Let’s come together; it’s time
Overcoming The Great Divide driven by The Great Divider
It’s time. No, I take that back. It’s long past time.
Let’s come together, arm in arm.
Please hear me out.
Would I kneel during the national anthem? No. I understand that the flag is a symbol of our country and it represents the blood, sweat, tears, and much more that our great veterans and soldiers have put on the line for this great nation. However, I also realize that these esteemed men and women don’t and didn’t fight for symbolic reasons but for something much greater: freedom, liberty, and justice FOR ALL. These ideals are the true purpose behind the fight. Yes, America is the best country in the world and affords greater freedoms than anywhere on the planet. But, to pretend that it is fair to all is to blindly ignore reality, which too many have been doing for far too long. I have personally witnessed it, have family affected by it, and have seen it simply dismissed. That is why I would stand, but I would also stand next to someone that is kneeling in silent peaceful protest and lock my arm with their’s as a sign of unity and respect. THAT is what this country is about. If you’re angry at those kneeling, your anger is misplaced. You should be angry at those such as the current President who is purposely causing division among our people, which resulted in more people kneeling and protesting during the anthem than ever before. Ironically, displaying our great country’s strength, we are witnessing more people coming together in unity, whether they choose to kneel or stand in peaceful reflection, than we have ever seen. Let’s adapt our way of thinking in the current climate: let’s choose unity instead of division, understanding instead of derision, peace instead of strife.
To demonstrate where I’m coming from, let’s talk about a different flag. ‘They are doing no harm with their peaceful display and we will take no action’. Want to take a guess as to the background story? I’m paraphrasing the response that my sister-in-law received recently from her home owner’s group after a disturbing event. She is a very successful doctor, an OB, who lives in a beautiful resort in West Virginia on the edge of a pristine lake. Her husband, who is successful in his own right and the type that is always smiling and out in the community volunteering to coach kids teams or lend a hand, happens to be black and they have two beautiful and brilliant young children together. Amazingly, someone recently decided to place a flag on public property directly facing their yard … a confederate flag. Now, I know the controversy about what the flag represents, but no matter what side you’re on it’s impossible to not understand it’s significance in this situation. Home owners associations can tell you to cut your grass if it’s a few inches too high, change your fence if it’s not the right color, not use loud music past 10:00, or what types of trees and shrubs you can and cannot have on your property. But, they permitted this open display.
Fine, while an overtly rebellious act, it was ‘peaceful’. However, it brings to light the great prejudice and division that still exists in our society. It’s easy to dismiss the message when you’re not the one getting questioned or put under extra scrutiny because of your skin color. It’s easy to ignore when you’re not the one getting pulled over repeatedly for no real reason. It’s easy to say these situations are brought upon by the people involved when you have never experienced it yourself. It’s easy when it’s not you explaining to your kids why someone would think less of them simply because of the genetic expression of melanin in their skin. We’ve come a long way, yes. We still have a long way to go. Oppression exists, and it happens right around us in broad daylight on a daily basis. To now say that these same people that are forced to face a confederate flag and/or still have to deal with this discrimination should be vilified if they choose to kneel peacefully and quietly during an anthem to bring light to their situation is to show a true double-standard.
Let’s recognize our problems and acknowledge the plights of others. The only wrong side is the one that doesn’t listen. If you do kneel, understand why others would be upset and find a way to show respect to those that have fought for this country and our freedoms.
There’s irony in the fact that many who have mocked political correctness are now so focused on feeling disrespected when others kneel for the anthem that they disregard the real message and don’t see their own hypocrisy. It’s a form of political correctness to stand for the anthem, one that I choose to abide by, but the overarching meaning and glory of the United States is in our actions to each other and in our laws that govern us. Let’s continue to fight to fix those, because we ARE still fighting. Those that kneel are fighting in their own manner and are willing to stick their necks on the line to do so. Whether they're wealthy or not, sports stars or not, that has no consequence on the message.
Stand if you wish. Kneel if you wish. But, let’s do it together, peacefully and quietly, arm in arm, hand in hand. We are strong, we are proud, and we are ONE. Let's be the beacon of strength for the rest of the world to emulate.
