Letters to the Editor

Readers write: Letters to the editor, September 28, 2017

Colin Kaepernick is
on to something here

My hat goes off to Colin Kaepernick, who appears to have started, at significant personal cost, a social movement. My hat goes off to the NFL players and owners who linked arms and showed their respect for the points of view being expressed during the singing of the national anthem on Sunday. I would offer a different sartorial gesture to President Trump.

This social movement is but the latest echo of frustrated Americans who look for something to transcend partisan politics and allow reasonable people to get reasonable things done. Maybe Mr. Kaepernick is on to something here. In the second decade of the third century of its existence, America still has a race problem. And a class problem. And a gender problem. A rural problem, and an urban problem. So how deep do we have to go to find something that cuts across all those dividing lines? The national anthem might be it. No, the song cannot be separated from our nation, nor would I want it to be. Let us renew our respect for the values we share by acknowledging that America of today faces great challenges — and by acknowledging that the person standing next to you does share those core values. For a time, let us change the anthem sung at the opening of games to "America the Beautiful," in acknowledgment of a new beginning, and even a new commitment to tackle challenges together.

Future events may lead us to change back again. But for now, let's do what we can to demonstrate our support for one core American value: freedom of speech.

— Scott Walker
Anchorage

Why it hurts to see
NFL players kneeling

There's been a lot of talk about the NFL players' choice to protest during a televised game, and we've heard the responses from the NFL leadership and our country's president. As a military veteran and citizen of this great country, I am grateful we all have the opportunity to stand up for what we believe in and work toward the higher goal of equality, accountability and compassion. I've dedicated my life to these principles and values my entire career.

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That is why it's so disheartening to see our players kneel at the sound of our national anthem. The sound of our anthem is simply the symbol of our home. The sum of all its parts. All of its ups and downs. Yours and mine. It is not just about the right to protest as many would like you to believe. That's a red herring because unlike dozens of other countries, our home gives us the right to protest as enshrined in our Constitution. Showing respect to our anthem is simply demonstrating a pride in our home, just as you might do when someone mentions your address.

It is not helpful what the NFL players are doing, nor its leadership and what others are allowing. Their cause is not unifying — it's dividing. Protesting a specific cause should be made clear under its own specific banner. Instead, they are using their platform to protest social justice issues by focusing their grievance on the very symbol that represents the entire American collective experience.

Protesting points of view or causes are important, but they cannot diminish the opposing good and decency we earned as a country. As a people, with so many sacrifices given and legitimate reasons to celebrate, this is our home and it is worthy of our recognition and our pride to stand up.

— Bill Parsons
Eagle River

The views expressed here are the writers' own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a letter under 200 words for consideration, email letters@alaskadispatch.com, or click here to submit via any web browser. Submitting a letter to the editor constitutes granting permission for it to be edited for clarity, accuracy and brevity. Send longer works of opinion to commentary@alaskadispatch.com.

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