Colin Kaepernick, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback, is protesting against inappropriate police behavior against African-American men by kneeling during the national anthem played before NFL games.
Sen. Ted Cruz stated in a recent interview that "it's sad when you see rich, spoiled athletes that don't recognize what an incredible blessing this country is" and "I gotta say, I was disappointed to see President Obama stand with Kaepernick and say, 'that's right, disrespect the flag.' That's not the job of the president. The president should be standing up for America. The president should be encouraging every American to honor the flag that so many have bled and died for and to honor the freedom that it stands for."
What does the freedom that the flag stands for mean for Cruz? Could it mean that Kaepernick is free to kneel during the national anthem rather than stand? Also, isn't President Obama doing his job of defending the U.S. Constitution by defending Kaepernick's freedom of speech as outlined and protected in our Bill of Rights and Constitution?
Isn't Kaepernick standing for our Constitution which states that all citizens have equal protection under the law when it is obvious that not all citizens have had equal protection under the law? Who seems more versed about our constitutional rights based upon their statements and behavior? Certainly not Cruz, who seems to believe that we must all do things the same way — stand during the national anthem — or we are not "standing up for America." Cruz seems to have a very perverse understanding of what it means to be an American and what it means to be free. But he is not alone.
Responding to a question about Kaepernick, Donald Trump stated during a radio interview with Dori Monson that "maybe he should find a country that works better for him." This from a man who questions the validity of our president's citizenship, calls our military "a disaster," questions the judgment of our military generals, praises the "leadership" of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and mocks Sen. John McCain for being a POW. Perhaps it is Trump who needs to find a country that works better for him? May I suggest that he might be happier living with his friend Putin in Russia?
I find it interesting that the same people who throw around the word "freedom" don't seem to understand what it means to be free. They preach freedom all day long, yet they stand against their fellow Americans' efforts to be free, they pass laws restricting access to the voting booth, they restrict their constituent's access to health care, and they want to regulate our marriage choices.
For some, it seems that freedom is limited to our right to be like them, to think like them, to have sex like them and to pray like them. True patriots understand that freedom does not demand that everyone be Christian, straight or stand during the national anthem. Freedom is our right to be any religion we want or no religion at all, to be gay or straight, and to have children when we decide to have children.
Freedom means respecting the thoughts and practices of others to be vastly different from our thoughts, beliefs, sexuality and religion. And it includes the right to stand, sit or kneel during the national anthem.
Whether you agree or disagree with the point of Kaepernick's protest, he is free to express his protest peacefully, respectfully, and in a responsible manner, as he has done. For those who wish to judge his patriotism, look to those like Cruz who wish to limit our freedom and to Trump who thinks that being a dictator is the same as being an effective leader.
It is Cruz and Trump, not Kaepernick, who want to limit our freedom and who present a threat to our democracy. When judged in the shadow of our radical founding fathers who fought for our constitutional right to be free, Cruz and Trump are the outliers and Kaepernick the freedom fighter.
Tom Zirpoli writes from Westminster. He is the Laurence J. Adams Distinguished Chair in Special Education at McDaniel College. His column appears Wednesdays. Email him at tzirpoli@mcdaniel.edu.
