We've heard all over the news for as long as I can remember about Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter. We've heard about the riots in Charlotte and Kaepernick refusing to take a stand for our anthem. And through this all, I've only come to one conclusion about our country: We've turned into a self-entitled nation with a lack of respect.

This topic has been at the back of my mind ever since I first heard the viral news about Kaepernick. However, I didn't really feel compelled to put these words out there until the other day at a volleyball game I saw a group of girls sitting, snickering, and joking around while everyone else stood with hands over their hearts as our national anthem played.

I fully understand that someone has a right to express their thoughts and beliefs according to the first amendment. You do that. But while you're expressing that freedom you forget the people behind the scenes. You forget the people that are risking their lives in order to give you the freedom to completely disrespect them.

Recently I watched a video in which the Virginia Tech Basketball Coach taught his players why he expects them to stand for the national anthem. He illustrated to them that they never earned the right to be playing for the school. He told them that it didn't matter how fast or tall or talented they were and that the only reason they were given the ability to play was because of the men and women fighting for our country, protecting them, that they were even there in the first place.

Not kneeling for the National Anthem isn't a jab at the Blue Lives Matter or Black Lives Matter movement at all. It has nothing to do with racism and the awful events that are unfolding all around our country. Kaepernick said, "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a country that oppresses black people and people of color."

So my question is, while you're not standing up to show pride in a country of oppression, you're also spitting in the face of every single man and woman who have died protecting this country. And that's exactly what is wrong with our society. We think that by stomping on and burning flags that we can just burn away racism. I don't know if you know this but our flag doesn't stand for racism at all.

Our flag is the symbol that is carried across the battlefield in the hands of both white and black men and women. Our flag is the symbol of hope for those people that put their lives on the line every single day in order to protect the right of every single person in this country to make idiot comments and disrespect them in every way possible. Our flag is the covering that lays across the coffin of our mothers and fathers, our brothers and sisters, our husbands and wives because they had hope in a nation that people have the audacity to turn their noses down at.

Our country needs saving, that's for sure. But it doesn't need people to think their greatest contribution is burning the flag or refusing to stand for our national anthem. Because when it comes down to it Kaepernick and our Soldiers all wear helmets. The only difference is that Kaepernick gets paid $114,000 to disrespect the very soldier that on average gets paid $18,000 to risk his life.

So show a little respect and stand tall for your country when that anthem is played. It's not about racism here. It's about respect.