They Do It Right! NOT!

I have a feeling right now Kaepernick is patting himself on the back saying, look at all my followers taking a knee.  Kaepernick may have started protesting by not standing for the anthem, but he is not the only reason our young are following suit.

Some parents, teachers and education administrators are also to blame.  History has taught us the reason for showing respect to the flag and the anthem. It is because of the men and women who have fought for our freedoms, fought for our rights, fought for our constitution, fought for our country and the justice, fairness, morality of our fellow beings and fought for the freedom and continuing change.   It is because of what this country stands for and part of what this country, our flag and anthem stand for is the opportunity and freedom to change the country to be better for all of it’s citizens.

Taking a knee or refusing to stand during the National Anthem IS disrespecting those who fought for YOUR right to protest.  You say you do support those people who have died for you?  The best and biggest way to show that support is by the most public display this country has and the display is the anthem and the flag.

There is an appropriate time and place to protest.  Forcing your protest on a captive audience or an audience that paid to be at a sporting event is forcing your protest on them.  And it is not appropriate or respectful.

Marching in protest, leading to riots and violence is not appropriate and it distracts the focus from your protest to the hatred and anger you inspire by protesting in an inappropriate manner.

Honestly, there is no simpler way to put it than: get over yourself, grow up, think about what you are doing; are you really drawing attention to your cause?  Or are you just drawing attention to the inappropriate behavior you display?

Look at the media reports regarding your strive.  For the most part the reports are broken down into three categories.  What is the news toting?  Is it the fact you took a knee during your sporting event?  Is it the fact more and more people are being vocal about how disrespectful you are?  Or is the news filled with the reason for your protest?

If you are honest with yourself, read the news, it is not the latter of the three options ranking high in the news reports.  The news if filled with the fact you took a knee and all the people who are disgusted by your lack of respect.

Radio stations refusing to air a football game because band members took a knee during the anthem.  Sponsors backing out, people refusing to buy tickets to events, fans not so much anymore, alumni immediately calling for students and faculty to be punished, the list goes on.   

Kneeling for the anthem is not furthering your cause, it is hurting it.  Your cause is not being heard.  Your actions are being seen and heard but nothing by any means is drawing support for your “cause”.  The words of your protest are being lost in your actions, your disrespect and hatred for this country and for which it stands.

R martin