The young people of the day

[Mack]

I know this isnt really the place to write of things like this, i however must say something. I have such a terrible time attempting to think like other people, and figure out why they feel the way they do.
About the protests in the national football league in the great and beautiful United States Of America! I wish i understood more why these players are willing to disrespect our nation and her flag, that stands for so much!
I want to cry it hurts so bad to know what this is saying to our young men and women of our great nation and beyond. From my heart i fear whats happining here, not for me or my brothers and sisters, but for our kids and theirs.
I had to atleast say it

[Astragek]

But in the land of the free, don't you think forcing people to stand for the national anthem goes against everything freedom means? Taking a knee shows to me a lot more than standing up. Not doing what you're told doesn't mean you're not proud of your roots. It means standing up (or kneeling in this case) for yourself and your beliefs. And they have all the right to do it if done for the right reasons

[Mack]

Its a matter of respect not doing as your told or following rules of any kind.
The anthem and the flag stand for so much why would anyone want to disrespect them?

[Most Lee Harmless]

Its a matter of respect not doing as your told or following rules of any kind.
The anthem and the flag stand for so much why would anyone want to disrespect them?

Its because what they stand for isnt being respected by society itself : when society itself ignores justice, equality and freedom : what matters what the flag says? The mockery is not 'disrepecting' the flag and anthem, the mockery is pretending nothings wrong and singing along unthinkingly.

[Stede Bonnet]

But in the land of the free, don't you think forcing people to stand for the national anthem goes against everything freedom means? Taking a knee shows to me a lot more than standing up. Not doing what you're told doesn't mean you're not proud of your roots. It means standing up (or kneeling in this case) for yourself and your beliefs. And they have all the right to do it if done for the right reasons

But you misunderstand. The anger regarding the kneeling isn't about trying to force someone to stand, it's about removing someone trying to put politics into football, which had previously been a-political and in some sense united the country. They also aren't notably protesting for any demonstrable or otherwise recognizable reason. It's an inherently disrespectful way to protest; I don't care that they are protesting, I care about the way they are choosing to protest. In America we have the right to free-assembly, the right of freedom of speech and of expression, as well as the right to peaceable protest. We aren't trying to legislatively deny them the right to kneel during the anthem, some of us are boycotting the NFL until the players take enough heat that they remove politics from football. Some of us who are angered by the kneeling are irritated by the unpatriotic method of protest; some are infuriated by what they are trying to protest; other still are vexed by the individual who started the event, Colin Kaepernick.

[Astragek]

Its a matter of respect not doing as your told or following rules of any kind.
The anthem and the flag stand for so much why would anyone want to disrespect them?

Its because what they stand for isnt being respected by society itself : when society itself ignores justice, equality and freedom : what matters what the flag says? The mockery is not 'disrepecting' the flag and anthem, the mockery is pretending nothings wrong and singing along unthinkingly.

Couldn't have said it better myself. +1

[Astragek]

But in the land of the free, don't you think forcing people to stand for the national anthem goes against everything freedom means? Taking a knee shows to me a lot more than standing up. Not doing what you're told doesn't mean you're not proud of your roots. It means standing up (or kneeling in this case) for yourself and your beliefs. And they have all the right to do it if done for the right reasons

But you misunderstand. The anger regarding the kneeling isn't about trying to force someone to stand, it's about removing someone trying to put politics into football, which had previously been a-political and in some sense united the country. They also aren't notably protesting for any demonstrable or otherwise recognizable reason. It's an inherently disrespectful way to protest; I don't care that they are protesting, I care about the way they are choosing to protest. In America we have the right to free-assembly, the right of freedom of speech and of expression, as well as the right to peaceable protest. We aren't trying to legislatively deny them the right to kneel during the anthem, some of us are boycotting the NFL until the players take enough heat that they remove politics from football. Some of us who are angered by the kneeling are irritated by the unpatriotic method of protest; some are infuriated by what they are trying to protest; other still are vexed by the individual who started the event, Colin Kaepernick.

Or maybe I see it from an un-biased standpoint.

[Stede Bonnet]

Its a matter of respect not doing as your told or following rules of any kind.
The anthem and the flag stand for so much why would anyone want to disrespect them?

Its because what they stand for isnt being respected by society itself : when society itself ignores justice, equality and freedom : what matters what the flag says? The mockery is not 'disrepecting' the flag and anthem, the mockery is pretending nothings wrong and singing along unthinkingly.

Does our society ignore "...justice, equality and freedom..."? Whose freedom is being ignored? Whose justice? Whose equality is being disturbed? I certainly haven't met them. Now that I think about it; however, affirmative action is infringing on my equality of opportunity as a straight white male. I suppose that I could consider my Justice being impeded for being a male as well when you consider the favor-ability of courts towards women especially in divorce cases. I could say that my my freedom is going to be restricted with the hot knife edge of hate speech laws inching ever closer to the USA.

[Stede Bonnet]

Or maybe I see it from an un-biased standpoint.

The holy grail of modern insanity, the concept of being "un-biased". As though a concept exists in actuality for humans. being un-biased would require people to no longer behave like people. I much prefer people to simply be open about their biases.

[Mack]

Its a matter of respect not doing as your told or following rules of any kind.
The anthem and the flag stand for so much why would anyone want to disrespect them?

Its because what they stand for isnt being respected by society itself : when society itself ignores justice, equality and freedom : what matters what the flag says? The mockery is not 'disrepecting' the flag and anthem, the mockery is pretending nothings wrong and singing along unthinkingly.

I dont know maybe you just have to see life here as it really is...