Kaepernick and Bennett: Is it Right?

The "right" thing to do in many situations is typically arguable. Depending on how you grew up, where you lived, what your parents believed, what your experiences were... your perspective on life can differ so much. So when it comes to the topic of Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem as a nod to Michael Bennett, is he doing the right thing?

 

Bennett says, "I have always held a strong conviction that protesting or standing up for justice is just simply the right thing to do". And I wholeheartedly agree.

 

The problem that lies here is that age old rule of not allowing politics to enter the workplace. When you're at work, you're supposed to leave your opinions, beliefs, and positions at the door. These things are not supposed to affect your behavior at work. But if we really think about it, what is the workplace exactly for these football players ? They don't have one set place for work, they're on different fields in different places all the time. They're celebrities, really. Their "place" is on our television screens, in front of our eyes. Doesn't it seem like the perfect platform to get a really important message circulating throughout the entire country? I think so, and it's definitely enough to justify his actions.

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Many people say that it's disrespectful to sit or kneel during the national anthem because of what the song represents. There are so many people out there fighting for our country and for our rights, and sitting during a song that supposedly represents all of this seems utterly shameful. However, what people fail to realize is what the kneeling actually represents. What good is it to stand and be proud of a country who fights for its rights if its own people can't even benefit from them? Should we really stand for a country that refuses to stand for us? Rights are not simply for one group of people. It often feels this way because people make it so, as they make it harder and harder for minorities to feel like they matter as much. Even so, rights are for all people. But we, as African Americans, simply do not possess those rights. People need to open their eyes and see the truth for what it is. Kaepernick is using his position to spread this message and help people understand the reality of the situation. There is nothing wrong with that, even if he is mixing politics with his job. His legal purpose is to only play football and provide entertainment nationwide, but his ethical purpose is to use his "leg up" to better the people of the United States. The issue is that people in general often do not like to hear the truth. And when it comes to racial problems, they'd rather turn their heads and pretend like they don't exist.

The first step in solving any problem is admitting that there is one. If we can't even do that, then I guess we'll be doomed forever. 

So... What IS the "Right Thing" exactly?

The debate between fighting opposition with force or with peace is exactly what separates Martin Luther King Jr. from Malcolm X. Fighting fire with fire has often been seen as the exact wrong way of handling any situation, but does simply turning a cheek and moving forward suffice if the aggressor is violent?

Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X

Sal about to smash Radio Raheem's boom box in Do the Right Thing

As a Christian, my method in dealing with aggression has always been a more passive response. I'm not a person who enjoys conflict; if anything, I avoid it altogether. But as I was growing up, my mom constantly reminded me that standing up for myself was just as necessary. Her favorite line was, "Don't be the one to start the fight, but be sure to finish it." Thankfully, I never found myself in any situation where I would have needed to exercise this notion. Lol.

With these things in mind, the peaceful approach is my go-to perspective when it comes to issues that require more thought and action to resolve, like racism and discrimination. I do sometimes feel as though using violence may perpetuate the negative stereotypes that many minorities possess, seen distinctly in this film. The quote by Martin Luther King Jr. really ties into the plot of Do the Right Thing because the progression of the plot is ultimately driven by the violence of the major characters, including Buggin' Out and Radio Raheem. King says, "Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love...", and if love and acceptance are what we are trying to achieve, then why would we use force and violence to receive them?  Buggin' Out's persistence with trying to arouse conflict between Sal and the members of the community is what led to the unfortunate conclusion to the movie, where the pizzeria is burned to shreds from the outrage of the people. Of course, the actual rebellion would not have been sparked if it wasn't for Sal's final act of incompliance, or more specifically, smashing Radio Raheem's boom box to pieces. I'm not saying that Buggin' Out's motive was unjustified, as I do believe that appealing to your patrons is essential to receiving and retaining good business. However, his approach did more hurt than good for obvious reasons, but also because it was much too aggressive to receive any positive feedback in the first place. With that being said, Sal smashing the radio to pieces was incredibly important because this had been the only way of conveying such a powerful message for the community without speaking, and Sal destroyed this, representing our voices being silenced once again.  https://youtu.be/TQ4y7GPeFBY?t=1m15s