Bright Ideas

When I was thinking about retiring, the Prairie Singer told me not to do that. Her ideas and mine were rarely the same, but she said it was all right to “shake things up” (her words, not mine) every once in a while. Thinking of you, Celia.

There have been numerous statements of agreement for retaliating against athletes who choose to kneel during the National Anthem. Is it disrespect for the flag? Is it disrespect for our beliefs? Or is it recognizing the ease of taking black lives without punishment?

Are we black? Do we know any black people? Have we ever been in the wrong place at the wrong time and thrown to the pavement by law enforcement? If we answered “yes” to any of those questions, we might feel differently about kneeling during the National Anthem.

Blacks were still being lynched when I grew up in Missouri. Those things happened in Missouri and other southern states. How would their relatives feel about black athletes making a statement during the National Anthem?

Marta Quest and Mahtowin Howe lived here for several years. Both were members of the Chamber of Commerce. When the group gathered, they always began meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance. When it finishes saying, “with liberty and justice for all” Mahtowin, a Native American, always said, “not for everyone.” And she had history on her side.

Native Americans repeatedly had treaties broken by the white establishment. They were transferred to smaller, less productive reservations, sometimes even intentionally given blankets used by people who died of contagious diseases, to which Native Americans were not immune.

They were rewarded for compliance with alcohol, and of course became alcoholics. Is it any wonder Mahtowin Howe did not think those wonderful sounding promises of the Pledge applied to people like her.

I can’t raise my hand to my heart, or stand in respect for the flag. My husband was a soldier, luckier than many who were killed, wounded, or damaged for life. I am a member of the VFW Auxiliary, but I can see the other side of the matter.

What would I do if I were black? What would you do?