You asked a bunch of what ifs about Labron's reason for not standing which were irrelevant to what I said. They were objective questions but not applicable at all to my observation and I was illustrating why to you. You actually quoted my post so I don't know how you are going to now claim you weren't talking about what I said.

Irrelevant. Now you are just trolling.

the world revolves around him.

sad. Surprised to find the admiration for blatant disrespect. This is the new social norm.

interesting that those who argue for such disrespect of our country are afforded tables at the last gun show. I view gun shows as a symbolism of freedom and respect for our country as well as being with people who share common values. I guess not.
Haley Strategic just had an event in Scottsdale with lots of vendros and when they played the national anthem EVERYONE stood. He stated that there were over 5000 in attendance

interesting that those who argue for such disrespect of our country are afforded tables at the last gun show. I view gun shows as a symbolism of freedom and respect for our country as well as being with people who share common values. I guess not.
Haley Strategic just had an event in Scottsdale with lots of vendros and when they played the national anthem EVERYONE stood. He stated that there were over 5000 in attendance

MDA and ET should set up a table too, then high five those who agree when talking about red flag laws.

...
Why would the muscular dystrophy association and entertainment tonight want to set up tables at the show?

Moms Demand Action
Every Town for gun safety

I like shoyu on my rice. My statement must now be directed toward EEF's post above that's quoted because the world revolves around him.

Would you do what Lebron did? 

How about this:  If you were at a funeral, would you silently play on your i-Phone in front of the person doing a Eulogy for the deceased?

Sometimes we do what is prudent in respect to other people around us, regardless of how we personally feel.  There are times the battle must be postponed for another time.

You even said you wouldn't care if someone burned the image of the EEF family crest.  What about your other family members.  Are you sure they feel the same as you?  Can you just stand there and watch them cry?  Wouldn't you fight, if not for you, but for them?

Same as this country.  We criticize, argue, lambast it.  But for many of us, it's our family.

=================
Symbolism is an important concept in the evolutionary process.
Disrespecting a symbol ultimately leads to the destruction of a species.
It's called Darwinism. Darwin is my hero. Let me explain.

Primitive creatures are unable to understand that an asphalt roadway means that cars and trucks will be traveling there.
That's why you find dead cats, dogs, birds, etc on the road. They don't understand or respect what that strip of asphalt represents.

A police badge is an important symbol. When humans disrespect the symbol of a badge on a cop, they think they can do whatever they want.
That is why you have so many incidents of assault, shoplifting, murder, etc today. It's because people have lost respect for symbols of authority.
Civil disobedience ensues. Loss of civility ultimately leads to destruction. It goes back to biblical times.
 eg. crazy guy on drugs kills somebody, then cop has to kill him.
eg. motorcyclist goes 150 mph down the H1 because he ignored the speed limit symbol... crash! he's dead.
Those are classic examples of Darwinism.

Star athletes used to be symbols of respect and admiration. Kids wanted to be like them.
Kids still idolize people. It's human nature. But they idolize the wrong types of people nowadays.
They idolize the rap music gang-bangers. You wonder why you have gangs at Mayor Wright and KPT?

Lebron is a star athlete and a symbol of success. Kids want to emulate him.
That is why so many people are upset when he exhibits disrespectful behavior towards the national anthem.
His actions can influence the behavior of children directly.
The flag and anthem are symbols of what America strives to be. It may not be perfect. Nothing is perfect.
But it's a pretty good compromise.

interesting that those who argue for such disrespect of our country are afforded tables at the last gun show.

I don't know Lebron's reasons so I cannot say that I would or would not do what he did.
Actually I was asking if YOU would sit down during a National Anthem if you had any kind of grievance with our country.

Let me ask you this though, would there be anything Lebron could have said that would have changed your mind? Any amount of grievance which could conceivably sway you to do what he did?

