As I prepared to watch the Rose Bowl this year, I was brought back to just before the pandemic when my wife and I attended the game and the parade that preceded it. It was an amazing experience, and we fell in love with Pasadena and all it had to offer. As the pageantry of the day unfolded, I remember sitting with the other 90,000+ attendees as the stealth bomber eerily floated over us. As the crowd oohed and aahed and applauded, I recall feeling a sense of dread; it was like something out of a sci-fi movie to me – an alien presence that could have easily wiped us all out. I also wondered why it was there – and why has football become so enmeshed with militarism?
During this time, the Colin Kaepernick saga was in full bloom. A fairly gifted quarterback, Mr. Kaepernick has been shunned by professional football for having the audacity to kneel rather than stand during the National Anthem. The purpose of his silent protest was to bring attention to police brutality against people of color, and while a few others joined him, many players and fans did not agree with his tactic. He was accused of being unpatriotic, which wasn’t the case. I often thought that if Tim Tebow had done the same thing, it would have been assumed that he was in prayer. As we have seen from the Black Lives Matter movement, it is clear to me that we are still uncomfortable talking about and dealing with racism in America.
Yesterday, I listened to a report about the latest budget scuffle in Congress and was astounded by the numbers. Of the $1.6 billion agreement, over half is going to national defense. Please understand – while I hate war (most of us do or should), I understand the need for a strong military. Still, when we consider that our military spending is larger than the next 7 or 8 nations combined, it makes me feel deeply concerned that while so many people are bemoaning our budget and trying to cut care for the poor, children, and the elderly, few are questioning military spending. If you add to this the fact that we have been at war for 93% of our existence, I think I have answered my own question. Many of those years at war were spent defending democracy, but many of them were spent enforcing colonialism. We are a nation that has always been good at war. And we seem to like that about ourselves.
I honor those who have served this country, and I would never want anyone to think otherwise. But war itself, as William Tecumseh Sherman famously said, is hell. It should not be glorified or ritualized in ways that make it seem otherwise. I can love my country without being forced to listen to the National Anthem at every sporting event. I can be patriotic and also work towards peace. I don’t need the cross wrapped in the flag to be a follower of Jesus and a good American. And I can disagree with someone kneeling during the anthem and still protect their right to do so. Patriotism isn’t about forcing everyone to behave the same way; it is about protecting the rights of others to follow their conscience peacefully. Tyrants force conformity and punish dissent. Americans embrace diversity and honor freedom. If you can’t understand the difference, you probably need to take a civics class.
Prayer – Holy God, save us from our warring madness and urge us to seek peace. Amen.