Symbol-Minded Judge

Ohio Supreme Court Justice William O'Neill, reacting on Facebook to a kneeling group of Cleveland Browns, joined all the other people reflexively missing the point about NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem.

Standing for the anthem is a figurative gesture honoring the USA.  Since kindergarten, most of us have been socially conditioned to stand up when the anthem is played publicly.  (But we never stand up watching a ball game at home.)  The lyrics are filled with battle imagery, but I was never taught that the song's entire purpose was just to pay homage to the military.  It's a broader than that.  So I reject the idea that not standing up is disrespectful to the troops.  Since when did the military take sole possession of the anthem's significance?


Kneeling during the anthem is a gesture too -- one of silent protest.  It has nothing to do with a beef against the military.  The trend began with Colin Kaepernick in the wake of Ferguson and other incidents of police brutality against blacks.  It symbolizes the continuing struggle for racial justice.  Now, post-Charlottesville, it's also a symbol of resistance against white supremacists and neo-Nazis.  Taking a knee has the official support of the league office, coaches, players, many in the military, the ACLU, and me.

Justice O'Neill is way off base.  Kneeling is not anti-military.  No one is a draft dodger.  (The last time we had a draft, these athletes weren't born.  Hell, their parents weren't born.)  And please tell me again about how our brave veterans fought valiantly so NFL players could take the field.  I think I missed that one.

We should expect more of our state's highest judges than an ill-considered Facebook puke-up about an insignificant sports issue (especially from the court's lone Democrat).  But everyone is entitled to his opinion, no matter how silly.  If O'Neill really boycotts the team, there are still tens of us other Browns fans who will carry on without him.

Bottom line, the national anthem is just a song.  Standing, sitting or kneeling is just a symbolic posture.  Do what you like.  Let's leave the symbols to the symbol-minded, drop the faux-patriotic indignation, and play ball!