How Kneeling Became a Protest Symbol

[shelemm]

You are ALL correct. We should not reject notions that are out of our comfort zone.

The military don't take the easy path in life. They are used to being in uncomfortable situations when the rest of us put all of our effort into comfort.

because of this, so many military people are tremendously understanding.

But sometimes they are used as a symbol for non-military purposes.

 

[Allison]

What’s truly ‘fascinating’ is people thinking’s it’s ok to disrespect the American Flag or our National Anthem, under any circumstance.

So you don't believe in the rights afforded by the Constitution?

 

[mrsap]

People can protest. Never said they couldn’t. However, I don’t believe the time to do it is when we are saluting the flag and singing the national anthem. As a family member of many who served in the military, including a WWII Veteran, I have too much respect for them to kneel, especially when we are honoring them.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have too much respect for them to kneel,

That's your right afforded by the Constitution. But your right to not kneel does not extend over others who may wish to do so. It's all a matter of all of our rights as individuals.

 

[mrsap]

That's your right afforded by the Constitution. But your right to not kneel does not extend over others who may wish to do so.

...Said the guy with an avatar of firemen from 9/11 hanging up an American flag. I don’t get it, but ok. You can do whatever you want. I’m also allowed an opinion. And I’m sticking to it.

 

[Dan Murphy]

You can do whatever you want. I’m also allowed an opinion

Now you've got it!

 

[mrsap]

Now you've got it!

Why didn’t you quote my first part? Obviously you have enough respect for our flag to display it as your avatar... just not enough to stand for it?!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

You want to know why, specifically, NFL players started kneeling during the national anthem?

So their protest would be noticed. That's the point of protest. Standing outside your house with a sign denouncing police brutality isn't going to get you anywhere. You want to have a conversation on the issue, do something people will notice so people start talking.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

People can protest. Never said they couldn’t. However, I don’t believe the time to do it is when we are saluting the flag and singing the national anthem. As a family member of many who served in the military, including a WWII Veteran, I have too much respect for them to kneel, especially when we are honoring them.

Why is singing the national anthem showing respect for the military? Do you believe that's true of other country's anthems? Is "Oh, Canada" showing respect Canada's military? What about "God Save the Queen"? "The Swiss Psalm"?

Is it specifically because the song is about a flag over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812? What if the United States anthem was "The United States is Pretty Awesome"? Is it because during football games, the announcer says something like "To honor America and those that serve it, please rise to sing the national anthem"? If I'm singing it in my shower, is that showing respect for the military? Is it NOT, because I'm naked and wet and there's no flag?

 

[Dan Murphy]

Why didn’t you quote my first part? Obviously you have enough respect for our flag to display it as your avatar... just not enough to stand for it?!

My avatar has nothing to do with this conversation or more specifically my previous reply. I very much respect the flag. I respect it very much so.

I used to put our flag up on our front porch on all the national holidays...Memorial Day, 4th of July, Veterans' Day, etc, up in the morning, down at dusk. In late 1979, when the Iranian hostage crisis started, I thought we would fly the flag every day, all day, all night, in support of those taken hostage. I was going to fly it until they were released. When they were released, on the day that President Reagan was inaugurated, I thought we'd keep it up, always. Now, 39 1/2 years later, our flag still flies proudly on our front porch. There is a porch light that illuminates it at night. We have gone through maybe 6 or 7 flags over the years as they weathered. We do buy very high quality flags, so they do last a long time.

I do respect the flag. More though, I respect and honor our Constitution that allows you, within the law, to do as you please. And likewise, allows me, within the law, to do as I please. I do think it is just fine if somebody wants to take a knee for a cause they believe in. Or, for somebody to not do so.

For those that feel it is not okay to do so, it is going to be some very long days ahead.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I am impressed that you read the linked article in only 14 minutes! Evelyn Wood, eat your heart out.

Solely because of this disbelief...I read it in under 11 minutes. Okay, I skimmed some of it. But I read enough to get the gist of Boyer's life and experience.

