USWNT soccer player Rachel Hill was criticized in recent days for choosing to stand for the national anthem before a soccer match, as the rest of her teammates knelt. She was seen putting her hand on the shoulder of teammate Casey Short, as she embraced in tears with fellow teammate Julie Ertz. The criticism grew so strong that she chose to release a public statement explaining her decision.
Was her decision disrespectful to her teammates? Did she do anything wrong? Should she have been forced to kneel? My answer to all of those questions is no. In the current fight for equity in America, it's important to not forget that equity must apply to all people. True equity isn't removing freedoms from one section and placing them down in another. Everyone, regardless of what you believe or stand for, should have the freedom to do what they want during the national anthem. I've always said if people want to kneel, that is their right as Americans. Their First Amendment right of peaceful protest and right to express yourself and your beliefs. I've always been consistent that when the kneeling started with Colin Kaepernick years back, I fully supported his right to kneel as much as he desired, though I took issue with the pig socks he wore at a later time. While he had the right to wear them, I think it was an ignorant gesture.
Equity needs to be consistent. Without consistency, you don't have true equality under the American flag. Saying someone has the right to kneel, but not stand is just as hypocritical as it is to one has the right to stand, but not kneel. Rachel Hill fully respected her teammates' rights to kneel during the national anthem, and their should respect her right to stand. That's unity. That's equity. Respecting each other's rights to freely express themselves in a peaceful way without harboring hatred and ill-will toward the other.
I hear talk about "being an ally" which is a phrase I personally loathe. The term "ally" implies teams and tribalism, which does nothing but create societal division. Division is the last thing this country needs right now. You should not be forced to choose between two groups that you love, for subjective or arbitrary reasons and public pressure. Standing for the national anthem doesn't mean you don't support racial justice the same way kneeling doesn't mean you hate America. It can't be both ways.
Ridiculing Rachel Hill for her decision is, frankly, bullying. Trying to force someone into another set of morals and ideals. Doing this says a lot about the people who are doing so. It suggests to me that they don't truly care about equity. If they did, they would support her freedom to stand; an honored tradition in this country, as the anthem means something special to a lot of people. Not respecting that right, just like not respecting someone's right to kneel, says to me that the criticism is inspired more by power and control than equity. Trying to force a soccer player to conform to one's ideology under vitriol and scrutiny. That's not what I want this country to be about, and I believe that's not what most people want this country to be about either. Having people constantly afraid to be themselves and uphold non-hateful values which are important to them, does not make for a sustainable society. It makes for a society where everyone walks on eggshells in fear. Fear... the very emotion most responsible for racism and injustice. The last thing America needs right now.
No comments:
Post a Comment