Question—If it was your child who was pulled over by a police officer and shot for no reason while reaching for their wallet, would your views be different? Does it have to affect you personally for you to understand the issue at hand? Or are you too blind to the issues at hand and you think it is all about disrespecting “Old Glory?”
I feel immensely insulted when someone tries to speak for any and everyone who has served in the United States Armed Forces about how kneeling during the National Anthem is disrespectful for us. As a man who proudly served his nation for 20 years and spent over 65 months in a combat zone overseas, I do not feel the least bit disrespected. I am proud to have served in such a way that persons are awarded the freedoms to do things such as conduct a peaceful protest in their own right.
What people are missing is the real issue. What these NFL players are protesting is not the National Anthem, the Armed Forces or first responders. They are using their platform to implement and instill change—a change that is long overdue. They are protesting on the behalf of Sandra Bland, Freddie Gray, Michael Brown and all others who were unjustly killed. They are protesting for the rights of people of color as well as Caucasians along with Jewish people and Islamic communities. They are protesting for the rights of the LGBTQ community and all others who are being discriminated against. They are taking a knee against the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazis and all other white supremacy groups that influence and encourage hate.
They are kneeling for what the United States of America says it stands for. They are not kneeling against what is right. They are kneeling in protest against what is wrong!
