Kaepernick, Nike and the Code

Everyone in America knows that Colin Kaepernick “took a knee” two years ago to bring attention to racial injustice in our country.  Peaceful, non-violent protest was the driving force of the civil rights movement and it’s hard to imagine a more peaceful protest.  However, everyone also knows that many took offense at his doing that, believing that it was inappropriate and disrespectful of our country, and of those who had served and given their lives for it.  For the past two years many of those on both sides of this issue have yelled past each other, neither conceding any truth to the other side.  Nike, the official apparel company of the NFL (and countless other sports and teams), has now come down on the side of Kaepernick.  We have always believed that sport should be an arena that transcends politics, but every now and then it becomes a reflection of the issues of society (Jackie Robinson [Civil Rights] or Muhammed Ali [Viet Nam war] being easy examples).  Angry voices have only deepened the divide.  What are the ways in which you and your team can demonstrate understanding and compassion for both sides of this debate?  Is there a way in which you can “respect the dignity of every human being and not be abusive or dehumanizing of the other?”   There is no easy way out of this challenge, but listening to the other and trying to understand what they are saying is always the first step; it’s not easy to “do it.”