I think I understand what athletes are trying to say by sitting for our anthem, but for me it gets lost in the reality of the delivery.
By refusing to stand for our flag and our anthem, it comes across to me as, “this flag, this country and everyone in it are not worthy of my respect."
I disagree with that. I am offended by that. Maybe it is we who are not worthy of our flag and all it stands for? The flag didn’t let us down, WE have let down the flag and what it represents. That is a message I could support. Perhaps that is what they’re trying to say, but if so, it is coming out backwards. Sitting through the anthem is insulting to all Americans — the vast, VAST majority of whom agree with what these athletes are supposedly supporting. But if they’re truly saying they don’t respect our flag, anthem and country?
Well … That, I cannot understand.
Tom Scarlett is an MSU alumnus. He graduated in 1990 from the James Madison College with a degree in international relations.
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