Seems the first amendment may have been reprioritized

The military needs people who do, and people who think. There are few things as important in a senior command than a love of ones country and the principles it was founded upon, a dedication to ones countrymen, and a sincere desire for peace. A proper command will put a gravity to every life no matter who’s “side” it may be on or who’s flag it is under.

So these guys may not make ideal grunts to go and do as they are told- but the ones who show aptitude could make great officers and seniors. I feel a disrespect when I see people kneel- it’s not something I could or would see myself doing. But- I understand where it’s coming from, and I understand the disrespect is symbolic towards a system and not to ALL the flag represents.

Our flag represents a lot. Patriots are raised mostly to associate it with the good it stands for and put that above the rest- to ignore that our flag has more to do with slavery and oppression than the “confederate flag” simply because it’s been around so long and seen some dark points in our history. These people were not raised that way- they are viewing the flag as a symbol of all of American history- including the shameful parts.

But maybe some of them ARE patriots who would never let a flag touch the ground- regardless- we have to take a hard look when large groups f Americans feel so frustrated or disenfranchised that they would kneel- or support kneeling at the flag. Those people aren’t failing to be American- America is. At the very least I can say at least they aren’t burning the flag- that was a big issue that I was livid over- until someone pointed out to me that if you don’t have the freedom to burn the flag- then as a symbol the flag doesn’t stand for what we say it does.

I’d rather people found another way to express themselves on their dissatisfaction- but the truth is that no one was listening when people were. It isn’t until people kneel and block roads and there are riots that we want to listen. ACLU and others have been fighting no knock warrants for decades. People have been upset consistently over police use of force for... decades or more. It wasn’t until they saw that a large group of people were so fed up and serious that they’d reject the entire system and all the “rules” like this- that suddenly things start to change.

If we don’t want to see this- maybe we need to start listening and doing things before issues escalate to the point that people riot in the streets. That’s the foundation of terrorism- people with feelings or realities of a lack of voice, value, options- who the alternative if they do nothing is worse to them than the consequences of going outside social bounds. In a people’s democracy- when we get to this point it is a clear indicator that we aren’t doing a good enough job. As for the military- I think it could use some of that- it’s not just civilians we haven’t been doing a good enough job taking care of. Our service people deserve better than they’ve gotten.

My point is that American soldiers do not kneel in subservience or prostrate themselves. It is a gesture of submission and powerlessness. We do not need or want such gestures, especially not from those entrusted to lead us.

The whole can of worms is more than I want to get into right now, but I will take issue with this gesture before the flag from soldiers.

I can agree in those points by and large.