I’ve spent a good chunk of the morning trying to find a way to write about the weekend’s events in a way that adds something to the conversation. I didn’t want to just write about the controversy surrounding anthem etiquette simply because it was what everyone else was writing about today, nor did I want to use the FanGraphs platform to preach to the choir who might agree with my stance, or to lecture those who don’t.
But, at the same time, with this topic at the forefront of the national sports discussion, and with Puerto Rico in desperate need of aid after getting devastated by Hurricane Maria, trying to write about anything else feels hollow. Maybe I’ll be able to write about the NL Cy Young race tomorrow. I couldn’t do it today.
So here’s what I’ve settled on. Jeff Passan wrote a really good in-depth piece on Bruce Maxwell, who became the first MLB player to kneel during the National Anthem this weekend.
“Usually the first person to do something when it comes to difference or controversy is the person who bears the brunt of negative comments. That’s fine with me,” Maxwell said. “I told the [A’s] owners, it’s nothing I’m not used to. I was an African-American growing up in Alabama. I got a lot of stuff there. I knew my life would change. I was staring directly into the flag because this is my country. My dad fought for this country. My grandfather fought for this country. I got a lot of feedback from them, and I’m standing up for my rights. This isn’t old America. People shouldn’t be treated unequally because of the color of their skin. There’s a problem. I’m doing my part to stand up and have the world of baseball understand it’s not the NFL standing out. It’s not basketball players rejecting an invitation to the White House. It’s all our responsibilities as humans, as Americans, to do what’s right.”
Whether you agree with his form of protest or even what he’s protesting, the story behind his decision to do so should help inform our understanding of his motivations.
And in this day and age, we could all use more understanding of the other side. Getting to see things from Maxwell’s perspective, and from those who know him best, is imperative to repairing the issues that create a compulsion to take a knee. And repairing these issues, not attacking the messengers, should be everyone’s primary goal.
So I’d like to encourage everyone to take the time you might have spent reading my words on this issue and instead read Passan’s piece on Bruce Maxwell. But before you do that, I’d like to encourage everyone reading this to pick a charity dedicated to helping Puerto Rico rebuild, and donate whatever you’re able to in order to help those who need it most right now. This is a legitimate crisis, and we can’t afford to just say that someone else can help them. They are U.S. citizens, and they desperately need other Americans to assist them in their time of need. Let’s not let them down.
Donate to any of these charities.
Then read this.
And maybe tomorrow we’ll talk about Clayton Kershaw versus Max Scherzer.