A True Patriot Stands
This past week has been a mind blowing adventure through a cultural divide. I cannot believe that we as a country are to the point of arguing about the national anthem. It’s sad, to say the least. What is really going on here?
I think that most can agree that Trump shouldn’t have said what he did about players taking a knee during the anthem (although most can agree with him, it’s not really his place to say such things). But then for so many in the league to protest last Sunday, it came off as more of a jab at Trump than meaningful message.
Not only was it a jab at Trump, it was a jab at America.
Now, I am one who defends the 1st amendment to the fullest, but I always say “Just because you have that right doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right thing to do”.
So when a situation like this arises, I find myself feeling torn; On one hand, they have every right to peaceful protest in however they see fit, and on the other they are using that right at a time that we show respect for our nation.
From my point of view, I see a “national” league that chooses to kneel during the national anthem, intentionally upsetting millions of their supporters. Sorry, but I find that to be rude. Not to mention the kind of disrespect that’s directed toward American heros. Maybe I’m just too American, but I just couldn’t possibly go against the grain on this issue. When I hear the “Star Spangled Banner”, I imagine the Battle of Baltimore (massacre, really) at Fort McHenry. The song was written by Francis Scott Key after he boarded the flagship of the British fleet on the Chesapeake Bay, in hopes to exchange prisoners of war.
Once on board, the British explained that there was a massive attack planned on the fort. They had sent word that if the American flag is lowered, and if they surrender to the British, no harm would come to them.
As the fleet drew nearer, Francis kept his eyes locked on the flag.
Eventually, the British grew tired and attacked. They hit the fort with everything they had, pausing now and again to see if the Americans had surrendered. "It seemed as though mother earth had opened and was vomiting shot and shell in a sheet of fire and brimstone," Key later wrote.
From eight miles away, Key would watch the fort get pummeled on by the British…..for 25 hours. When darkness arrived, the sky was glowing red with explosions. And in that red glowing light, he could still see the flag waving high and proud.
After many hours, they hit the flag so hard that it had started to fall down. Key could barely see the flag, but every so often it was standing straight up again. By the dawn hours of September 14, the smoke had settled. He could barely recognize it, but the flag was still there, leaning at an angle and tattered. The reason that the flag would straighten back out was because a patriot stood there, holding it high after the pole was damaged. Every time that flag was hit, a new patriot stood there. Every. Single. Time. Until the pile of bodies was the only thing holding it up.
That is a story of honor, pride, bravery and respect.
The “Star Spangled Banner” isn’t just about these things though, it's about everything good and bad in our country.
It’s about people who have fought for our country, and who have died for it.
It’s for people who were born here, and those who have immigrated here.
It’s about justice, freedom, love and hate.
It is about you and me and everybody in this great country.
Our anthem honors our incredible journey as a nation with a short history. If somebody feels that’s a good time to make “their” statement, I’m just not on board with that fleet, I would rather die holding my flag high with the patriots.