Convolution

There is so much to say, with so little space to say it. However, I will do my best to voice my opinion without boring you to death. But, I make no guarantees. Since everyone and their brother is putting their two cents worth in on the hot button topic of this country’s flag and it’s national anthem, let me join in.

The President of the United States has decided that since he has so much free time on his hands, and no more pressing issues in either the right or left one, he has decided to stir our collective boiling pot that is our populace a little more. In an address to his “constituents” in Huntsville, Alabama Friday, Mr. Trump decided to take a shot at the NFL, its players, and its team owners. Like the child with a short attention span, off Mr. Trump went railing that he felt the National Anthem and our country’s flag were being disrespected by the players who have used the setting of the playing of the National Anthem to bring awareness in the form of protest by kneeling, and that these players should be “fired.” Secretly, he probably felt they should be put in front of a firing squad if he had his way.

This is the right of these individuals regardless of how you may feel personally. I stated my feelings in a Facebook post when Colin Kaepernick first did this to protest the oppression of certain groups in this country. He later clarified exactly what he meant, thankfully, at a later date. I vehemently disagreed initially because of the words and context he used, and the forum in which he used them. Now, much like the misguided notions of the Occupy Wall Street movement, they meant well, but were unclear as to the whys. Since the President is also unclear as to the whys, let me try to help.

First, the NFL can unfurl all the 100 yard American flags it wants to try to ride the political coattails of the patriotic nature of football and America, it will never have said patriotic connection baseball will. Professional football was founded nearly fifty years after the first professional baseball league, and two years after the symbolic beginnings of the Star-Spangled Banner being played before sporting events in general. The Star-Spangled Banner was played during the 7^th Inning Stretch (another ritual with a misguided understanding of its beginnings), of the first game of the 1918 World Series. However, the Star-Spangled Banner was played periodically at special event baseball games back in the 19^th century. It was customary to have a band in attendance at special games, and the 1918 World Series was no exception. To honor those serving overseas during World War I, during the 7^th Inning Stretch of that first World Series game being played in Chicago, the band on hand broke into a rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner. It would not become ratified by Congress as The National Anthem until 1931. The 3^rd baseman for the Boston Red Sox, the Cubs opponent, was a Navy man on furlough named Fred Thomas. Upon hearing the first chords struck, he immediately turned to face the flag, snapped to attention and saluted. The Star-Spangled Banner would be played during every World Series thereafter until World War II. Then it would be played before every game.

After what transpired in 1918, other professional sports procured this tradition as leagues formed. You have to understand, prior to, the unofficial National Anthem was “Hail Columbia,” which is now what is played when the Vice-President makes an entrance. Imagine a song being emblematic of the cliché, “Always a bridesmaid, but never the bride.” If you are not asleep yet, the argument can be made that professional football’s deep patriotic connection stems from all the analogies and terms between war and football. For me, I’ll stick with patriotism being representative of one’s ties to country.

And no Mr. President, these players are not disrespecting their country for kneeling during a symbolic ritual. Much like someone who does not kneel during a church service in protest of the church stance on an issue they may not agree with. I believe no one has been excommunicated for not kneeling. Nor are they disrespecting the American flag. Nor are they disrespecting the soldiers who fought defending said flag and what it supposedly represents. Soldiers active, retired, or deceased, fought defending the values this country’s democracy is supposed to represent, not a piece of cloth. The flag identifies the United States, much like the uniform jerseys worn by the players identify which team they are on.

As far as the “National” Anthem goes, the melody is from British gentlemen’s society tune entitled, To Anacreon in Heaven, Anacreon being a Greek poet whose work frequently focused on the virtues of wine.

As a kid, I stood during the National Anthem because I was asked to, and everyone else did. As a former youth baseball player, standing today brings me back a little to those halcyon days. I like the ritual of it. I like the pomp and circumstance. I don’t like it when some asshole sits, talks through it, laughs, disrupts those around him and draws attention to him or herself. If someone chooses to be quiet and reverent and take a knee to show their displeasure with the country they love, so be it. I don’t have to agree with it.

Considering what our Commander-In-Chief, let that soak in for a moment, has brought to light, I take pause. Last night, I was so incensed as a sports historian, that he would attack my institutions, I became sufficiently incensed as a patriotic American, that I suggested to my son that when we go to Jacksonville to see my Bengals play the Jaguars, we sit during the playing of OUR Anthem in protest of the “leader” who doesn’t understand, misconstrues, and manipulates what our democracy and its symbols and rituals really stand for. My son reminded me we’d be in Bengal jerseys in hostile territory and we might get beat up. Not if everyone else sits too.