 

[mrsap]

My avatar has nothing to do with this conversation or more specifically my previous reply. I very much respect the flag. I respect it very much so.

I used to put our flag up on our front porch on all the national holidays...Memorial Day, 4th of July, Veterans' Day, etc, up in the morning, down at dusk. In late 1979, when the Iranian hostage crisis started, I thought we would fly the flag every day, all day, all night, in support of those taken hostage. I was going to fly it until they were released. When they were released, on the day that President Reagan was inaugurated, I thought we'd keep it up, always. Now, 39 1/2 years later, our flag still flies proudly on our front porch. There is a porch light that illuminates it at night. We have gone through maybe 6 or 7 flags over the years as they weathered. We do buy very high quality flags, so they do last a long time.

I do respect the flag. More though, I respect and honor our Constitution that allows you, within the law, to do as you please. And likewise, allows me, within the law, to do as I please. I do think it is just fine if somebody wants to take a knee for a cause they believe in. Or, for somebody to not do so.

For those that feel it is not okay to do so, it is going to be some very long days ahead.

Again - you can do as you please. Never said you couldn’t. But your avatar does have to do with this conversation- it’s a contradiction to what you are pushing here. Just funny you should choose a flag as an avatar.

 

[kaytieeldr]

That is a no-no of the the U.S. flag code, according to the article posted above by a PP:

"The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free. . . It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free."

Mmm, I dunno. The Flag Cde addresses how it should be displayed, permanently or temporarily, including how it needs to be carried. But unless the hugger is doing that for hours/days, even extended minutes, I don't interpret it as prohibiting hugging.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Why didn’t you quote my first part? Obviously you have enough respect for our flag to display it as your avatar... just not enough to stand for it?!

Bandwidth.
Wasn't necessary.
Wasn't the portion of the quoted post to which he was responding.
Posted immediately below the post he quoted, so, redundant.

Again - you can do as you please. Never said you couldn’t. But your avatar does have to do with this conversation- it’s a contradiction to what you are pushing here. Just funny you should choose a flag as an avatar.

Avatar is an entire image, only part of which is a flag. I see it as respecting the firefighters.
Supporting an action by others is not in any way pushing anything.

 

[sam_gordon]

People can protest. Never said they couldn’t. However, I don’t believe the time to do it is when we are saluting the flag and singing the national anthem.

I'll bite... so when IS a good time to protest? Isn't the point of a protest to get your voice heard? You can protest during work. You just have to accept the consequences of doing so, which I believe all the athletes have.

 

[mrsap]

Bandwidth.
Wasn't necessary.
Wasn't the portion of the quoted post to which he was responding.
posted immediately below the post he quoted, so, redundant.

Avatar is an entire image, only part of which is a flag. I see it as respecting the firefighters.
Supporting an action by others is not in any way pushing anything.

I’m sure he can speak for himself. And anyone who watched what happened on 9/11 knows damn well that what those firemen were doing was raising the flag for America and Americans. If he wanted to salute just the fireman, I’m sure he’d pick another picture. Come on.

 

[Allison]

I do respect the flag. More though, I respect and honor our Constitution that allows you, within the law, to do as you please. And likewise, allows me, within the law, to do as I please. I do think it is just fine if somebody wants to take a knee for a cause they believe in. Or, for somebody to not do so.

Exactly

Again - you can do as you please. Never said you couldn’t. But your avatar does have to do with this conversation- it’s a contradiction to what you are pushing here. Just funny you should choose a flag as an avatar.

It is not a contradiction. I'm not sure why you would think so. He respects the flag and the Constitution.

 

[mrsap]

He respects the flag

...just not during the National Anthem.

 

[sam_gordon]

...just not during the National Anthem.

You don't know that. I'm willing to wager he stands during the National Anthem. Just because he supports people exercising their rights doesn't mean he doesn't respect the flag and Constitution. In fact, isn't your stance that people shouldn't exercise their rights DISRESPECTING the Constitution?

 

[Allison]

...just not during the National Anthem.

My guess would be he respects it always and actually understands the rights afforded to us under the Constitution.