As
a United States Army Veteran, when I see an athlete kneeling during the
National Anthem, it makes me proud to be an American.
Not a flag. Not a song.
But, ideas.
You see, the act of kneeling is a proud demonstration of our heritage of ideas - and a beacon of hope that may pierce the darkness that plagues people who live in oppressive and totalitarian regimes - that here - in The Land of The Free and Home of The Brave - we have not forgotten the fundamental principles and truths upon which our great nation was founded.
We do not fight for a flag, or a song - but for the cherished ideas enshrined in a piece of paper that is over two centuries old - yet still, a living document: The United States Constitution.
By kneeling - those athletes are raising a standard around which others may rally - with a silent, yet oh so eloquent act - they proclaim that somewhere along the way - some of our own people have forgotten those fundamental truths of our nation: that men and women are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights - and that the essence of the idea enshrined in that document - which is only symbolized by a flag and a song - is to ensure the establishment of Justice.
The ideas enshrined in that piece of paper make our country great.
Not a flag. Not a song.
Men, and women, fought and died - and sacrificed all they had - to ensure that Freedom and Liberty should not perish from the earth.
Not for a flag. Not for a song.
Each person who has knelt is demonstrating the power afforded them by the ideas in that piece of paper - of Liberty and Freedom - to exercise THEIR RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH - with the sole intent to raise our national awareness of a level of terrible injustice that afflicts far too many across our land - and to peacefully find a way to join their voices with others who similarly wish to protest the injustices that have been visited upon others - who have for far too long been marginalized and demeaned by the many acts of unjust police violence and brutality that continue unabated to this day.
I am a veteran, and I would proudly kneel with Colin Kaepernick.
It seems that there are some who are confused about the true symbols of our country.
Not a flag. Not a song.
But, ideas.
You see, the act of kneeling is a proud demonstration of our heritage of ideas - and a beacon of hope that may pierce the darkness that plagues people who live in oppressive and totalitarian regimes - that here - in The Land of The Free and Home of The Brave - we have not forgotten the fundamental principles and truths upon which our great nation was founded.
We do not fight for a flag, or a song - but for the cherished ideas enshrined in a piece of paper that is over two centuries old - yet still, a living document: The United States Constitution.
By kneeling - those athletes are raising a standard around which others may rally - with a silent, yet oh so eloquent act - they proclaim that somewhere along the way - some of our own people have forgotten those fundamental truths of our nation: that men and women are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights - and that the essence of the idea enshrined in that document - which is only symbolized by a flag and a song - is to ensure the establishment of Justice.
The ideas enshrined in that piece of paper make our country great.
Not a flag. Not a song.
Men, and women, fought and died - and sacrificed all they had - to ensure that Freedom and Liberty should not perish from the earth.
Not for a flag. Not for a song.
Each person who has knelt is demonstrating the power afforded them by the ideas in that piece of paper - of Liberty and Freedom - to exercise THEIR RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH - with the sole intent to raise our national awareness of a level of terrible injustice that afflicts far too many across our land - and to peacefully find a way to join their voices with others who similarly wish to protest the injustices that have been visited upon others - who have for far too long been marginalized and demeaned by the many acts of unjust police violence and brutality that continue unabated to this day.
I am a veteran, and I would proudly kneel with Colin Kaepernick.
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