I think we all might be looking at this the wrong way.

Let me get my personal stance out of the way so that you can see where I'm going with this once you get to the end. I stand for the National Anthem. I put my hand over my heart. Always have and always will. My parents both served in the United States Air Force for 22 years. Their parents and siblings served in the military and my lineage goes all the way back to American Revolution! Seriously. I have documentation to prove that I am a DAR (Daughter of the American Revolution).

Respect for the military, its purpose and allegiance to this country run deep in my family roots.  Doesn't matter if it's a little league game, a college basketball game or an NFL game: if I'm there I will stand to honor the flag, this country and the men and women who fought and still fight to keep it free.

With that being said....

The definition of freedom:

  • the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.
  • absence of subjection to foreign domination or despotic government.
  • the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.

When we use the phrase 'fighting for our freedom' the above definition is what our men and women in uniform are actually fighting for.

I can understand how and why people would be upset with NFL players for kneeling, sitting or not even being on the field for the national anthem, however, there is no law that requires you to stand for the National Anthem and these football players are completely allowed under their 'freedom' to act, speak or think as they please.

We each get our own opinions. There is no right or wrong here. It is 100% a personal choice. We all have our own reasons why we choose to sit or stand or kneel and just because their actions and reasons go against your own doesn't make them bad or immoral people.  It just makes their opinion different than others.

I think this conversation has become about the actions and not about what they are representing. They are representing a topic that still exists in this country. They are using their voices how they know to get the conversation started. While everyone in American is freaking out about what they did during a game, the issue STILL exists and they just want to find an answer, end the injustice and feel equal.

I don't think they are doing this out of disrespect for our country, the flag or our men and women in uniform. I think they are doing this out of respect for the topic they are passionate about. Just because they are showing respect towards that topic doesn't mean they disrespect the other.

I can peacefully stand and honor the flag because of my own personal convictions. I don't need others to do it also for it to be right for me. I'm not judging anybody. I just do me.

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