For me, no.  I believe there is a time and place for everything and during these particular times it's best to cast differences aside and show solidarity to country

Personally I tend to go along to get along. I wouldn't play my phone during a eulogy, I would agree it to be rude. I would stand in ovation if the rest of the crowd did unless it was some cause or speech I found abhorrent. I don't like hugging and shaking hands but I force myself to do it in social settings because it is what people expect. I don't want to come across as disrespectful to them.

I feel the same way.

Your question about seeing another family member upset over the burning of our family crest puts me at a cross road. Although I may not like that the person is disrespectful to my family I would also recognize that it is their freedom to do so. If I were to go and violently confront them I wouldn't be maintaining the values I say I do.  I don't want to say I like freedom of speech but then throw it out the window when I don't like the speech. I understand that criticizing Lebron for sitting is not denying his speech though, I had more of a flag burning image for that last comment.

I know I said fight.  I should have worded it better.  But I gather you would try to comfort your family member seeing how symbolism disrespect doesn't bother you.?

Maybe it is like tastes in food, some people find foods appetizing that others see no appeal in, such as blue cheese. Conservatives rank higher on the loyalty moral index which would explain why they seem to get much more offended by acts like Lebron's. For others they don't rank as high on the loyalty morality index so they probably don't find it that bothersome. Liberals rank higher on the justice morality index so maybe they feel that kneeling/sitting during the anthem is worth the offense because they value some social cause higher than respect to country.

In my opinion doing these things during ceremonies like the anthem is what is polarizing the country.  I believe showing respect for country will gain a person more respect and recognition when it is time to air his/her grievances.

It is interesting because here on this forum, with the vast majority conservative (I would guess), have all manner of reasons to hate our government. Very restrictive gun laws, they waste our money, corruption, the land was stolen from Native Hawaiians, etc. but, as you said, it is like family so you would still stand for the Hawaii Pono'i. I think there are people who are so disgruntled, who feel so wronged, that they see no reason to pay respect to this nation. Maybe a veteran who was sent to fight an unjust war, maybe a native group who feels stolen from, maybe decedents of slaves who feel the government was so bad to them, etc. I may not agree with their grievances but I don't feel bothered if they voice their grievances by not standing for the anthem. I don't know if you subscribe to any faith but if a friend came with you to your place of worship and didn't perform the worship act because they are a different religion, would you feel they are disrespecting you or your religion by not bowing, raising hands in the air, or whatever other symbol of worship?

Our nation has committed grave injustices to it's people throughout history.  But what makes our nation unique is that it constantly strives to overcome these injustices.  And the Freedom that one has to protest and demand retribution for these injustices.  However I sometimes wonder if these people realize that very few if any countries would allow you to even do this.  And this is possible because of the men and women who sacrificed, fought, and even died for this freedom.  So when things like what Lebron did occur, the anger I feel is from the disrespect if anything else.

As far as inviting a friend from another religion to my place of worship, I would not be offended if he doesn't participate in the religious rituals.  Our country gave each of us the freedom to worship as we please.  Our country is a plethora of different religions.  But we as a people are of ONE NATION.
 And to me that is why I can tolerate it in my place of worship but not at ceremonies like the National Anthem or any type of National ceremony.

I'm always curious about other people's view on various issues.  Thanks for responding to my post EEF.

You have made your life revolve around mine recently with your trolling so.....

You quoted me, I responded. That is how these things go...

That is a pretty good explanation from the nature side of the question of where the value of symbolism comes from. I bet there is a nurture angle as well but I don't discount your explanation at all.

I have a rhetorical question for you, what if we are looking at Lebron's actions very differently than what he means by it? What if the crowd bothered by his sitting is on a different wavelength and don't know how to interpret it as anything but disrespect? (Like a hand signal which means something good in one culture but means something bad in another culture).

Just to be clear, it is not that I do not see that people value symbols, it is just that it doesn't produce an emotional reaction in me.

Who had a table at the gun show argued for such disrespect?