Many in American society have expressed opinions verbally or in writing about NFL players “taking a knee” during the National Anthem.  Depending on who you talk with, this posture of protest is either seen as a posture of protest against inequality in this country, or it is seen as showing disrespect for the American flag.   The protest stance of “taking a knee with a hand over the heart” during the National Anthem has been explained again and again by those participating as a respectful way of protesting injustice in the treatment of African Americans in our nation which proclaims the promise of “liberty and justice for all.”  It non-violently and respectfully calls attention to the fact that the goal of equality is not yet realized in American society and that we must continue to work together toward achieving that goal.

There are also many Americans who feel that not standing for the National Anthem disrespects the flag, our country and those who have given their lives to defend it. Some who take this position say they agree with people’s right to protest, but not this particular way of protesting.   Then there are those that ignore or are simply not aware of the real purpose for “taking a knee.” They only see it as gesture of disrespect and showing “ungratefulness” to a country that has “allowed” these players to have so much success.

I wonder about this view of showing “disrespect” by kneeling on one knee during the National Anthem in protest.  Is it also disrespectful to fly a Confederate flag which symbolizes division and an historic act of treason?  Is it disrespectful when an African American person has a higher chance of losing their life in encounters with police?  It is disrespectful when a person has a higher chance of being treated unjustly and being affected by generational poverty because of ethnicity or the color of their skin?  What seems more “disrespectful” to me is the racialized injustice that continues to be tolerated today. It also seems that there is still the need for protests.

The protest movements of the Civil Rights era are now viewed by the majority of Americans as essential to the pursuit of racial equality in the United States.  However, this positive perspective of the Civil Rights protest movement has not always been the case. To quote an informative article on this topic from the Washington Post, “America has a long history of resisting civil rights protesters” before acknowledging that these protests are effective in advancing the cause of racial equality.  You can find the full article here and it would be worth taking the time to read.

Non-violent protesting is a time-tested method to affect change and, at its core, is honoring and respecting every human being.

“Do you feel called to help bring positive change to the world as a religious sister? Why not contact one of our Vocation Ministers.”

What does it mean to be part of a community?  Why is community important?  How do we foster community?  These questions have been swirling around in my mind lately.

Being part of a community helps me to feel connected to others and satisfies the need to belong to a group that cares about and supports each other.  We can be affiliated with many groups—family, friends, neighborhoods, work, church, clubs, and other groups.  In my own life, there are groups or communities where I feel valued and respected and happy to be with the group.  Then, there are other groups where I have felt alone or disconnected from others. Perhaps you have had similar experiences.

Think about some of the communities that you are associated with.  What do you enjoy about belonging to a community?  What characteristics make you want to continue to be part of the community?  Or, what characteristics do you feel hinder community?

As a Dominican Associate, I belong to a faith-sharing group that meets monthly to pray, to discuss a range of topics, depending on the facilitator’s interests, and that checks in with each other to offer support and compassion with whatever issues may be of concern.  Our group is called Companions on the Journey and we’ve been together for about five years.  Our community of men and women has shared moments of joy and sorrow as we’ve companioned each other through good and difficult times. We’ve wrestled, at times too, with how to sustain community amongst ourselves, periodically evaluating where we are as a group, sharing and listening to each other’s viewpoints, which I think keeps us together.  I hope you have had positive experiences with a community where you feel welcomed and accepted and where you feel you can share and are listened to.

Community is important to our self-worth and the self-worth of others and to our sense of belonging.  There are many simple ways we can build community—a friendly hello, a smile, or asking questions about how another person is doing and really listening to them.  Other ways we can foster or deepen community are by celebrating achievements, joys, or sorrows of others.  We can convey caring and compassion in our communities also simply by being present to another, offering a welcoming space for sharing life’s concerns.

A quote that I like about community is from Dorothy Day, a social activist who co-founded the Catholic Worker Movement to address social justice issues, in which she states “We have all known the long loneliness, and we have found that the answer is community.”  Let us go forth in love and peace to build healthy communities where everyone feels they belong.

If you feel God is calling you to our community as a vowed religious, please contact one of our Vocation Ministers to begin the conversation.