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Kneeling for the national anthem is nothing more or less than a peaceful protest. There's no reason to get worked up about it one way or another. I'll put it another way: if seeing someone kneel for the national anthem is the worst thing in your life, it's time to check your privilege at the door.
How spoiled we are as Americans, that so many of our political and social debates revolve not around life and death matters or even matters of economic well-being, but around furious debates over gestures.
I stand for the national anthem. All the time. I do not get upset when others do not stand for the national anthem. Ever. I do not assume that the person sitting or kneeling for the anthem hates America. Like in any other relationship between two parties, it's certainly possible for the "kneeler" to love his or her country while still having several legitimate objections to raise. It's also possible that he or she is elderly and too tired to stand. Or perhaps they're an immature young person who literally does not want to stand for any reason.
But let's say the person kneeling really does hate the country. As long as they are not doing anything violent or criminal in their hate, what difference does it make? The gesture indicates nothing more than a difference of opinion.
On the subject of patriotism, I'm going to go ahead and out myself as a half-patriot. What I mean by that is I love parts of my country, but not all of it. I don't have the notion that every strip of American soil is sacred just because it lies within our borders. Some of those strips are New York, and others are Alabama, and others are North Dakota, and so on and so forth. There's nothing magical about living in Appalachian poverty, for example, just because it's one of the many different strips of land within our huge borders. I think most people feel the same way to some degree -- although they may differ in the specific parts of the country they'd rather do without. So at the end of the day, this whole debate isn't even about patriotism; it's about the use of verbal put-downs by one group of people to coerce another group of people into thinking what they want them to think. It's a mind control tactic.
No individual gets to decide the level of patriotism of another individual, and even if they could, a relative lack of patriotism in itself is a rather harmless offense. So it's all a moot point. It's just not that serious.
I think it's patriotic to want your country to be a better, more just, freer place.
Kneeling is a respectful gesture. Kneeling during the anthem is not intended as disrespect. It's intended to draw attention to the contrast between the ideals of the US, and the reality of life in the US. That such a benign gesture is provoking, IMO, is due to the cognitive dissonance required to ignore that America has not and does not live up to the lofty goals expressed in our founding documents and in the National Anthem itself.
Like many non-violent forms of protest, it is effective if it subtly pricks the conscience and sensibilities of people who would otherwise be fence-sitters.
When an editor sees a flaw in a manuscript, it's not a kindness to ignore it - it's a kindness to either fix it, or point it out to the author so s/he can fix it. IMO, similarly, when a citizen sees a flaw in their nation, it's not patriotic to ignore it.
Maybe it's just me, but I have difficulty understanding how kneeling during the anthem has anything to do with police brutality. Even if police brutality is real, this country is so much more than an incident or another.
Maybe it's just me, but I have difficulty understanding how kneeling during the anthem has anything to do with police brutality. Even if police brutality is real, this country is so much more than an incident or another.
It's saying that people are standing out of respect to our nation, but there are also things happening in this nation that deserve no respect.
It's saying that people are standing out of respect to our nation, but there are also things happening in this nation that deserve no respect.
If you didn't tell, I wouldn't be able to guess. Again, it makes no sense. You can focus directly on what upsets you, without dragging the whole nation into that. If police brutality is the point, protest against police.
If you didn't tell, I wouldn't be able to guess. Again, it makes no sense. You can focus directly on what upsets you, without dragging the whole nation into that. If police brutality is the point, protest against police.
How is not standing bringing the whole nation into it any more than standing is bringing the whole nation into it?
I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.
I don't care if Colin Kaepernick - stands or sits, during the National Anthem. We live in a free country. If any person does not feel inclined to stand, or put their hand over their heart - that isn't my business.
We are not Nazi Germany. No one in the US needs to assume a certain posture or do something special with their hands during the National Anthem.
Kneeling for the national anthem is nothing more or less than a peaceful protest. There's no reason to get worked up about it one way or another. I'll put it another way: if seeing someone kneel for the national anthem is the worst thing in your life, it's time to check your privilege at the door.
How spoiled we are as Americans, that so many of our political and social debates revolve not around life and death matters or even matters of economic well-being, but around furious debates over gestures.
But let's say the person kneeling really does hate the country. As long as they are not doing anything violent or criminal in their hate, what difference does it make? The gesture indicates nothing more than a difference of opinion.
Agreed, many people just want something to whine/complain about if your don't kneel, place your hand over your heart believe in my God/s your anti-American. It feels like they need or want something to complain about. Why is beyond me. This is not a perfect country and this is just another reason why. To much time spending fighting over stupid our differences.
In my head I see people who kneel during the anthem as being extra respectful of it. I know that's not the intent but it's how I interpret bending he knee so this whole "sending a message" thing is lost on me. It would be nice if everyone assumed what I did because it would eliminate this whole stupid issue.
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