Standing in a line with my teammates, everyone falls silent, the music begins….
I used to get chills every time the national anthem was played. I stood quiet, still, and at attention. I do not remember placing my hand over my heart, but my heart was in it.
The respect that I showed was not for the flag or for the anthem. It was for everything that this country was and was striving to become.
Protesting is part of the foundation of this great country. It was protesting that created it. It is protesting injustices within and outside its borders that earns it respect. Allowing peaceful protests of a minority shows this country’s strength. When protests bring injustices to light, this country has shown the capacity to recognize the injustice and to work to correct the situation. Protests do not always bring the change that is sought. Sometimes the change happens but it is decades later, after the seed has had time to grow.
The story this weekend seems to be centered around respecting the flag and the right to protest.
First: As I may face a cross to pray, be very clear on this, I pray to God not a cross. As I stand and face the flag, I pledge allegiance to what the flag stands for, not to a piece of cloth. I do respect these symbols but it is what they stand for that is worth a fight. If someone wants to kneel quietly during the pledge or the anthem in order to bring attention to an injustice, then good on them for being brave enough to take a public stance for something they are passionate about.
Second: I dearly hope that amid all of this talk about what POTUS tweets/says and what various NFL players/owners are doing, that the actual issue that is being raised gets some real discussion. Some action points on how to address inequalities extending from streets to jails would be nice.
With this one very large issue to solve, please do not lose site of health care, Russia invading our elections and hacking our infrastructure, hurricane and fire victims, Flint, tragedies and travesties around the world, Syria, North Korea, Afghanistan, Ukraine, veteran suicide rates and health care, physician burnout and suicide rates, and list goes on. Overwhelmed? Ya, me too. Maybe start with loving your neighbor and get a good night’s sleep.
Be the change you wish to see.
Real Woman's Health 
Well said on all counts.
Thank you! I still hear that English teacher trying to correct me. It may not have worked but at least I feel guilty about it.
Guilt enjoys sticking with us. 😬
There are so many issues going on out there right now that it’s easy to dilute them all by being distracted by one. Hard to know what to focus on anymore. Every day my head spins.
Amen!
Katie, I’ve been watching this whole issue as it developed, and wondered about a couple of things. 1. The president was trying to (in my humble opinion) deflect the fact that he has not been able to achieve anywhere close to solving those many important issues you mentioned, and also wanted to stir his supporters into believing this was a disrespectful bunch of players and in his terms should be ‘fired’ !!!! . 2. I believe that anyone… and many people in the public eye.. actors, influential wealthy people etc. use the limelight for a cause. 3. I believe that the act of ‘kneeling’ is a humbling position not a defiant one… as is evidenced by the fact we kneel before God in reverence and respect. I therefore don’t see this as not honoring the national anthem or ‘their country’. I am very surprised that none of the news media had made reference to that fact. Anyway… those are my thoughts… an onlooker from Canada… Dianae
Thank you for your thoughts! I always like your take on things and also to hear what our neighbors are thinking ☺️. You have made great points that I agree with.
I will add that if Trump were a private citizen calling players SOBs and suggesting that they be fired, it would be an entirely different matter. Since came from the POTUS, the situation has morphed into a whole new thing.
Hope you have a beautiful day! 8)
“The teaching is merely a vehicle to describe the truth. Don’t mistake it for the truth itself. A finger pointing at the moon is not the moon.”
~ Thich Nhat Hanh
These are troubled times we live in, Katie. Here’s hoping that 2018 can take us in the right direction. 🙂 🙂
Here’s hoping 🥂