I think we should stand for the national anthem, period. We should stand to honor those who have honored us with their lives. We should stand to honor what America should be. There are injustices in this country everywhere you look. There are, however, men and women who have fought and died to make it a place where change is even possible. That is why I stand, and I put my hand on my heart, and I pray. I teach my children to honor the flag and the national anthem in the same way.
Having said that; that flag, that song, and those fighting men and women, mean absolutely nothing, if we do not have free speech, or freedom to choose our own actions. Every action has consequence, and when we choose, we must be willing to deal with those consequences. I disagree with Colin Kaepernick, but if he chooses to exercises his right to free speech, then he is as American as anyone.
When I was in High School one of my favorite teachers, Mr. Burns who was a Viet Nam Veteran, made a statement that would change how I see our American freedom. During a lunch period, a group of students had assembled in the commons area to protest military recruiters setting up booths and recruiting at our school. They held signs, they taped their mouths closed, and they silently and peacefully protested.
One student asked Mr. Burns, with a very negative tone, "What should we do about those protesters?"
Mr. Burns replied, "Well...why don't you go up and shake their hand?"
The puzzled student said, "Huh?"
Mr. Burns then addressed the student and others in the general listening vicinity, "I fought and gave all I had,and I watched many others die, to give people I had never met, the freedom to do exactly this thing [protesting]. They are enjoying the freedom I worked hard to preserve. If we keep them from doing this, then we fought in vain...just because we disagree with them, does not mean they any less American. They are American, because they are protesting."
I will never forget this unscheduled lesson, taught in the commons of rock Bridge High School. I will also never forget what Mr. Burns, my brother Aaron, my Great Uncle Marion (who was killed in Korea), or the hundreds of thousands of men and women who gave their lives fighting for our freedom, or the freedom of someone else, have sacrificed.
This is why I stand, and why I believe we all should.
There are hundreds of examples of why America is not Great, but there are hundreds of thousands of examples of why it is great. We should stand, because of what America could be.
Many have called for Kaepernick's arrest. Citing an old military regulation code, as the basis. This could be the most ignorant thing I've ever heard. Being forced by law to pledge your allegiance to anything, is not, in any sense of the word, freedom. The thing about America, is that we (or at least used to) believe; that freedom above all, is the law of the land.
Many have called for Kaepernick to be released from the Forty-Niners, as a result of this. If he signed a contract saying, he would stand, and then chose to sit in protest, that is one thing. If the NFL has given him the choice, that is another. If Kaepernick gets cut this season, it will most likely be because he has been a terrible QB as of recent.
I do not agree with Colin Kaepernick. If he feels there is injustice in this nation, he needs to take action to produce real change. Sitting during the national anthem will not generate anymore change than a blog post will. However, if he feels this is the best way for him to behave, then he gets to do that, because...he is an American.
But I do not want to live in a country that would imprison anyone for choosing to sit, and dishonor the flag. This is not Communist Russia or China. This is not North Korea. This is not Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom. This is the United States, where liberty should reign supreme, so her citizens can allow whatever they choose to reign supreme in their own lives.
