Recently, a local business in Poulsbo decided to wade into the country’s conversation on race, posting on its outdoor marquee what I perceived to be an open dismissal of the recent anthem protest(s).

There are complex, long-standing issues around race in this country, particularly with the treatment of black Americans. When we identify ourselves as only supporting those “who stand for the National Anthem,” we clearly identify ourselves as seeing and caring about the protest far more than the mistreatment it is intending to highlight.

It is a long-standing pattern that black Americans are seen as citizens that the anthem allegedly celebrates only until they make white people uncomfortable.

If we are to stand (literally) for all Americans, we will have to do better than this.

S.F. Morse
Poulsbo