my opinion on the kneeling:
it's their right to protest how they choose to. the kneeling at the anthem is peaceful and non-violent. it's generating a lot of conversation about the country and putting a spotlight on the various topics falling under this protest.
these kneelings can be viewed as self-serving, empty and hollow if the person kneeling is doing something other than taking a knee. This past weekend, Kenny Stills kneeled. Kenny Stills is nothing more than an average player, never the best on his team. Even now, as the Dolphins "best" WR, he's only slightly above average. Yet, he is doing what he can off the field to promote the issues he feels are important and trying to soothe relations in the Miami community. It's debatable how the relations between cops/citizens are from neighborhood to neighborhood, but it's almost an agreed-upon fact that police are not viewed favorably in low-income/ghetto areas. If you kneel, you better be doing what Kenny Stills is doing, otherwise it is a hollow, self-serving gesture.
https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article192552529.html
But taking a knee is just a small part of who Stills is, and what he does. He helped organize local police ride-alongs to help foster dialogue and understanding, a program that has since spread to five other NFL teams. He also hosts pre-game community tailgates involving local student-athletes and their parents, coaches, community leaders, police officers and military personnel.
So, for Kenny Stills, I understand his opinion and can appreciate his involvement.
However, it still bothers me about the kneeling. I did not serve. I chose not to. Many in my family did serve. WW2, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, etc - all had a member of my family involved. Whether or not you agree with the issues of using our military in foreign lands is not relevant. The people who serve have no say so in their assignments. They're trained to do a job. The underscore of that job is to allow us, here at home, to exercise the freedoms this country provides. As such, it is callous and disrespectful to dishonor those people who are serving, as well as those who previously did serve. The flag is brought out by the NFL to honor the military. I believe that is why we have flyovers or paratroopers before the game begins. Standing for the national anthem is a matter of pride, in yourself, your family, your country and believing it is the best country on the planet. Not that this country does not have some problems and issues to resolve (it does and always will).