You choose to kneel during our national anthem. You choose to kneel to bring awareness to the "oppression of African Americans" in this country. Oppression, that some of you, have never experienced.

Well, regardless of the situation in our country, I will continue to stand. But I want you to understand why.

I will stand because I'm an American. I will stand because I am proud to be an American. I will stand because it is my patriotic duty.

I will stand for the men and women risking their lives for our freedom and that flag. I will stand for every man and women that has served to protect our country and that flag. I will stand for the men and women that gave their lives serving under that flag.

You didn't just choose to kneel during our national anthem. You chose to kneel while men and women in uniform held a flag in front of you. You chose to not only protest our anthem, but our flag as well.

You chose to be a disgrace. Not only to your team, but the NFL. Not only to your fans, but your country.

The Americans that are represented by that flag were disgraced. The Americans that bought seats in a stadium to watch you play were left disappointed. The Americans that held that flag were disrespected.

Those are the things you actually accomplished. You didn't accomplish ending oppression or raising awareness. You accomplished pissing off and disrespecting more people than you realize.

The people defending your actions are people that believe in one of the following explanations. 1. Your kneeling will shed light on oppression; 2. It's your right given to you by the 1st Amendment; or 3. That the flag is a representation of oppression.

Let me explain to you why all of these reasons are wrong.

1. Your kneeling did not shed light on oppression. People are not talking about oppression. They are talking about boycotting your games and the NFL in its entirety.

They are talking about how they agree or disagree with your form of protest. They are talking about the fact that you are not oppressed. But they are not talking about oppression itself.

2. Now, I'm sure you are unaware of the U.S. Code that states that "during a rendition of the national anthem... when the flag is displayed... all other persons [not in uniform] present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over their heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, hand being over the heart; and... when the flag is not displayed, all present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed".

That's right, you are clearly breaking the law. It is clearly written in black and white what you are required to do, as an American, during the national anthem. Yet, you are refusing to do it...

Freedom of speech doesn't give you the freedom to break the law.

3. The flag is NOT and has never been a representation of oppression. Where people got that from is beyond me. The flag is a symbol of our country's unity and pride. If you think that is oppression, maybe it's not others that need to take a look at themselves.

I can't even express how completely disappointed I am that grown men, role models to young children, have decided to act this way. Instead of standing during the national anthem and taking another time to talk about the issues, you kneeled and disrespected your country. I in no way agree with what you've done and continue to do.

So, despite your actions I will continue to stand. I will always stand. Because I'm a proud American and that's what I'm supposed to do.