Kaepernick took a knee. That caused a real dust up. A lot of flag-wrapped people were outraged. Flag-wrapping is a popular pastime, especially for those who never served. Probably they would have served if it had been more convenient. And they never take a knee for anything, because theyhave respect, whatever that means.
Besides, there are lots of ways to be disrespectful when the National Anthem is playing. You could be a player standing on the field scratching his balls, for example. Or maybe you’re in the stands talking on your cell phone. Maybe you’re just digging in to your double cheese nachos and don’t want to put them down. Maybe you have psoriasis of the scalp and don’t want to take off your cap. I really don’t think those brave souls who died on Bunker Hill would turn over in their graves if they heard of that, after all, some of them were also beset by sores.
And what about all the people who have sung the National Anthem? Some have forgotten the words. Some didn’t know the tune. Some were just downright crass and insulting. Some tried to make a mockery of it. But, it’s just a song. So we grumble and fuss and then let it go, chalk it up to bad manners, bad karma, or just a bad upbringing.
We can chalk it up to a lot of things, but taking a knee is nothing more than taking a knee. This isn’t church, it’s a football game. Probably half the people there are betting on the outcome. So, does that make it a kind of casino? Probably not. But , that’s what it’s becoming. Still, most of us don’t go to gambling halls or sporting events to solve problems or display our patriotism. There are other, more meaningful ways to do that.
Let’s see. Maybe we join a local action committee, or show our support by contributing money, time, or energy toward a good cause, such as ensuring lead-free drinking water for our children, or seeing that teachers have the resources they need to be successful, or working to end biased and lethal police practices that manufacture petty criminals so they can be turned into a revenue stream by local governments, or finding ways for the sick and dying to receive some medical attention, or helping the hungry find food, or the homeless to find shelter. Maybe we do something to help make life better for our wounded veterans who were deployed over and over again by a thankless and inept government. Yeah, that’s a good one.
Or maybe we avail ourselves of the most basic opportunity that’s there for each and every single one of us – we vote. We see a problem, we find someone who understands why it is a problem, and we vote them into a position to help effect change. So, although I agree you have every right to kneel as much as you want, every right, if you really want to make a difference, you’ll get off your knees and march down to the Voter Registration Office to sign up. Then it won’t look like you’re begging someone else to take care of the problem for you. And you will be able to count on my continued support for your community involvement. Thank you for caring.