With politics and sports once again colliding, it seems invetible that the peaceful protest that is occurring in professional sports, will soon hit college sports. Here is a simple suggestion on how to handle the entire situation.
This past weeeknd was one of the most interesting in recent sports history. It wasn’t because of an incredible touchdown catch, the first goal to be scored in China or who as traded where. It was about peaceful protest. Actually it was about the many that occurred throughout several professional sports as a show of unity.
RELATED: Six UCLA-related people on the ’50 Most Powerful in SoCal Sports’ list
It was a chain reaction that inspired several professional athletes to stand up, or as it more accurately was, take a knee during the national anthem. It all started with Colin Kaepernick.
The former NFL quarterback had started these peaceful protests of kneeling during the national anthem during the last two NFL seasons. He has his reasons, but so did several others. Several athletes across different sports followed his example, using Kaepernick’s same reasons, although a few did it in support of the socially conscious QB. Even youth and high school football players were taking a knee and they made it known that they also had their reasons.
Entire Seattle high school football team, including coaches, kneel during #nationalanthem. #Kaepernick https://t.co/JuuPfiw3OD
— ᒍᕮᖴᖴ ᒪᕮTOᑌᖇᑎᕮᗩᑌ (@jeffl76) September 20, 2017
But then there was a reaction by the President of the United States who made a statement about the peaceful protests and it was less than presidential. That triggered a league-wide protest among NFL players and owners. #TakeAKnee was trending all day on Sunday. The people felt threatened and the people responded.
People have been responding in several different ways across several different sports. In the MLB, Oakland Athletics’ catcher Bruce Maxwell was the first major league baseball player to take a knee. NBA Champions LeBron James and Steph Curry also voiced their opinions.
If (and when) the peaceful protest does happen in college sports, try to understand that there is a reason for it.
So how long until these socially conscious issues and the peaceful protest hits college sports? Even more important, how should it be handled? If you allow me to, let me say that it should be handled with respect for one’s opinion and a search for knowledge.
For me, that is what I think is causing a lot of vitriol from those for and against players taking a knee, not knowing why someone is taking a knee or why someone is against taking a knee. Even worse, we don’t bother to stop and make it a civilized conversation to try and get that understanding. “Why do you kneel during the national anthem? Though I disagree, I would like to be educated on why you choose to have a peaceful protest.”
UCLA fans know very well what it is like to have socially conscious athletes who have had a lot to say about world events. Names like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton and Arthur Ashe (to name a few) have used their platforms to share their knowledge and experiences with younger generations.
Even recently, current UCLA Football quarterback Josh Rosen displayed an anti-Trump message on a hat while playing golf. Though not as eloquent as his Bruin predecessors, he had a reason for sending that message.
So what if college students start taking a knee during the national anthem? We must understand that they have their reasons, they also have their right, just as people have the right to disagree with a decision to kneel and can voice their opinion about it.
College is where many students learn and grow and express their opinions, especially with more complex situations. If you go to any major university in this country, especially in this political climate, there is a good chance you will happen upon a conversation or a protest or a speech or a student handing out fliers about something political and there is a good chance that conversation could lead to the recent peaceful protests in professional sports.
It is out there. These young adults know that things are happening around them and they are talking about It. So how long until these students bring it to the field or the court or the post game interview?
If (and when) the peaceful protest does happen in college sports, try to understand that there is a reason for it. It is not to make you mad, it is to bring attention to something that has previously not been attended to, especially to a group of people who have not had the same experience as others.
Next: The 30 Greatest UCLA Football Players of All-Time
Yes, we all live in America, but the American experience is different for everyone. And with that it is important to know that the symbols of America mean something different to different people. We must learn from each other to grow with each other. If we do not, we are doomed to repeat our mistakes of the past.