the spirit of the Civil Rights Movement. But the predictions were soon dismissed as liberal apologetics, and 50 years later our nation is still living in a state of denial.

The public protests about the interactions between law enforcement and minority communities are symptomatic of an underlying cultural crisis. Denial is a defense mechanism that prevents us from honestly seeing our selves and the world. How long can we ignore rising poverty and hopelessness as we adjust to the uncertainties of our globalized existence?

Eventually, we must confront our deceptions, think differently, envision new realities and move toward constructive action. The time is now.

I’ve heard insanity described as people being in a car going 200 miles per hour toward a concrete wall and arguing about who will sit in the front seat. How can we avert disaster unless someone is courageous enough to stand for change?