Why We Stand

[UtahPete]

"America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You've gotta want it bad, cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say 'You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, and who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours.' You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then you can stand up and sing about the land of the free." This is from a movie with Michael Douglas.

America is the greatest idea ever. It's the idea that all men are created equal and have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. If you woke up in America you woke up free. Freedom is difficult and isn't just a choice of which fast food place to eat today. Freedom is the ability to get up and pursue your dreams or not. American doesn't promise life will be easy but possible and we all have the ability to make choices for ourselves for which we will suffer or benefit.

To me our flag and anthem represent those freedoms. They don't represent veterans, police or first responders only, they represent everyone who wakes up within our borders who came to America with a hope for a better life and the freedom they have to pursue that life. They represent anyone who stops to help at a crash scene or gives money to a homeless person or the homeless person himself. American never promised things would be easy but possible. i strongly disagree with someone kneeling at our anthem but they have the right to do so however misdirected it may be. I disagree with the porn industry as well but they are there. I don't want the government to censor them because the government that can censor porn can also censor my Bible.

I have much more to say but I won't now. Chris

Nailed it!

 

[asp125]

This is the problem with America, everybody's so entitled that they passionately have to be RIGHT. And everybody that disagrees with your views is not just different, but plain WRONG. Tribalism, echo chambers, isolationism, we're becoming a closed minded society in general. We whine in the media and on forums that our views are correct and hate on views that are in opposition.

Agree to disagree, move on, go riding.

 

[2Paw]

What I find more offensive than kneeling in protest, is those who neither stand or kneel. I'm talking about those who just go on talking and sit around eating their hot dogs,drinking their beer and letting their kids just run wild.

 

[Lew L]

If I visited a foreign country, Canada or England perhaps, and was at an event there that countries' national anthem were played ------- I would most certainly stand in respect to that countries anthem.


Wouldn't you ????

Lew L

BTW: With 37 years in the high school classroom , I ran into a few students who didn't want to participate in the morning pledge to the flag. I know who they were and let them not participate by either standing quietly or leaving the room-- their choice. But it was NOT a time to protest.........

PS: I also like what C Lee said.

 

[UtahPete]

If I visited a foreign country, Canada or England perhaps, and was at an event there that countries' national anthem were played ------- I would most certainly stand in respect to that countries anthem. Wouldn't you ???? Lew L

Personally, I don't like the nationalism that goes hand-in-hand with certain sports. I've never understood that mentality. How does a sport become associated with national identity and patriotism? It's nuts.

 

[wingit3611]

Respect

Those that kneel have been quietly protesting what they believe in, at least that's what I have seen. So, how is that not good manners or the lack of common sense?

I served in the military to protect your country's liberty and freedom. That includes those that kneel or stand during the National Anthem.

Respect for All the people that have fought and died and are fighting rite now for your rite to be free to do as you wish. RESPECT

 

[jlc41]

God bless us all and the USA, land of the free. Difference of oppinion and the ability to express it is what makes this country great. It brings ideas to the fore front and helps unify our country. Although some go kicking and screaming. I for one do not care for kneeling for our National Anthem, I respect the flag and what others have so eloquently said it stands for. I will leave you with this thought. I prefer to agree to disagree, but I try to understand the other point of view.

Joe

 

[UtahPete]

Respect for All the people that have fought and died and are fighting rite now for your rite to be free to do as you wish. RESPECT

There is NO connection between respect for the flag and respect for combat veterans except in your mind.

UtahPete
Vietnam combat veteran

 

[UtahPete]

I stand for the flag to show support for my country and stand in support for what it was founded on.
I kneel in church at an alter to show my surrender, reverence, and to give honor to the King of Kings.

I'm okay with that, even though I don't share your beliefs. Are you okay with me identifying both your statements as beliefs rather than absolute truths?

 

[Indyron]

Food for thought...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPHSXUS0_1c

 

[Bob Denman]

A person's beliefs can be held as absolute truth: to the person who believes them! :thumbup:

 

[UtahPete]

A person's beliefs can be held as absolute truth: to the person who believes them! :thumbup:

Not according to commonly accepted definition of absolute truth

https://simple.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolute_truth

 

[Bob Denman]

I prefer something a bit more of this nature:

"a fact or belief that is accepted as true."

"

 

[wyliec]

look at where they kneel, that is the problem. they have my permission to kneel on their 5 acre homes and broadcast it on pay per view but don't push that agenda on my time without paying me millions.

Protests are usually a public demonstration of disapproval. You probably should stick to your interpretations of the koran, they usually make a little more sense.

Thank you asp125.

 

[UtahPete]

I prefer something a bit more of this nature: "a fact or belief that is accepted as true."

Alternate facts are getting a lot of play nowadays.

 

[Bob Denman]

One Man's fact is often another Man's pile of bull****. You just have to learn to accept what you can; and ignore the rest.

 

[UtahPete]

One Man's fact is often another Man's pile of bull****. You just have to learn to accept what you can; and ignore the rest.

I think you are confusing facts with opinion and beliefs. There's a lot of that been happening lately.

The above is an opinion. No verifiable facts contained therein.

 

[PrairieSpyder]

Personally, I don't like the nationalism that goes hand-in-hand with certain sports. I've never understood that mentality. How does a sport become associated with national identity and patriotism? It's nuts.

I don't see anything wrong with the occasions when a bunch of Americans are gathered to acknowledge their American-ness!:lecturef_smilie: