A trend seems to have blossomed among
professional athletes who have chosen to ‘act out’ their perception that they are not represented
by our national anthem. Some choose to remain seated or kneel when the anthem
plays instead of standing, as do other teammates, to acknowledge fondness and
support.
That’s one of the great things
about America isn’t it? Everyone is free to indicate their beliefs. To have an
opinion.
I would much rather these
athletes come to perceive the intangible greatness of a nation that struggles
to improve itself. Such is the full measure of our Flag and our National Anthem.
America has matured from the unwieldy
nation it was when the flag first appeared. The Flag, like our National Anthem,
is colored with principle. The blue field of stars represents a new
constellation. The red stripe indicates valor and the white stripe purity. If
you can disagree with these virtues then I’m glad I don’t know you!
It's been more than 200 hundred
years since Francis Scott Key viewed our embattled Flag during the War of 1812 and
was inspired to compose our National Anthem in all it’s majesty.
We have come a long way from
'Wounded Knee' and 'Rosy the Riveter' or 'Four Dead in Ohio'. The Viet Nam War
is behind us just as 'Watergate' and 'Rodney King'. And yet those historic
events are now woven into the very tapestry of American history. These issues now
have a place in the ‘Stars and Stripes’; each in their own subtle corners. There
for each to uncover.
Are we perfect yet? I'm going to
go with 'NO'! Are we better now? For the most part... Do we constantly toil to
improve? No other option. Is government easy? Nope. Just ask Barack. Do some
feel invisible, neglected or unrepresented? Hell yes! You don't have to be gay
or a person of color for that. Just talk to a Musician, we don't even show up
in the employment stats!
Sometimes it all seems like a
load of ‘nothing good’ to me as well, but you have to admit; Our Flag is still here. And the community of
Nations is better for it. Maybe America should get a new domain name: ‘Foreign
Aid’.
If you hold America up to ideal standards
you’ll likely be disappointed. Compare America to the conduct of so many other
nations and you will be awakened.
Why would so many thousands who
yearn for a better reality want to crash our borders? Stay here
illegally? Fly under the 'social' radar? Risk their lives and their families in
flimsy rafts just for the hope of reaching a shore filled with tangible
promise and a workable future? Go figure. Are they crazed?
These iconic symbols of America
have been revered for nearly ten generations. When you reject the 'Star
Spangled Banner' or 'Old Glory'... you are revealed. You are like Donald Trump blithely
accepting the donation of a Purple Heart. You did nothing to earn it and so it
lacks meaning in your life.
You affirm ( by way of action ) that
you do not expect to be included in the way forward. You declare that American
inspiration and potential is not present in your life even as thousands
clamor at the gate.
Be reminded that you are also
role models. You may be enabling the impressionable young to behave in the self
same way. What would Tupac say?
The National Anthem is
patriotism… period. We embrace the Flag, not only for all it has been through,
but for all the possibilities that lay ahead and beyond.
One of the great things about
America is that we have no prisoners here. We are all free to move along.
