It’s Very American To Agree or Disagree With America
Assistant hockey coach John Krupinsky made some headlines with his speech to the minor league hockey team, the Hat Tricks. The clip is only about 40 seconds long and in it he says that if anyone is going to be disrespectful to the American or Canadian flag, they can «grab your gear and get the f**k out now because you’ll never see the ice in this arena». Coach Krupinsky started his monologue by saying that this was wasn’t the NFL or Women’s Soccer team, and that «We don’t have that problem in hockey. We’re better than that». His referencing the NFL and Women’s Soccer team are obvious jabs at NFL quarterback/activist Colin Kaepernick and the recent two-time World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe, both known for their controversial expression of kneeling during the national anthem.
Kneeling during the anthem has been a long debated topic. So much so that at this point you either agree or you don’t. The irony of those positions is that they are both very American positions to hold. You and I both have the right to agree and to disagree and to think the other person wrong for not agreeing. It’s something our forefathers apparently wanted for us.
The reality of freedom of speech is not as complicated as some people make it. The freedom of speech is the ability to express ideas or opinions without fear of government censorship. The freedom of expression, as it sometimes is called, does not mean we have to right to do and say whatever we please, consequences be damned. It does mean, however, that the ability to express one’s thoughts on a topic should not be stopped by our government.
This is a beautiful right that all Americans have and one that we all take for granted. We think back to times in Europe where speaking out against the monarchy meant «off with your head». But there are still several countries on our globe today who still don’t allow this freedom and still promise penalties for speaking out against the country. Journalists are murdered, activists are shot by their own government, websites and other media are blocked. Government overreach is only a thing in a country where we have the right to tell them they can’t reach that far. And that’s what America is; we are that country.
What does that have to do with Coach Krupinsky’s speech? Fox News heralded him as a great American for making his players respect the flag or turn in their skates. And I actually agree; but with an addition. I think it is very American for Coach Krupinsky to think his less of his players for not standing for the national anthem. What Coach Krupinsky, Fox News, and other like minded people forget is that kneeling during the National Anthem is also just as patriotic. To be American is to live in and express the ideals of our governing laws. These laws reflect the heart of our country. It says who we are and who we want to be. And the freedom to express gratitude or dissension is very American.
It’s very American to disagree with America. It’s very American to think Colin Kaepernick is wrong; it’s also American to think him and activist. It’s very American to think Megan Rapinoe disrespectful for kneeling; it’s also very American to allow to do it. Being American doesn’t mean to need to agree. It means the freedom to express. It means the ability to express in any form, that isn’t illegal or inciting illegal or dangerous activities, you opinions on this country. Whether that is MAGA or #BlackLivesMatter.
Patriotism at its core is the desire to express loyalty to one’s nation. But being patriotic doesn’t mean always agreeing with one’s country. Loyalty is not blind. True loyalty desires the well-being of the place or person it is focused on. And seeing as nothing on earth is perfect, our loyalty will cause us to stand or kneel sometimes. It will cause us to vote and speak against or for. A true patriot knows that his or her country isn’t perfect and strives to make it better no matter how inflammatory.
Coach Krupinsky, Colín Kaepernick, and Megan Rapinoe are all very American. They all desire to see the country be what they believe it should be. They land very differently on one issue but could have so much more in common. But even if they don’t, their ability to express their ideas is very American of them.
It’s very American of us all.
