I have been thinking on this whole NFL thing and listening to all sides and the only thing I think about is that for myself, I think we need to respect those who have put their lives on the line and have given their lives for our country. I totally respect our flag and our country. I am beyond grateful for all of those who made it so we have the freedoms we have. I also think that everyone has a right to protest and while I don’t agree with how they are doing it, I am glad they aren’t killing each other.

Click Here to Read What the Flag Codes Are

What bothers me the most is that there are a ton of distractions and I wonder if the point is being missed. People are taking sides. You are either on one side or another. Over the past year or longer it has been about are you a Republican or a Democrat. There is no middle ground. I refuse to jump on that bandwagon. Just today I have seen post after post about how Liberals aka Democrats should go to hell. I find it horrible when it comes to those who profess to be a Christian.  Players and people are using their platforms as a way of taking sides. I don’t see a problem with people using their platform like the NFL or NBA or whoever else to raise awareness. But. why do it in this way?

This next section is still about not saluting the flag and not saying the pledge. Even though they don’t solute the flag and they don’t pledge allegiance to the flag, they only pledge their allegiance to God.

I have many family members and friends that are Jehovah’s Witnesses. Hopefully my cousin Raelene will be OK with me sharing this. I don’t even think she would remember this since I was about 9 yrs old. She and I were in the same classroom and at the beginning of the class we all stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Since her family is Jehovah’s Witnesses, they didn’t recite the pledge, but she was still respectful. I have always remembered that. They also didn’t participate in holidays. Which is why I don’t do most of the holidays. Even thought I’m not a Jehovah’s Witness, I can’t in good conscience celebrate holidays that have pagan origin. Everyone is different and can choose for themselves, but I can’t do it. I don’t think she realized how much I observed and I learned from her. Even though she didn’t recite the pledge, she didn’t do anything to stand out and make it about her. For her and all Witnesses, it is because of their faith.

I have asked some of my friends a long time ago about why is it that they hate the flag and they said that  even though they don’t solute the American flag they still respect it. Jehovah’s Witnesses respect the governments and flags under which they live.  Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the flag salute is an act of worship, and a “pledge of allegiance” can only made to God.  They make it a point to be neutral. I’m bring up the Jehovah’s Witnesses because I have seen some people on Facebook compare the two things and say that they hate the flag, and that isn’t the case.  But, this whole thing with the NFL is different, I don’t understand what the purpose is.  Click here to read more about why they don’t vote, do the pledge and solute the flag. 

My mother in law would be spitting mad over all of these things going on. I remember many times where she would have been in tears over people not standing when the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance. Oh man, would she be upset to the point of tears. I have seen it where she was so overcome when people wouldn’t stand, that she would walk up to the people and she would give them a piece of her mind. She lived through WW2 and my father in law served.  I have to say that I didn’t always stand until I seen how important it was to her.

I would think there would be other peaceful ways to protest. I don’t understand the whole taking the knee. I guess I won’t since they aren’t people or groups I know. But, I do know that I am grateful to everyone who has served our country.  Not just those who are in the military, but those who protect and serve like the police and the firemen.

There is a lot of work that needs to be done and by protesting in any form, changes needs to happen long-term, not just during football games. Are they accomplishing anything by taking the knee and not standing up for the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem? I guess in some ways, but, I don’t know what it is accomplishing. I wish there was other ways to come together and support each other. Anymore I feel like it is more about politics instead of human rights. It seems like it is more about Trump instead of what they want to say. I’m guessing others may be confused as well.

Anyone who knows me knows that I didn’t vote for Trump and I wouldn’t in the future. Everyone has a right to vote for the person they want. I am an Independent and I vote for the person not the party. I vote for the person who best aligns themselves up with what I find important which is why I voted for Kacish out of Ohio. Everyone has their own reasons for who they vote for and that’s one of our greatest freedoms. I just wish that for those who want to protest that they would make it about the cause instead of doing things the way they are doing them.

I was watching a town hall meeting on CNN that Anderson Cooper was doing.  Those who participated were Spike Lee and former Pittsburgh Steeler Hines Ward, Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins and York Jets player Michel Faulkner,  Click Here to watch it or watch clips. I know there are many Republicans who don’t watch CNN and they only watch Fox News. This may be one of those times where you may want to watch it. The reason why is that they are having a healthy discussion and those who have served our country, veteran’s, and people from all sides sat down and talked about the issues. I don’t watch just one news station. I watch them all, that way I am informed.

When I was the video manager at the grocery store I worked at was asked a question by a veteran who just returned to the United States from serving in Iraq. He asked me point-blank what I thought about the United States being in the war. I knew what I thought and believed about it, but I was afraid to answer that question for a couple of reasons. The main reason was because I didn’t feel like we should be in Iraq and the second was because I was at work, and I could get in trouble for talking about religion and politics. I always talked about my faith and felt if I was going to get fired for something, I was OK with sharing my faith in Christ. But, I told him and I was very honest with him, that I felt that we shouldn’t be in the war, but at the same time, I support those who were called and those who served and have served our country and for that I am thankful. If it wasn’t for men like him, then we would not have the freedom of free speech and freedom of religion that we have. I thanked him for his service and told him that I was happy to see that he came home safe. He was part of the 222 National Guard.

If someone was to ask me to stand with them and march against those who are being treated unfair such as those who have been treated badly, killed and judged because of their skin color, I would stand beside them without thinking twice. I have marched against the KKK, hate groups and in support people of color. I have participated in awareness marches and protests when it comes to my faith. I just can’t see what is being accomplished by the taking a knee.

I think the best thing would be if people would start treating people in a respectful way. Change is taught in the home and that we should be treating others as we would want to be treated, no matter the race.  I would find it very interesting for people on all sides of the fence, all colors of their skin to come together and find a way to work with each other in a respectful way.