Refusing to Stand for our Anthem? My Thoughts.

I’m a little steamed.

I am a very patriotic person. I am patriotic because I believe in the Christian principles that this country was formed on. Maybe a lot of those have been whittled away over the years, but I still believe in them.  And I believe in the freedoms we have. I have been abroad, and you can’t fully understand how free we are, until you’ve been abroad. And… I’ve been all over the US. It is a diverse and gorgeous country.

So, I see this football player refuse to stand while the national anthem is being played. And, initially, it irritated me. But then he did it again, and I guess some other players joined him. 

And now I hear of a soccer player doing the same.

Excuse me?  What happened to RESPECT?

I realize we have freedom of speech. And I want to keep our freedom of speech. But freedom of speech should be used very intentionally and carefully. 

If you don’t like our country – please leave.

If you don’t respect our country, then don’t publicly play football or soccer for it.

And if you don’t like what we stand for? Then don’t accept our COUNTRY paying you thousands of dollars so you can make a living playing a sport.

THAT is standing for something.

You will not go to a country in the world – where there isn’t injustice. Where there isn’t corruption somewhere. Where there isn’t something that is unfair going on. It’s called sin. Fight for that person. Fight for that situation. But don’t continue to let that country pay you so that you can spill your negative thoughts onto it as a whole.

I have friends who fight for the freedom of this country. They leave their families for months at a time so that someone can exercise their freedom of speech.  You can bet, they’ve seen injustice.

People need to unite for what is GOOD – not for what is bad. Encourage one another and motivate one another to be better. YOU be the example of what is moral, honorable, and valuable.

So, just as a public figure has the right to refuse to respect our national anthem, I have the right to say that I think he shouldn’t be allowed to continue to play on behalf of “said” national anthem and country.

If you don’t believe in something, don’t continue to be a part of it. But don’t poison the rest of us in the process.

I, for one, believe in my country. Despite the bad. Despite the corruption. Because I believe in the ONE who established this country. And I believe in the hearts of the good people who are still out there.

I WILL stand for my national anthem. I WILL put my hand across my chest. Because I believe in my country, and because I am thankful for its freedoms. Because I live somewhere where I am free to read the Bible. I am free to send my children to whatever school they want to go to, I am free to dress how I want to dress, and I am free…… to use my words and speak my mind.

I remember a football player who took a knee to pray before every game. If only he would have been given the same applause.  Freedom goes both ways – people.  Use it carefully.