Stand for It
By Chase
August 14th, 2016: Colin Kaepernick took a knee during our National Anthem ahead of a preseason NFL game in protest of racism and police violence. Soon enough, many players followed his gutsy display, disregarding all of the opportunities afforded them by this great nation. These role models, with massive platforms and influence surrounding them, are trying to send a message. It is ironic to see such privileged icons disrespecting the flag and national anthem that has provided them with success.
These days, those who are most fortunate seem to take all we enjoy as Americans for granted. You see immigrants, who have been through hell and back, exhibit more pride for this country than those kneeling on national television. The average NFL salary is $2.7 million per year, and most professional athletes grew up in America, and have enjoyed every freedom imaginable. Why disrespect America now? Why disrespect the country that has given them their riches and privilege? In times like these, where people look to their role models for answers, I would like to highlight a professional athlete going against this subversive campaign. Stephon Tuitt, Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive End is a perfect example of one of the few athletes standing proudly for our national anthem— yet we don’t see this patriotic player plastered all over the news. Tuitt, the grandson of immigrants, fervently shared:
“I stand for the flag because I am a proud American… This country has provided and rewarded my family in so many ways through our perseverance and hard work. I will continue to honor my country and be an example to my children to stand for what they believe in. In regards to police brutality and the black lives matter movement, I will support these causes through other means. It’s unfortunate that a couple unprofessional individuals have caused such havoc on our country and damaged the trust of its citizens.”
Tuitt’s declaration of love for his country, his flag, and his advocacy display that loving and respecting your country, and being critical of it, are not mutually exclusive endeavors.
Unfortunately, Tuitt’s bravery isn’t shared by many and isn’t broadcasted. The flag we love and all it stands for is under attack. It sickens me that this disrespect and hate comes from people who enjoy the highest privileges this country provides. The American flag is a symbol recognized worldwide as a beacon of freedom, opportunity, and hope. Fifty stars and thirteen stripes unite people of all socioeconomic backgrounds, races, religions, political opinions, and much more. History is rife with symbolism, but few symbols possess the ability and innate grace that the American flag has to unite people of all circumstances and creeds. The flag belongs to all Americans, and at minimum, should be respected by all Americans.
We stand for the flag because we respect all that it represents. Since 1776, thousands of men and women have given their lives to defend it. They died for their children, and their children’s children, and so on, to live freely and happily in this nation of endless opportunities. Black, White, Asian, Gay, Jewish, Athiest— the flag represents everyone who aspires to value the truths we hold to be self-evident. The American flag is not about black lives or white lives; it is about American lives. Every person who lives in this country, regardless of the color of their skin or how they identify religiously or sexually, can proudly call themselves Americans. The media and politicians try to divide our fellow Americans and pit us against each other. They try to weaponize the flag and paint it as oppressive or controversial. Many Americans, convinced by media coverage and opinion pieces parading as “news,” see the flag as a symbol of everything wrong with this country. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Regardless of your feelings about our President or the police, we should all stand for the flag and our national anthem. The flag is not a symbol of our politics or leaders— it’s an emblem of American exceptionalism. It is a symbol of the Constitution and the values it upholds. The flag stands for our freedoms, like voting for our representative democracy, our right to due process, and the freedom to speak and assemble as we please. Americans fought and died for a nation free of kings and rid of despots. We stand for the flag because of the ideals of democracy that it represents.
Regardless of the injustice that kneelers face in the USA, they should stand for the flag as it represents ideas that allow all Americans to live in complete freedom. There is no place like the USA, where you can live free from discrimination based on skin color, religious beliefs, sex, or any other superficial attribute. In fact, America is so special that even the kneelers, and the people who hate our country, are protected by it. There is a simple and sweet irony to the fact that as violent Antifa members are arrested, they are guaranteed safety, a fair trial, and a lawyer by the very system they violently protest against. No matter how disrespectful, the flag, and the Constitution it represents, can’t do anything about anyone kneeling during the anthem. While this may be frustrating, there is a certain purity and beauty to it as well.
We are so privileged to live in this beautiful nation, and we stand on the shoulders of the countless brave Americans who upheld and protected our country and its values before us. Our ancestors stood for the National Anthem not as an act of self-flattery, but as a promise to ensure our nation’s preservation and all the opportunities that come with it. It is only fair that we stand during our National Anthem, as a promise to our future generations and as an assurance that our American values will not be lost during this crusade against patriotism. If we cease to respect our symbols representing our freedoms, we will soon lose respect for the freedoms themselves.
When we stand for the national anthem, we are not just standing for the white male soldiers that fought our wars, we stand for all of our veterans. We stand for the nurses who perished while saving lives on the battlefield. We stand for the interpreters who were strung up by terrorist organizations while helping American soldiers in the Middle East. We stand for the women who left their homes and went to work in the factories. We stand for the brave slaves to risked their lives to attain their freedoms. We stand for every person who has died to uphold our values regardless of their national origin, race, or political ideals.
Upon his arrival to the New World in 1630, John Winthrop stated the purpose of the American colonies quite frankly: “We shall be as a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon us.” In all honesty, John Winthrop would be appalled by professional athletes kneeling during the National Anthem, just as most Americans truly understand the sacrifices and intent behind it. We should stand for the flag because people like John Winthrop left and continue to leave their countries to come to America in search of freedom from oppression in a quest for liberty.
If it isn’t already visible, we at The Conservateur are proud of our country— we stand for our national anthem, hands-on hearts and heads held high. We are blessed to be Americans, as this great nation is much bigger than ourselves— it provides hope to those all over the world that freedom is obtainable. In this era of political unrest, we must never weaponize our beautiful flag. It’s not just a piece of red, white, and blue cloth— it is a physical representation of how far Americans are willing to pursue freedom. It is a belief in defending a way of life, centered around democratic ideals and endless possibilities, and most importantly, liberty and justice for all.
Photo via USA Today
