Not so long ago, a young football player beheld the anthem and the flag of the United States and chose to remain seated. When next we heard of him, he took a knee. Last week, dozens (reportedly over 100 according to reports) of football players chose to take a knee, in support of that young man’s intent and in resistance to the comments of an objectively questionable president. Many have decried these actions as shameful and disrespectful of the Star-Spangled Banner. A fellow content creator wrote a response to this outcry, "Not Standing For The National Anthem Is Not Disrespectful". As a judge might say, I wish to concur.

Before you yell something like “HOW DARE YOU” or “FILTHY LIBERAL” or whatever the popular derogatory phrase is these days, please read on. I beg of ye to set aside your preconceptions and hark unto these humble words.

Part of my reasoning derives from previous articles on Freedom of Speech and an excerpt of MLK's Letter From Birmingham.

First and most obvious, these players absolutely have the ascribed and human right to protest this way. They are not trampling on another individual’s rights, nor are they producing speech which is intended to demean, reduce the exercising of, or attack the rights of others. In addition, it is absolutely unforeseeable that this speech would infringe on the rights of others.

Second, I refer MLK to note his support for opposing laws which do infringe on the human or promised rights of human beings. One could easily take this a step further- that he would call on us to ignore popular social codes in favor of protesting systemic practices or laws which demean those rights. Indeed, he did and would argue that we are obligated to seek changes which promote and reach for actualized equality- the cashing of the full balance of the proverbial check.

It is here I find half of my footing. For the other half, I stand upon notions of patriotism I was either raised upon or have riddled out on my own. Here I will also quasi-detour to inform you of my personal conduct when the national anthem plays. Do I stand? Yes. Do I support those who are not standing and their reasons for such action? Yes. How can this be? I stand mostly out of habit and circumstance. In addition, however, when the anthem plays or if I’m playing or singing the anthem myself, I observe out of high regard for what I enjoy, being an American; and the sort of America I want to help build. That last part is important to me, for I firmly believe that the most patriotic thing one can do for one’s country is to do something to make it better or encourage such improvement.

Similarly, those taking a knee do so in regard to the America whose formation they wish to push along- An America with true equality and fully realized rights for all Americans. In essence, they are pushing for a better America. That sentiment is by far the most patriotic of intentions and thus is highly respectful of the flag, the anthem, and the wonders and honors for which the two are meant to stand. My colleague touched on this, saying, “These athletes are not ignoring the National Anthem or all that it means for our country. But they also know that pride in a country is no reason to turn a blind eye to the need for change.”

I wish to also go a step further to discuss the act of kneeling itself, to which some have specifically taken offense. When I think of kneeling, I think of the coach or band instructor who calls the team into a huddle, telling everyone to take a knee. It is a moment of respect, of listening, of heartening, and of reflecting. I also consider those who kneel for ceremonies in, say, Demolay or in places of faith. It is an act of reverence and declaration of intent or hope for a better world. Still further are those who kneel in grief, mourning that which or those who are lost. Here, the act of kneeling is in hope for a better and in mourning of lives lost or ruined on account of systemic issues faced by our fellow Americans.

Overall, the bottom line is that these players and the people supporting them just want a better America. They have a spotlight which they have worked hard to gain, and now they are using it to bring light to issues many of us are either scared are hesitant to acknowledge or examine. America is grand in its own right, but it is not perfect. We must accept this and work to make it better. Such is our patriotic duty and our obligation to those who fought so hard defend our rights and the security of the nation.