My father put on the uniform and gave all for this country for 8 years, that’s 8 more years than Donald J Trump and a bigger sacrifice than he’s ever or will ever make for this country. When they play the national anthem during sporting events he changes the channel, not out of disrespect but because he’s seriously disabled and can not stand up, the only time he tried for that long was at my brothers funeral when the military played TAPS and they folded the flag.
My father is deeply offended, not by the players but by Donald Trump and those who attack the players for expressing their opinion. Seeing a player take a knee doesn’t offend my father but what truly offends him is when he hears someone say “it’s a disgrace to the men in uniform and those who gave their lives for the flag”. No, No it is not and if you ask most of the brave men and women who chose to serve this great country they will tell you that they might not agree with the protest but support the players rights 100%.
They put on the uniform to defend our freedom and one of those freedoms is speech if you agree with it or not. They did not put on the uniform to have a president try to be a dictator and tell people what they can and can not do. They did not put on the uniform to be used as pawns to score political points.
My father has pointed out just like the players have a right to take a knee so do politicians like Donald J. Trump have a right to call them names and exploit the military to make himself feel tough when in truth he could never handle service and no Trump has ever sacrificed for this great country. He thinks while Donald has the right to express himself that the man is truly a coward who hides behind the flag and whenever questioned runs scared to one of his safe spaces.
Ask any veteran if they are offended by the players taking a knee or if that truly isn’t what they put their lives on the line for. My brother is not with us anymore but I can tell you he didn’t put on the uniform and risk his life in Iraq so a tin pot dictator could try and suppress speech here at home.
If it offends you change the channel, don’t go to the games (I’m sure there are thousands who would kill for your seat) and throw a fit stomping your feet but do not tell me that these men do not have a right to express themselves or speak out and do not tell me that it’s a disgrace to the flag and the memory of those who gave their lives especially if you’re a republican who is more than happy to sacrifice young lives for the military industrial complex can keep getting richer then exploiting brave men like Pat Tillman or those in Benghazi for your own gains.
Having a president who uses his office to attack people, belittle fellow Americans and refuses to call out racist hate groups and thinks he’s a dictator is a disgrace to those who put on the uniform and gave their lives.
I will #TakeAKnee this weekend and if my father could he would be right there with those players not because he might agree with the players or even that it’s the right thing to do but because this is America and we have the freedom to let our voices be heard.