I was in the military for 8 years. My opinion is, I served to protect freedom, human liberty. And.... that includes the right to expression, protest, and to peaceably assemble to address grievances. In fact, "protest", itself is distinctly... American. Think of the Boston Tea Party, a protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston, on December 16, 1773. The Sons of Liberty, some disguised as Native Americans, in defiance of the Tea Act of May 10, 1773, destroyed an entire shipment of tea sent by the East India Company, which had 342 chests of tea on board. America was born from the courage and determination to protest against perceived abuse of power.
Going back even further, in Christianity, many Christians felt that it was their right to read the Word of God in their native tongue. They desired to see the Bible printed in something other than Latin. Once having read the Bible they realized that the Catholic Church had twisted and misinterpreted the Scripture almost beyond recognition. These Christians resisted Papal power with vehement protest within churches, pulpits, in streets and open air preaching. Among them are names like John Huss, Martin Luther, William Tyndale. These became known as "Protestants" meaning, "Protest-ants". Even to this day any religious group that takes issue with Roman orthodoxy is listed as "Protestant".
When it comes to modern protestors, we have various groups of protestors who riot, damage property, issue threats, cause bodily harm, or who might even take actions that could be defined as terrorism. We rightfully denounce them and demand that their violence is unnecessary, that they could choose a more peaceful means of getting their message out.
Enter... the NFL.
NFL is high profile. If someone wants to get a message out, they need a high profile platform. Players who feel these contemporary issues of excessive force, police brutality, or systemic racism are important to them have decided to make their voices known. They have chosen to... take a knee at a critical moment when they'd ordinarily be standing. To take a knee during an anthem, prayer, or invocation is a sign of petition. It is to indicate a "plea". To these players, to take a knee during the anthem is to symbolically make a "plea" to the American people, American politicians, and all Americal social insititutions to consider their cause as fellow Americans who are suffering from what they perceive to be injustice.
In short, there couldn't be a more peaceful means of sincere and high prophile protest. And yet... they are being vehemently denounced just as badly as those who are rioting.
What message does that send?
It sends the message that it really doesn't matter if the protest is violent or peaceful... there are segments of our society that do not want to hear their voices and would perfer they be silenced. As an American, THAT angers me far more than a man taking a knee for a minute during the very anthem that stands for his right to do so. The real threats to America are those who would silence and denounce even the most peaceful of protest. And what most Americans don't realize is... this is a form of nationalistic fascism. To wave a flag, offer patriotic banter, and then... silence or condemn peaceful protest? Ummm... that's antithetical to what our nation is all about.
So, as one side waves their flags and chooses to curse and condemn Americans who are simply excersizing their right to protest by peacefully kneeling, remember this quote:
“I confidently trust that the American people will prove themselves too wise not to detect the false pride or the dangerous ambitions or the selfish schemes which so often hide themselves under that deceptive cry of mock patriotism: ‘Our country, right or wrong!’ They will not fail to recognize that our dignity, our free institutions and the peace and welfare of this and coming generations of Americans will be secure only as we cling to the watchword of true patriotism: ‘Our country—when right to be kept right; when wrong to be put right.’” ~ Senator Carl Schurz, remarks in the Senate, February 29, 1872
His point is, a false "patriotism" is typically the last refuge of a scoundrel. True patriotism speaks against injustice for the very sake of the nation and future generations. True patriotism sees a plea against injustice and seeks to remedy the injustice.
So, instead of ranting against those taking a knee, I will support their right to do so. In addition, I commend them for presenting an example of a peaceful protest in a society that appears to run headlong into the willingness to engage in violent protest.
I would like to also mention that police brutality isn't always drawn along the lines of race. Police officers spotted a car racing down the highway at excessive speed and began to chase. The car wouldn't stop. They eventually threw out spikes, brought the car to a stop, and ordered the occupants out at gun point. When one got out, they tazed him for trying to speak to them and not getting immediately on the ground. The second occupant wasn't getting out of the vehicle. Officers approached the vehicle, tazed the second occupant and forcibly removed them from the vehicle.
Why didn't the occupants stop their car for police? Or better yet - Why didn't the second occupant refuse to get out of the vehicle?
The second occupant was in labor.
This mother and father to-be was racing to the hospital to have their child delivered. And the police unleashed a nightmarish horror of brutality upon this couple.
This sort of brutality isn't as rare as we might think. It happens every day.
I don't doubt that in some areas demographics will reveal excessive force and brutality along racial lines. But that isn't the full picture. The full picture is that we are dealing with increasing numbers of law enforcement officers who have god complexes and a militant mindset, not a civil servant mindset. These personality types want to be, Dirty Harrry. And in training they are conditioned to not hesitate to use lethal force at the slightest threat of danger, real or perceived. They have become more like an occupying army patroling our streets than fellow citizens commissioned to protect and serve. Our despotic criminal justice system has criminalized nearly everything but fresh air, and to be "hard on crime" we've taken away the ability of the courts to show greater leniency with manditory sentencing laws. We've turned the standard police car into an armored SUV with military grade equipment in the back. Police shifted from wearing blue shirts with tie to wearing body armor and black uniforms, helmets, automatic weapons, and crowd control gear. Their job is now to enforce the law, not to protect and serve. And enforce it they will... with a strong boot pressed firmly in the back of a pregnant woman about to give birth.
I was pulled over one night because the light over my license plate was out. I realized very quickly that I better put both hands on the wheel. I only answered with yes and no "officer". I described my actions in advance so that I wouldn't get shot when reaching for my wallet. After the police officer drove away... I realized that I'm a tax paying citizen. Why was I scared? Why was my primary concern not being killed so that my son wouldn't lose his father? Why did I fear those who are supposed to protect me?
Our Founders are rolling over in their graves. Because there is a word for this sort of thing. It's called... TYRANY.
Welcome to the United States of America, 2017. Keep waving your flag and singing "God Bless America" as loud as you want. But above all, remember... no sudden moves... or you'll wind up dead.
*takes a knee*
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