Last week I happened to be in Philadelphia when President Trump un-invited the Eagles’ players from what was to have been a White House photo op. It was said that only 10 or so players were planning to go, so canceling was understandable. It isn’t unusual. In recent years it has become common for some players to decline a presidential visit.
I’ve been giving some thought to the muddle of issues involved. It’s my opinion that the kneelers are well-intentioned, hoping to draw attention to the important issue of bias in law enforcement. They aren’t meaning to disrespect veterans, in my view, but in the eyes of many they do.
So, attendance and viewership is down for the NFL. Some players have lost endorsement deals, and others have been put in the position of supporting teammates’ actions, even though they don’t agree with them.
The idea of Black Lives Matter is a good one, at its core. Having one black kid shot by police is a tragedy, and the families and communities are quick to react with anger. Sometimes the police can demonstrate justification for their actions, and sometimes they can’t. If it were my son, no amount of explanation would be enough, and I understand the anger that results.
Kneeling during the National Anthem might bring awareness but bringing police and communities together to learn ways to coexist would be more effective. Such efforts are happening every day, and in fact I’d bet a nickel that there are NFL players who participate.
Peter Wallace Writes 