Seattle’s Garfield High School football players and staff took a knee in unison during the national anthem Friday.

I am wondering if a distinction should be made between kneeling and sitting?

Seems dangerous for a military guy. No court martial?
Or the fist raising thing.

Come to think of it, aren't the fans supposed to stand as well during these things? Any fights break out with spectators who sit?

making a political statement out of something that should be for entertainment. 

If athletes refuse to stand, they should be brought out after the National Anthem is played.   The cancer is spreading.

Would be difficult to control since one could not say for certain whether a player would stand or not. If he wanted to make a statement, he would make sure he made it out there.


I brought up kneeling because I thought it might be seen differently than just sitting. Kneeling can be a sign of many things, respect, humility, submit, yield, etc.

If you thought there were something seriously wrong in the government to the point that it was very corrupt, people were being denied justice, rights were falling left and right, etc., how would you protest that? What I am getting at is, at what point do you (or anyone else) stop paying allegiance to the flag of our country?

making a political statement out of something that should be for entertainment

Hmm, so are you saying that if someone says "I hate America because <blahblah> reasons" in a TV interview, you would feel differently? Or perhaps they would have to use the word "government" as you did to be forgiven?
They could just remove the anthem from the events entirely, if it is purely for entertainment.

Problem is they are not protesting the "government" by doing this bull crap.  They are disrespecting America as a whole.

The concept of United States of America is "of the people, by the people, for the people" the anthem represents that in my eyes. So to me they disrespect us all, including themselves.   

I know there is argument against my opinion, but it is what it is.

But is there a line, that if crossed, you would no longer respect the flag or it's anthem?

America can be seen many ways, by its government, by its constitution, by its people, etc. It is difficult because the flag, as a symbol, seems inseparable from the government. So how do you protest the government without disrespecting the flag?

What if someone flew the flag upside down? I see a number of Hawaiian groups that have chosen to do that with the Hawaiian flag and I don't think they mean any disrespect for the people but as a sign of distress for its people.

The logical thing to do if I no longer respect the flag is for me to move to another country.
What makes this country great is believing in it.
Some people don't realize how comfortable they are.

But is there a line, that if crossed, you would no longer respect the flag or it's anthem?

America can be seen many ways, by its government, by its constitution, by its people, etc. It is difficult because the flag, as a symbol, seems inseparable from the government. So how do you protest the government without disrespecting the flag?

What if someone flew the flag upside down? I see a number of Hawaiian groups that have chosen to do that with the Hawaiian flag and I don't think they mean any disrespect for the people but as a sign of distress for its people.

I would never lose respect for the flag nor the anthem. Because what I explained that represents The People not the government. At times the government does not do for the people what it should be. Therefore I can lose respect for the government, at the same time NEVER lose respect for those who have sacrificed so much to give us what we enjoy today.

To me, these folks are not doing this for some kind of greater good, they are self centered folks that believe they are entitled to something or another.

If they see America as the government they are ignorant.

Like I said they not only disrespect everyone, they disrespect themselves.

I would never lose respect for the flag nor the anthem. Because what I explained that represents The People not the government. At times the government does not do for the people what it should be. Therefore I can lose respect for the government, at the same time NEVER lose respect for those who have sacrificed so much to give us what we enjoy today.

The only group that Americans can say unequivocally "sacrificed so much to give what American's enjoy today" were the founding fathers of the US and aside from Washington and a few others, most of them were civilians who risked all their personal wealth to become TRAITORS to the Empire of Great Britain to create their own country.

Don't forget prior to declaring their independence, they used all inappropriate and politically incorrect means in both the public and private arenas to show their displeasure and contempt with their own country at that time.

Furthermore, America's military should be given their necessary due, but remember, it is always the civilian authority (i.e., those elected to represent the PEOPLE) that calls them to action, whether that action was justified or illegal.

 

To me, these folks are not doing this for some kind of greater good, they are self centered folks that believe they are entitled to something or another.

Ironically, many colonists in New England must of shared this same view when the American revolutionary separatist MINORITY were spewing their displeasure with Great Britain at that time.

I guess the Founding Fathers believed they were ENTITLED to those rights and privileges that eventually became the the US Constitution and Bill of Rights and believed going to war with their own countrymen was the only way to achieve them.

What were those ungrateful American born British citizens thinking?  Don't they know HOW GOOD THEY HAVE IT being subjects of the MIGHTY BRITISH EMPIRE?     


If they see America as the government they are ignorant.

I am sure that the misguided British citizens Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, etc. must of been very ignorant too as they viewed Great Britain as merely an extension of King George III and his parliament.


Like I said they not only disrespect everyone, they disrespect themselves.

In the case of the Founding Fathers of America, I do not think they cared.


Kuleana