This is what gets me. I keep hearing Harrison Ford and Sean Connery's voices in my head, "Only the penitent man will pass. A penitent man is humble before God. A penitent man kneels before God." In all they times people kneel: in Church, in service of their King, to ask for a woman's hand in marriage when has it been a sign of disrespect and not the ultimate sign of respect and devotion? IMHO, it's a very powerful action to take because as someone mentioned, "the flag is supposed to be a symbol of liberty and justice for all." The protesters believe that is not practiced in reality. So instead of turning their backs, flipping the bird, mooning the flag...they go the opposite way. I sort of interpret in the same vein as, "why hast thou forsaken me?" "What have we (the larger issue, not any specific individual) done to make us deserving of unequal justice, unequal liberty. How have we (again, as a people) failed you (in this case, the flag or this country)?
In this country, it seems like it has been proven again and again that there is no one right way to do something, no one right way to act, no one right way to feel, no one right way to honor... so to see the drum being pounded so hard and so vehemently about how awful and disrespectful they are being. Especially, after seeing reactions about other recent hot button events. It hurts, and I find myself asking the same questions, and more. But it's a lot easier to dismiss, diminish and ignore the "disrespectful."
I will admit I'm conflicted. It goes against everything in me to not stand for the Anthem, so I have a hard time w/ other Americans who don't. But I'm not trying to force my brand of patriotism on anyone, & I don't want anyone to move to North Korea.
It just makes me feel sad, &, yes, I admit there's a part of me that gets my feathers ruffled. A lot of good men & women have served our country.
My dad fought in Vietnam. He doesn't talk much about it. I remember, after the first Gulf War when the military started returning to the United States, one of the only things my dad has ever said about Vietnam - "I hope we don't treat these soldiers the way we were treated when we came back." I will never ever forget his comment, &, even now, I'm teary remembering.
And I know, I know, that people will say kneeling while the Anthem is being played has nothing to do w/ our military. But, if just one veteran is made to feel defeated or disrespected, or like my dad felt years ago, when he/she sees people kneeling in protest, then it *does* affect our military - and I can't be in support of it.
We are fortunate to live in a country where we have liberties & where we're free to protest - rights that people in other countries do not share. But our freedom & our liberties came at a great price, & so I stand out of respect and honor for the sacrifices made.
But your first paragraph really spoke to me & humbled me, & I acknowledge that.
And I also acknowledge that kneeling is probably the most respectful & reverent way to protest. However, I also can see how, while it's not, it could feel like a slap in the face or a middle finger to many of our veterans. (And I know there are some veterans who support the NFL players kneeling - because they fought to give them that right.)
Again, I respect a person's right to protest. I'm grateful we live in a country where we're not forced to stand for the Anthem.
I hate that a certain person has fanned the flames, & we're here - I think, now, because of recent comments, the "kneeling in protest" has gone far beyond what was initially behind it. Now, there are a lot of ugly politics & rhetoric coming from both sides.
Grace, compassion, respect, and kindness are good things we need more of.
