*sigh*
If I hear one more redneck rant about how football players kneeling during the National Anthem is disrespectful to veterans, I am going to start the next American Civil War single handed.
Let me be clear, as a veteran, I will tell you flat out that I take NO OFFENSE whatsoever to football players kneeling to protest injustice. I fought for their right to do this. We are a nation founded on civil disobedience. Our breaking from England was a massive act of civil disobedience.
If you are so upset about football players kneeling, by all means, boycott the NFL. But, have the guts to admit that it is because YOU are upset, not because you actually think veterans are being dishonored. Quit hiding behind us and quit using us to justify your anger.
I am dishonored by people who do not believe that their fellow Americans have a right to protest what they see as systemic injustice. If you want to take the politics out of sports, quit playing the National Anthem prior to the start of the game.
The anthem started being played during, and later before, sporting events to gin up enthusiasm for WWI recruitment. That, in and of itself, is political.
I do believe that some of you cannot admit that what actually upsets you is that people of color are getting “uppity” and forgetting “their place” in society. If we are a society that respects the right to protest, then we must respect the right of these sports figures to kneel in protest.
Oh, if you really want to do something to honor veterans, I would suggest that you should lobby Congress to quit voting down EVERY SINGLE BILL designed to benefit veterans. Then, and only then, might I see you as having a moral argument behind your outrage.
Until then, you are just a bunch of assholes.