Ailantha
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Saluting The Flag At Half Mast

9/27/2017

6 Comments

 
     As a prologue to this post I would like to mention that my husband  is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel,
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​...my son-in-law is an ex-Marine captain who served in Iraq,
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...my daughter put college on hold to serve in Americorps,
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​...both my parents are World War II Army veterans,
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...as is my father-in-law,
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...and I served as a Department of the Army Civilian in Aschaffenburg, Germany, where I worked with the troops at Graves Kaserne in a morale support job that could be filled by either a soldier or a DAC, as we were called.
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     I bring all that up only in case anyone should question my patriotic pedigree, try to tell me the meaning of the word "patriotism," or suggest that I might not be someone who loves my country and has great respect - as well as affection - on a personal level for those who've served in the military or national service.

       I also bring it up because Americans, football-loving - nay, worshiping - tribe that we are, have taken sides in an ideological battle over whether it's wrong or right for the players to take a knee during the pre-game singing of our National Anthem as a protest of racial discrimination and inequality in this country and a call for social justice. ​
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     Those who oppose the athletes' gesture claim that kneeling during the National Anthem is unpatriotic and disrespectful to our flag and to those who've served in the military, though as for the anti-military accusation I personally don't get the connection,  since the players have made it very clear that the point of taking a knee is to call attention to the problem of racism and have never indicated in any way that this was meant to disparage our troops.
       Nor, for that matter, do I see why singing our National Anthem on one knee - or at half one's standing height - should be considered unpatriotic. After all, it is considered patriotic to fly our flag at half mast during periods of national mourning. 

    So why should it be any less patriotic to  sing our national anthem at half mast,
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​​...at a time when all Americans should be mourning  the black lives that have been lost to racism in this country?
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   Nor is it unpatriotic to  fly the U.S. flag upside down, as flying the flag upside down is a signal of  dire distress.
   We should all be singing the national anthem standing on our heads.

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References
http://certifiedpolitics.com/healthcare/dallas-cowboys-players-protest/

https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2017-09-25/nfl-players-coaches-protest-national-anthem-in-solidarity-against-trump-comments?context=amp

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-obligation-to-take-a-knee_us_59c9303ae4b0b7022a646c79

6 Comments
Catherine Whitright
9/28/2017 06:32:21 am

This is so well said and makes so much sense. Thank you.

Reply
Patti
9/28/2017 08:32:35 am

Thank you, Catherine.

Reply
Frank H.
9/28/2017 09:17:39 am

A little review of this might be in order, Patti. http://www.usflag.org/uscode36.html#36

Reply
Patti Liszkay
9/28/2017 09:54:33 am

I know the flag code, Frank.

Reply
Michelle France
10/2/2017 02:39:00 am

Patti, you bring to light some excellent points and I am grateful for your insights. The flag represents what we value as US citizens and our black sisters and brothers are asking for the freedom and justice we enjoy and protect. We kneel till all can stand shoulder to shoulder in unity.....and justice for all.

Reply
Patti
10/2/2017 10:37:31 am

Amen to your wisdom, my sister Michelle.

Reply



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