I am not a fan of sports, especially professional sports. I feel these players are celebrities in the eyes of many. So many look up to these pros, especially kids.
Now hang on, I am going to rant here, so you have the choice right now to stop reading and click off.
We have here in the US over 130 NFL players that go down to their one knee and refuse to stand for the National Anthem. We have a team that wouldn’t even come out of the locker room for the National Anthem.
And…I jumped to judgment and conclusion by listening to the media around all of this. I want to state something here: the one knee is in protest of police brutality. Read a snippet here.
There is so much finger-pointing and controversy going on today. These players are stating why stand to our nation’s flag when people are getting away with murder? However, hasn’t there always been murder going on in this country and world? War is a form of murder, so is hate and prejudice, isn’t it? And hasn’t the Catholic Church been doing a lot of kneeling over the years? Who made the law or rule that we must stand to our flag? Is that a sign of respect? And if so, why isn’t kneeling? And if this is so important, why did the National Anthem get removed from public schools?
I was raised Catholic, and we knelt to God in prayer… on both knees. So what is it here? America, the land of the free and brave, the country of freedom of speech, but you must abide by the rules before you speak your freedom of speech? If not you are a disrespectful person, and you must be fired?
Our President said something inappropriate. I believe a lot of our Presidents say things, they just keep those comments and thoughts behind closed doors (that doesn’t make it right, but it happened, I’m sure). Yes, a lot of our Presidents did things that went against the sacred vows of marriage, the sacred vows of the upstanding the law as being a President of a huge country. But does protesting against the country help?
We want change, we don’t like this or that and so on, but when we REACT to others opinions, comments and beliefs we are not leading change. Stand strong in your belief, stay grounded into your bold voice.
Yes, police brutality is rising, so are a lot of other things especially in the world of Internet where stories are blown up at an all-time rate of nanoseconds. Seriously folks. Blown out of proportion, one-sided, opinions and pounded into our heads from so many different avenues. TV, social media, radio, and yes, conversations on the street. We are inundated. What started as a protest against brutality and hatred has, in my opinion, led us towards more anger and more hatred.
We all need to start thinking of the bigger picture here. Kneel or stand, it doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, our country is our country. Be a proud American, no matter what. If this isn’t an option, then I suggest you begin by counting your blessings.
The hate needs to stop! The destruction of relationships because of opinions and beliefs need to change.
Just because someone doesn’t see things YOUR WAY, doesn’t mean we can’t listen and learn something from them.
Just a reminder what our National Anthem is:
Oh, say can you see,
By the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed,
At the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars,
Through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched,
Were so gallantly streaming.
And the rocket’s red glare,
The bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night,
That our flag was still there.
Oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
For the land of the free, and the home of the brave.
I don’t agree with a lot of what is going on in the United States. This is the home of the brave. This is not a place where we nurture hatred. Regardless of whether you like our President or whether someone chooses to kneel or stand.
My amazing editor, Amanda Horan edits and designs my blogs graphics. But one thing she truly does is keep me in check with my writing, and this to me is a priceless relationship. Thank you, Amanda. Please check her out for any of your editing needs! http://www.amandahoranediting.com/
I stand tall and strong.
Peace,
Kim
I am now and always have been proud to be American. Unfortunately, the past year has made it incredibly difficult to wave that flag of pride. There are countless incidents across this country that have evil at their root, and a lot of that is directed towards people such as myself – minorities. I have long held the belief that I was born with two strikes against me: I was born a female and I was born Black. Throughout life, I’ve had to fight twice as hard for respect, jobs, wages, etc. I’m not jaded; I’m realistic. Right now, divisiveness is rampant. I live in the South. My husband is caucasian. I have views and I’m not afraid to express them. This makes me (and my husband) a target. For me, there is no pride in that. Still, I’m proud to be an American. I simply wish that this current climate — political and more — reflected TRUE American values. beliefs and the spirit of inclusion.
I stand with you, Valerie! It makes me ill and saddens me our country & world is at an all-time high of such horrible diversity. I hope one day to live in a country that thrives on American values, beliefs and yes, the spirit of inclusion. Enough of not accepting humans for humans, political & religious agendas, the righteousness of wronging everyone else. As tough as things become, we all must be proud and start with ourselves to implement change.
As a proud US Veteran of the United States Air Force, I do believe in standing as a sign of respect; however, that is my personal view and thanks to myself and the millions who have served and currently serve our country, we are afforded exactly that — a personal opinion. While we might be “allowed” to do something, it does not necessarily make it appropriate. These NFL players can and often do use their “celeb status” to do major good for individual communities. I hope they continue this type of presence. The Miami Dolphins came over to SW Florida recently to help clean up the damage from Hurricane Irma; however, I don’t think that was majorly covered in the media. That is the good that these players do as well as many citizens. That is what I celebrate. And btw, GO COWBOYS!!!
Yes, Jennifer! I feel our rules are loose and let people of privilege off the hook. Our NFL are celebrities and have the abundance that they have worked hard for and should be able to show opinion and serve our country as Americans. We all need to pull together, celebrities or not!
All relevant points– especially about extreme media on both sides of the fence. Civilized discourse needs a comeback.
Yes, it does! Two sides to every story or is that three? 🙂
What the kneeling is doing is getting the media to talk more about the brutality. A good thing to have people talking even if it’s very differing views.
Yes Lynn! We need people to talk with love and courage, not with anger, opinions, and judgment that closes doors.