For the record, I did say "at first I was pissed, but then I remembered" The "I remembered" part referring to me remembering what the Paralympics are. If you cannot stand, it's one thing, but you ought to respect your flag enough to stand up during your own national anthem. During the national anthem, or the pledge of allegiance, you are supposed to stand, take off your hat, place your right hand over your heart, and face the nearest flag. It's a matter of respect for the founding fathers and those who fought and died for your freedoms. I'm not saying that someone HAS to stand up for the national anthem, but that they SHOULD. You don't have to respect people, but you SHOULD.
I don't think it's a matter of respect for those people; I'm sure the protesters respect America and its troops/founders. They don't need to follow a tradition to feel that respect, but choosing to publicly go against that tradition is a useful and clearly thought provoking way to express their dissatisfaction. It gets people talking; it's effective. Which is the point of a protest. In any case, a good way to show respect to the principles of America would be to hear these people out and focus on fixing the problems that make them want to protest, instead of criticizing them over a tradition. (Note, I'm not from America so I may not be completely aware of how things are over there. This is just my opinion from what I've heard on the news.)
It is a matter of respect because the issues they think they are protesting are not issues.
The points and arguments have been proven wrong countless times, and organized groups behind these protests are beyond unreasonable.
Now they are ruining one of America's pastimes by politicizing something that is meant to bring people together.
And they are doing it in a manner that insults every man and woman that has been, is, and will kill and die to defend them and this country.
I do like what the Cowboys did, standing just before the anthem, that's fine with me. There is a time and a place for protesting, and the national anthem just isn't it.
But that's the thing, people always say that. And it ends up being that there's never a time and place for protesting. I can't think of any better time to express a protest than in front of hundreds of people, and on live television, during a moment that everyone pays attention to. I don't think my home country has this tradition, but if I were back there and I wanted to protest some of the horrible things that happen there, I would definitely stage my protest somewhere public on our Independence Day.
The points and arguments have been proven wrong countless times, and organized groups behind these protests are beyond unreasonable.
Now they are ruining one of America's pastimes by politicizing something that is meant to bring people together.
And they are doing it in a manner that insults every man and woman that has been, is, and will kill and die to defend them and this country.