Take a knee. Or not.
In America, and even in the NFL, it’s the land of the free. Which means I’m free not to care.

On the eve of the 2017 football season, with a tease of fall in the air and pre-season games on the field, there’s controversy stirring about the idea of boycotting the NFL. Either because athletes are sitting out the national anthem or because one particular athlete who’s been sitting out the national anthem can’t get signed by a team.
Either way, I don’t…
What’s the word?
I know: care.
Riddle me this: If (Seattle Seahawks defensive end and prominent anthem-kneeler) Michael Bennett’s views about race, politics, social injustice and the state of civilization are important to us, shouldn’t we seek out his opinions on a broader range of matters than merely the appropriate physical stance to assume when the Star Spangled Banner is sung?
For example: What’s Michael’s take on the 2018 mid-terms? How does Michael feel about transgender toilet assignment? Where’s Michael on the Afghanistan troop ramp-up? Does Michael shop at his neighborhood Whole Foods? (And if so does he donate the bag credits?)
What’s that?
You don’t care?
Huh.
Go figure.
Ah, but I’m twisting things around here, you complain. You wish to remind me that the issue, fool, is whether it’s acceptable for a prominent athlete to sit out the National Anthem in view of tens of thousands of live fans and millions more watching on TV.
I hear you. I just don’t feel you.
The truth: I don’t give a flea’s penis (presuming a flea has a penis) about Michael Bennett’s political views.
Thus, I have trouble empathizing with the outrage.
Because I don’t feel outrage, I have to guess at why others do. I suspect outrage occurs because when an athlete deigns to kneel during the anthem it violates a vision of what the world should look like and how people should behave. These individuals are in our face with a different viewpoint, and we can’t ignore it because the TV cameras show it to us and the news media reports about it and that makes us edgy.
(Wait: it turns out fleas do have penises and THEY’RE INVADING!)
Or, maybe it’s more than that. The word “disrespect” gets tossed around here as commonly as a screen pass on second-and-six. So maybe that’s at the core. It’s “disrespectful” to sit out the anthem and to turn a back on a moment of symbolism that’s intended to unite us as Americans.
Let’s go with that, then. Let’s agree it is in fact disrespectful for an individual to do this. Horribly, selfishly, malignantly disrespectful.
*Waits a beat or two in contemplation*
Okay, I still don’t care.
More than that: I don’t see how Michael Bennett has anything to do with my ability to participate in what for me is a meaningful ritual.
This past Saturday evening I was in the Sports Authority Field stands for the Broncos-Packers MPSG (Meaningless Pre-Season Game) when a local high-school student with serious vocal chops bravely took to the microphone.
Here’s what I did: I put my hand over my heart. I sung along. I got that little quiver at the “proof through the night” part. As I sometimes do, I teared up a little bit. I liked participating in it. I liked that both my daughters were there with me, that they were in on it.
I’ve tried to understand how my moment would have been compromised by a wide receiver or cornerback or placekicker on the field below who didn’t dig it the way I do. (For the record: I didn’t see anybody kneeling on the Broncos sideline.)
Except I can’t. Understand it, that is. With respect to Michael Bennett and others — and I mean this, the “respect” part — I can’t muster much energy to care. Is it because I’m daft? Naïve? Cynical?
Don’t think so.
Here’s my theory: If you’re bothered when an athlete fails to honor the performing of the National Anthem in the same way you do, I don’t think you’re bothered because of some lofty idealistic principle. I think what’s happening is you’re feeling violated.
Be honest here. Ask yourself the question: When an athlete kneels during the National Anthem, how do you feel? Not: what’s the symbolic importance? Not: how will my favorite cable news network personality respond? Not: what’s the political message we’re transmitting to The Children?
Instead: What’s going on in your heart?
Is it a good feeling? (Probably not.) Is it a bit of a threatened feeling? (Probably so.) Does is rankle you when a person who is more prominent than you or me (say, a lavishly salaried NFL defensive lineman) expresses a different viewpoint about something that’s important to you?
If it does, I think I get it: Your feelings are hurt. I’m sympathetic. But that doesn’t mean some grand violation of moral authority is going on here. That’s a dodge.
A few years ago on an airplane en route to Columbus, Ohio a passenger recited a memorable line to me. (Guy from Colorado called Charly Heavenrich, a life-coach who guides tour groups down the Grand Canyon in the summer and writes about it in the winter. Here he is.)
Maybe you’ve heard it before:
“What you think of me is none of my business.”
That may or may not be a useful slogan for your life. But for me, it’s got legs.
If the Seahawks come to town this season, Michael Bennett can take a knee, smear on more eye black or grab a Gatorade while most of us in Section 111 are pressing our palms over our hearts and singing. When the game starts, I hope he does what great athletes do: competes like hell, makes an astounding play or two and then gets comeuppance on a third-and-goal when we nail him with a double-team block and cross the goal line in orange-and-blue (but predominantly orange) glory.
That’s what I care about as it relates to Michael Bennett. And Michael, if you’re reading, not to get personal, but that’s really all I care about. I have a feeling you understand.
