Last week’s VLOG engendered reaction from Jonathan, which I’d like to address at least briefly. Since the original post is now likely not being read, its only fair to start a new thread. So here are his questions, and my responses below.
First, while I may not have been clear, much of my general commentary on being inappropriate was intended to be more of a “its not likely to lead to the desired results”, i.e., it will be ineffective. I think the chosen means will only cause further polarization, and indeed, turn people off of sports, with sports being one of the biggest cultural institutions which have led to race relations progress. It was more in that spirit than “oh how offended am I that these guys hate the country I love” kind of attitude.
Of course there is always the possibility–indeed the probability–that those that disagree with us will say we are willing to turn a blind eye to injustice. But let’s get to the heart of the issue. Do you really want to say the level of injustice towards blacks in America today is even remotely like what happened in America, say pre-1960? No one denies that there are not injustices daily in America (and indeed around the world) to many people. I would not deny, nor would most people I know, that African-Americans have more systemic injustices as well as general prejudices than others in society. Yet there is a drastic difference between the strategies of BLM, for example, than the civil rights movement. See Mika Edmondson’s discussion of this differerence here:
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/is-black-lives-matter-the-new-civil-rights-movement
I believe the civil rights movement approach is more likely to lead to success.
(2) Dr. Clauson suggested at one point that other protests taking place during the anthem might be appropriate. I am not sure what the rest of the panel thought. Nevertheless, what if Kaepernick explained his protest on different terms? What if he said he protested by “No one protects the flag more than our soldiers, and yet they are treated unfairly when they return from duty. They lack health care, benefits, and job opportunities, so until they get those things, I will not stand for the anthem.” If his protests were for those reasons, would it still be inappropriate to kneel during the anthem?
Again, I don’t think it will lead to correcting injustice. So no I don’t think so. And your example illustrates the point. Protesting that vets don’t have health care (they have VA), they don’t have benefits (not sure what you mean here, but vets are reasonably well taken care of today, especially if injured in service), job opportunities (vets are generally one of the favored classes for employment, and besides the low unemployment rate makes getting a job easier than most times). And this matters–much of the disagreement over racial issues in our country is precisely over the scope of the problem, and therefore, that leads to disagreement over the most effective ways to deal with it.
I think there are many opportunities for agreement–if we will reach out and take it. If we don’t insist that Michael Brown’s death, or Trayvon Martin’s death (which like any deaths are tragedies) must be treated as injustices in the same way that John Crawford’s death, or Philando Castile’s, or Tamir Rice’s were. For example, I’m with you on criminal justice reform. I’ve suggested before on this blog that we should do that, and we should end the federal drug war that puts felonies on young black males disproportionately, making it almost impossible to get a job. I’m in favor of body cameras for police. I don’t like the militarization of our local police forces. But as to your suggestions for action, unfortunately I pretty much have to disagree with all of them. For example, consider how negative this one is:
2. Prioritize Ending Modern Civil Rights Injustices in the GOP’s Platform — The neighbors I have spoken with agree that both parties have failed their community, but they also agree that one party in particular is the most threatening: the Republican party.
Can you see why that isn’t likely to get traction with the other side? You’re effectively asking Republicans to stop beating their wives–none of them will agree that they are in the first place. You are assuming what you need to prove. So the burden is on you to be specific about what these injustices are. It cannot be simply that Republicans don’t think like you. The fact that many people you hang around with find the Republican party threatening is not particularly relevant as a basis for true injustice. Most people that focus on politics in America and have strong preferences believe that the other side’s victory is pretty threatening.
Nevertheless, thanks for your thoughtful response. Just because I disagree with you on many aspects of this issue doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate your comments. Anybody that is willing to write as many words on our blog as you do obviously is passionate about making lives better. I would simply end with my professor Walter William’s quote. “Truly compassionate policy requires dispassionate analysis.”
Bert Wheeler
Jeff Haymond
Marc Clauson
Mark Caleb Smith
Tom Mach
1) Most of the panel expressed concern about the method or strategy to the current NFL protest. Dr. Haymond went so far as to say that protests which intend to cause observers to become uncomfortable or offended are inappropriate. Historically, civil rights protests were also considered inappropriate at the time they occurred. Americans decried as inappropriate sit-ins, freedom rides, marches, and even specific protesting acts by Tommie Smith/John Carlos, Muhammad Ali, and others. Today, all of those protests are viewed almost universally as courageous and honorable. So, are you are susceptible to the same mistakes other critics made in the 50s, 60s, and 70s? Are you concerned that your analysis is subject to the criticism of King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”–which excoriated the “white moderate” for policing the tone, tactics, and timing of civil rights protests? |