Dr. Ben Carson was on with Hugh Hewitt today, and suggested that he and others are working on Trump with regard to him being upset players kneeling during the National Anthem. Below is the transcription of their interview from Hugh Hewitt’s website:
HH: Now Dr. Carson, I want to talk to you about one of the most controversial ongoing issues in America, which is kneeling during the National Anthem. Yesterday, one of my favorite football players, Baker Mayfield, because I’m a Cleveland Browns fan and have been since 1965, being going to their games. I’m a season ticket holder. He was asked by a supporter, a fan, would he be kneeling? He said pull your head out, I absolutely am. Now I do not think it was appropriate to condemn a fan for asking a question in those terms. But what do you think about athletes kneeling during the National Anthem?
BC: I think the important thing is if they are going to kneel during the National Anthem that they make sure that people understand why they’re kneeling. A lot of people are under the impression that they’re kneeling because they don’t respect our National Anthem or they don’t respect the flag or what it stands for. And in fact, I don’t think that’s the reason that most of them are kneeling. I think most of them are kneeling because you know, they want to protest some brutality in the police forces. They need to make that very clear. And of course, now that that has been brought to national attention, I’m not sure if it needs to continue.
Let’s stop here for a second, as I don’t necessarily agree with Carson on this. It isn’t that the motivation of these players who are ‘kneeling’ during the National Anthem is specifically meant to disrespect the American Flag and the National Anthem. Maybe it is for some, but I think the issue for most Americans is the very act of kneeling itself that disrespects the American Flag and the National Anthem. Why? Because this is a time when we are remembering all those who’ve both fought for and given their lives for this country to keep it free, to protect the America that we all know and love as the greatest country in the world. This is when proudly stand and put our hands over our heart, refusing to forget all of the sacrifice that led is to this moment. There are always injustices that need to be dealt with and protested, but this proud moment is not the time for that.
I could go on about this, but my point is that it isn’t necessarily their motivations that are at issue here, and making their intent clear, as Carson suggests, won’t suddenly make ‘kneeling’ okay in the hearts and minds of people in this country.
The interview continues…
HH: Now Mayfield went on yesterday afternoon to say exactly that, that he has extraordinary respect for the military, for police, but that racial injustice in policing has to end. So he was expanding on the symbolism of the kneeling. I asked three members, active duty members in the military who are in my family if they objected to players kneeling, specifically Mayfield, one of whom is a Browns fan. They absolutely not. Now they’re active duty. All of them have been in combat zones. They said absolutely not if they do what you said, which is to explain the symbolism. And that is, to me, my problem with symbolism generally is there are no words attached to it. When someone like LeBron James talks, he usually expands at length on what he speaks. Don’t we need more conversation and more explanation and fewer gestures, Dr. Carson?
BC: Oh, that would help so much. That would be amazing how good that would be. I mean, it’s sort of like when people get married. You know, they love each other, they can’t keep their hands off of each other, they’re talking to each other all the time. Before they get divorced, they stop talking to each other. There’s no communication. And their spouse becomes the devil incarnate. You know, that’s what happens when we don’t talk to each other.
HH: So is there any chance you might persuade the President that he ought not to be upset with players kneeling during the National Anthem?
BC: Well, I don’t think he has manifested as much animosity in that region lately. And I think we just continue to work him. He’ll get there.
Trump has made clear where he stands on the issue and I don’t see that changing, no matter how much Carson and crew works on him. I do wish, however, that Trump wouldn’t ‘manifest’ his feelings about it as much because it always tends to make it worse. If that’s what Carson is referring to here when he says “we just continue to work on him”, then I can get on board with that.
I’ll end by saying that as much as I love seeing the National Anthem played at football and baseball games, if player kneeling is going to continue as it looks like it will, then I think the people in charge should just stop playing the National Anthem. Because it’s just going to further divide players and fans and there’ll be more boycotting and the whole thing will be a big mess. So just get rid of it and be done with it.