If Flag Stands For Freedom, Kaepernick's A Patriot

When this conversation first began, it was way too wrought with emotion to have space for a post of intelligent thought.

Not much has changed emotionally, but lots of things are changing relative to our thoughts and our conversation on this subject. Nothing will erase the fact that plenty of minorities can relate to the emotion that inspired the protest, even if not the protest itself.  What has been a little shocking is how proponents of freedom feel obligated to clearly delineate the difference between standing for the flag from the pride you feel versus standing because OTHERS consider it the respectful thing to do.

Respect is the hallmark of our military, and all respect is earned.

WE haven't done nearly enough conversation about how to combat police violence or address the subjugation of America's minorities like Colin Kaepernick hopes we will, but there is no longer a question about what his protest is pointing a light towards. There is also little question that more money seems to be following the growing group of players willing to put their own money where there protest lies.

You simply don't have to like their protest, or the disrespect it could reflect towards the soldiers that die for OUR freedom. You don't even have to like the attention these athletes have drawn to themselves amidst a team sport environment and on national television at the same time.  In the depths of my passionate desire to find a place of agreement with all people on all topics, I could easily concede each of these points purely on principles that are in line with what we teach our children, if we didn't have so many holidays to remind our children of freedom's provisions.

What I don't see from this topic is that Kaepernick went into  it to do something half-cocked, or lacking acceptance of potential repercussions. In fact, Kaepernick made it abundantly clear that he expected something financially bad to happen as a result of his choice.  If he knew this could hit his pocket, is there any chance he didn't think millions would bend his ear in personal disagreement too?

No way did Kaep', or any of the other NFL patriots that followed him in protest, go into their actions with their eyes shut because the others did it well after Kaep' had already been thoroughly eviscerated with our debates about his protest. If you are willing to concede this obvious reality- that these men expected this would hurt their income yet did it anyway- then you consider them patriots like I do.

How do I know?

Because it takes no kind of patriotism to silently stand and salute with the masses despite everything in your soul telling you that you are doing the wrong thing.

Our flag, Freedom and patriotism are all about doing what few have the courage to do in the hopes of making America a better place for your children and grandchildren.  Even if you are wrong- like all of those who now regret invading Iraq under the banner of freedom- our soldiers who kill and die for good or bad decisions all the same, will always have the distinct respect of being patriots who understand the full risk of their choice, and still serve. Simply put, they do something, and that makes them patriots.

The reason or the way our soldiers stand is never a blemish against their willingness to try; to risk themselves for the noble cause of freedom represented in the flag they defend. Our soldiers might hope they are offering their lives so that every man, woman and child in America can universally respect their efforts and salute the flag in the same respectful fashion, but I doubt that even one of  their life or death decisions entertains dying for sporting event anthems.

Standing before a game is just sort of nice. Sort of.