I served as a medic in Nam, '67 - '68, and was there during TET. I'd go again. Thank God I'm now too old! Seriously, it's very complex. I think it's our right to stand for the Anthem or to take a knee. I do not view the players taking knees as 'disrespecting the flag or the military'.
They're expressing concern about other facets of our culture and system and government and saying, in effect, that the Government is not living up to the ideals expressed in the Flag or the Anthem and until it does, they will protest peacefully and silently their opposition to the status quo and those in power glibly 'respecting' the Flag while disrespecting and ignoring the ideals embedded in The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
We fought for everybody's right to disagree peacefully and not be punished for expressing that right. That is the backbone of our entire form of Government.
They're expressing concern about other facets of our culture and system and government and saying, in effect, that the Government is not living up to the ideals expressed in the Flag or the Anthem and until it does, they will protest peacefully and silently their opposition to the status quo and those in power glibly 'respecting' the Flag while disrespecting and ignoring the ideals embedded in The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
We fought for everybody's right to disagree peacefully and not be punished for expressing that right. That is the backbone of our entire form of Government.