Anthem protest fuels civil conversations

There has been plenty of talk this year about social injustice. Whatever side of the “black lives matter” or “all lives matter” issue you land on, everyone is acutely aware of the turmoil.

We have seen aggressive protests, police action and social media campaigns throughout the year. Along the way, the social turmoil became less of a conversation and more of yelling match.

Then a man sat during the national anthem.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick decided to protest during the anthem, which caused controversy but gave a new way to peacefully express frustrations.

Showing opposition to social injustice by kneeling, sitting or making a fist during the national anthem is a different type of protest — one that has the momentum for an actual conversation.

The anthem protest is a personal moment in which an individual decides whether to peacefully demonstrate disapproval of social injustice.

We live in a country that allows this expression. This is powerful freedom.

The national anthem provides time for reflection and pride, but you can love your country deeply while not being proud of its actions. People can kneel without shunning patriotism.

“I’m not anti-American,” Kaepernick said. “I love America. I want to help make America better. I think having these conversations helps everybody have a better understanding of where everybody else is coming from.”

Whether Kaepernick and others should kneel isn’t the right conversation. It needs to be about the “why.”

As college and high school athletes start to kneel during the anthem, educators and parents should focus on the lessons everyone can learn.

Conversation fuels understanding.

This story was originally published September 13, 2016 at 6:26 PM with the headline "Anthem protest fuels civil conversations."