“I am a Veteran.
I feel that when NFL players kneel rather than stand during the playing of the American National Anthem, they are exercising a right in a way which makes them look like spoiled children.
They are not professional even though they are called professional athletes. They are technically and legally adults, but they are not acting like adults.
The players do not have a right to break the law. Only governments can make laws. The US Flag code is a very weak law using the word “should” and not “must”. A suggestion.
Rules are suggestions, too. The players have a right to break the rules. Rules have consequences.
The US Supreme Court interprets US laws according to the Constitution. Freedom of Speech in the First Amendment of the Constitution keeps the Flag Code from being a strong law. The Supreme Court and the Constitution are very powerful. I respect both very much.
I am a Veteran. I was a Captain in the Army.
There is no law to stand during the National Anthem. Owners can make team rules, face the NFL Players Union in court and fire or bench players who break team rules.
How do I feel? It is a disgusting way to state ones personal opinion. It makes me sick to see it. Standing is an American tradition. Kneeling is a right that does not respect tradition and absolutely does not respect Veterans. It is team unity which tells NFL brother and Army Ranger Pat Tillman that the current players don’t respect his sacrifice for their rights.
As far as I’m concerned, I won’t pay any money to the NFL or buy any products because they sponsor the NFL. I might buy them, because I want to. I might not. Waste of advertising dollars. Expensive. Maybe not.
The NFL players who kneel didn’t break a law.
The NFL players who kneel can break team rules and hide behind their Union which might … or might not … defend them in court.
Those NFL players broke three important rules.
One, they are not respecting Veterans who were killed and maimed to protect their Constitutional rights. Football is a game. Soldiers fight, and face death and maiming. Vets are used to not being respected. Not what we signed for, so of well ... We do respect Vets who gave their blood.
Two, they are awful Americans who are taking advantage of their good fortune of being citizens of this great country. Still Americans though.
Three … most important … they are not respecting their brothers like Pat Tillman, Rocky Bleier and many others who gave their blood to protect their so called brothers.
How do I feel as a Vet? I feel disgusted.”
Captain Fred Schlemm
Oxford dictionary;
pa·tri·ot·ism
/ˈpātrēəˌtizəm/
noun
- the quality of being patriotic; devotion to and vigorous support for one's country.