About Forced Compliance

The simmering National Anthem controversy moved to the front burner with quarterback Colin Kaepernick's rather quiet gesture in 2016. Here we are nearly five years later and the arguments for and against athletes taking a knee during the playing/singing of the Anthem haven't changed much, even if many people have grown more tolerant. After all, this is an excellent time to rethink a lot of things.

Occasionally, discussions about that controversy remind me of an odd episode from my childhood about recitation duties: When I was in the second grade there was an obligatory start-the-day ritual. First the teacher called the roll. Then one student was summonsed to the front of the class to lead in the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and the Lord's Prayer. We kids took turns. Like some of my peers, I didn't like doing that job. 

 

It made me nervous. Yet, then, I hadn't gotten to the point in my career as a student that I might have protested, or flatly refused to do what was expected. That came later...

The Pledge came first. So I faced the flag, as required, and started saying the spiel with my hand over my heart. Except, with my gaze locked on the flag over the blackboard, I had started reciting the Lord's Prayer – “Our Father, which art in heaven...”

Naturally, the kids laughed. A lot. 

Of course, I surely must have changed gears to say the proper speech, but I don't remember that part. The embarrassment and laughter I remember all too well. Later on some kids accused me of doing it on purpose. That was not the truth. Eventually, it occurred to me later that the Pledge of Allegiance was sort of like a prayer. 

 

Anyway, over the years, I have grown to be more uncomfortable with watching, or being in on, any kind of prayer or chant. Hey, I don't even like the chanting that goes on at political demonstrations when I agree with the sentiments being expressed. 

 

Maybe that comes from watching too many WWII movies about Nazis forcing compliance. I don't remember when I decided to stop putting my hand over my heart during the National Anthem at games. It was a long time ago.

 

My practice is to stand, quietly, hands clasped together in front of me, but I don't sing along. Yes, I've been glared at a few times, but there's never been a scene. Out of respect, I try not to call attention to myself.

Sometimes, during the anthem I flash back onto that first time I was made to feel uncomfortable about forced patriotism and/or forced prayer, back in elementary school. Still, I have nothing against playing the National Anthem before games; if folks like to salute the flag during the ritual, that's fine with me, too. Of course, it's also OK with me when athletes take a knee during the playing of the Anthem. Hearing a good rendition of it is nice.

 

Forced compliance, with any imposed show of loyalty, from the top down or by a mob, is what the optimistic side of me hopes is going out of style. Of course, the same side of me thinks a reverence for the truth is about to become popular.