Take a Knee

When Colin Kaepernick first chose to kneel during the singing of the National Anthem, as opposed to standing, many lost their minds. He began this now wider NFL player supported gesture to protest police brutality of African-Americans and an imbalance in our criminal justice system. A peaceful protest and silent statement. So, what's the problem?

President Trump has decided to go to war with the NFL and more specifically the players who are participating in this, calling them S.O.B.s and saying they should be fired. His outrage is very easy to understand, he's doing what he does best, changing the subject from major issues while keeping himself at the center of attention. In the movie, "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" the governor is portrayed by the talented Charles Durning, who epitomizes the politician that loves attention but hates to do his job and tackle tough issues. In one scene Durning sings a delightful tune that goes, "oooh I love to dance a little sidestep, now they see me, now they don't, I've come and gone, cut a little swath and lead the people on!" Trump is that character, absent the singing and delight.

As Americans we owe no allegiance to songs, pieces of cloth or lapel pins. Kneeling is far more reverential than standing. It is a religious symbol to most, a supplication to a higher power, so you would think most people would be okay with it, after all seventy-four percent of Americans claim to believe in God.
Instead, the players are being accused of being disrespectful to the country and it's veterans, oh and the flag. No they're not. Those who wear our uniform and who have made the ultimate sacrifice have done so to guarantee our freedom, not to restrict it.

Would I choose to kneel? No, I grew up Catholic, I've had enough of that. But this is what the players are choosing to do and I support their right to do it. For citizens that are not happy about it and are booing the players while they do it, they also get to express their opinion but I think they're guided by the mistaken belief that in a free country you are required to present your papers and prove your loyalty. That is anathema to our Founding Fathers, whom I never put on a pedestal because they were just men, but they had a pretty good notion of where things go wrong in a nation that demands formal loyalty tests of it's citizens.

Standing up and mangling the words of the National Anthem doesn't make you a good citizen or prove anything beyond most people's crappie singing voices and failure to remember the words.