We are now in week three of this – take a knee thing. I suppose you are as sick of it as I am. I’m not usually political in this column, and in fact, in my life. But right now, I’m pretty sick of politics. It seems to have permeated every area of our society.
So let me just say this about that. Some of these NFL football players are still sitting or kneeling instead of standing for the National Anthem. These protesters even said it didn’t have anything to do with the flag, but … hello … that’s when they are demonstrating. I’m not really sure what they are protesting.
These professional athletes are paid a huge amount of money to play a sport. It’s not even a real job. I think in some cases they never really grow up until they finish their sport. Financially, the world has been handed to them.
My thoughts are: if they want to protest something, do it somewhere else, not at their work place. And leave our flag alone. It stands for our way of life and has given them all the privileges that their huge amount of income will buy.
I came across this wonderful statement about respecting the flag and taking a knee. I want to share some of it with you because it really made me think. Actually, if any of those professional athletes read this, it might really make them think, too, about what they are doing!
“Take a little trip to Valley Forge in January. If you don’t know where that is, just Google it. Hold a musket ball in your fingers and imagine it piercing your flesh and breaking a bone or two. There won’t be a doctor or trainer to assist you until after the battle, so just wait your turn. Take your cleats and socks off to get a real experience. Then take a knee.
Then, take one at the beach in Normandy where man after American man stormed the beach, even as the one in front of him was shot to pieces … the very sea stained with American blood. The only blockers most had were the dead bodies in front of them, riddled with bullets from enemy fire.
Take a knee in the sweat-soaked jungles of Vietnam … from Khe Sanh to Saigon … anywhere will do. Real Americans died in all those jungles. There was no playbook that told them what was next, but they knew what flag they represented. When they came home, they were protested as well, and spit on for reasons only cowards know.
Take another knee in the blood-drenched sands of Fallujah in 110-degree heat. Wear your Kevlar helmet and battle dress. Your number won’t be printed on it unless your number is up! You’ll need to stay hydrated, but there won’t be anyone to squirt Gatorade into your mouth. You’re on your own.
There are a lot of places to take a knee. Americans have given their lives all over the world for the flag and for the purpose in which this country was founded – freedom. When you use the banner under which they fought as a source for your displeasure, you dishonor the memories of those who bled for the very freedoms you have. That’s what the red stripes mean. It represents the blood of those who spilled a sea of it defending your liberty.
While you’re on your knee, pray for those that came before you, not on a manicured lawn striped and printed with numbers to announce every inch of ground taken, but on nameless hills and bloodied beaches and sweltering forests and bitter cold mountains … every inch marked by an American life lost serving that flag you protest.
There are no cheerleaders, no announcers, no coaches, no fans … just American men and women delivering the real fight against those who chose to harm us … blazing a path so you would have the right to “take a knee.
You haven’t an inkling what it took to get you where you are; but your “protest” is duly noted. Not only is it disgraceful to a nation of real heroes, it serves the purpose of pointing to your ingratitude for those who chose to defend you under that banner that will still wave long after your jersey is issued to another.
If you really feel the need to take a knee, come with me to church on Sunday and we’ll both kneel before Almighty God. We’ll thank Him for preserving this country for as long as He has. We’ll beg forgiveness for our ingratitude for all He has provided us. We’ll appeal to Him for understanding and wisdom. We’ll pray for liberty and justice for all because He is the one who provides those things.
And there will be no protest. There will only be gratitude for His provision and a plea for His continued grace and mercy on the land of the free and the home of the brave. It goes like this … God Bless America!”
I hope you appreciated this anonymous writing, as I did.
(Melanie Behrens – melb@marysvillejt.com)