"If you don't love it then leave it." -- Merle Haggard
I have always enjoyed watching Sunday NFL games. However, recently I have become rather disgusted with what I am seeing. I have seen multiple times where NFL players are either kneeling during the National Anthem or worse than that staying in their locker rooms during the National Anthem. They say that it is a defiance to President Trump; that they are doing it because they aren't happy that he is president. Let me tell you that by doing that you are disrespecting the president, but you are also disrespecting the entire country and the men and women that have fought for your right to exercise your freedom of speech which is what you are using when you choose to kneel during the National Anthem or skip it all together.
Let me put this into perspective for you. We live in a free country. No, it is not perfect yes there are flaws. However, it is a free country. We are blessed with many rights so many other countries do not have. Do you know what it costs to have a free country like the one we are blessed to live in? It costs the precious lives of the men and women that have served in our armed forces and died protecting our freedom. Let me throw some numbers out for you.
The American Revolution: 4,435 Casualties
War of 1812: 2,260 Casualties
World War I: 116,516 Casualties
World War II: 405,399 Casualties
Korean War: 36,574 Casualties
Vietnam War: 58, 220 Casualties
Desert Shield/Desert Storm: 383 Casualties
Iraq/ISIS (Currently): 6,775 Casualties and counting
I don't know if you realize this but when you kneel or "skip" the National Anthem regardless of who you are intending on hurting, the people you are really hurting are the families of those fallen soldiers, as well as the men and women who are actively risking their lives every day to ensure that you have the right to exercise your freedoms.
So Dear NFL Players,
I do understand that you have the right to exercise your freedom of speech. You have done so by choosing to kneel during the National Anthem. However, I challenge you to be mindful of what you are really doing when you choose to do this. You make $1.9 million a year on average. You get to see your families and friends after each game.
You have nice houses and equally nice vehicles. You have warm meals at your disposal. You know that you are going to come home each night. This is because you live in a free country that was fought for and is protected by the men and women in our armed forces. On average a soldier makes around $27,198 with four years of experience. They have to go months without seeing or hearing from their families.
They don't have gourmet meals at their disposal. They don't have the luxury to sleep in king size beds. They are throwing their lives in harm's way knowing that they may not wake up to see another day. However, they are doing this because they see what it is like to be in countries that are unstable and don't have the freedom of The United States. Personally, I think you NFL players have it pretty good.
Next time you decide to kneel during The National Anthem or skip it all together. Think about a soldier. They are fighting every day so that you can have the freedom to continue to play your game and live your easy lifestyle. By all means, exercise your freedom of speech but find another way to do it because right now you are looking ridiculous and honestly it's so disrespectful it's disgusting.
Sincerely,
A Soldier's Grandaughter, Niece, and Cousin.