I've gone back and forth over this internally. I believe in freedom of speech and reasonable demonstration. I might find your beliefs and views extreme or highly indifferent to my own. And I may not even flat out respect you as a human being for some of your views or beliefs. But, it's a protected right in our country. And we can't have a double standard when it comes to that right otherwise you'll leave that rabbit hole wide open and we may never reach a point where a line is drawn in the sand. 

 

The irony, however, that I find in a lot of this. And probably mostly in my own humor. I just find it odd and hilarious that people will get upset about how the flag is treated here with a burning here and there. Yet, they're okay with men wearing those god awful red, white and blue shorts every year during July 4th or these little tinny boppers running around in red, white and blue bikinis or thongs. People will literally eat off a red, white and blue plastic set or paper plate as well. And wipe their disgusting faces with a red, white and blue napkin too. 

 

So at what point do you stop with the nonsense? The biggest kicker of it all though, is that, when you buy one of those flags in your nearest or local super mart. You all do realize it's a piece of cloth or plastic that's been developed in China correct? And then exported from China and imported over here to us to buy and wave around. Shouldn't we be more disgusted with that fact right there alone? That our flag is being mass produced every year in a foreign country? Instead of right here at home? That bothers me more than anything. 

 

It's just like this kneeling during the anthem trend. Nobody in the NFL cared about our military until 2009. Now they profit off of it by selling you military style football wear. And it's a joke. I can guarantee you more than half these fans don't stand and salute during the anthem when they're alone at home with their families in their living rooms. Does that make them disrespectful? That flag also represents more than just our military, the men and women who fought and died for it. It also stands for a country that, let's face it, has seen it's fair share of ugliness and barbaric behavior. It stands for an ideology that's evolved, progressed, regressed and torn and divided itself for what seems like since it's inception. It just comes with the territory. No matter where you live in this world. 

 

Do I love my country? For sure. 110%. I love my country. I may not always like what congress and our government heads and leaders are doing. But, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else but where I am at here. But it's easy for me to say that because I can say with full confidence that I have so far lived a very good and comfortable life compared to other people who might not be able to claim nor say the same. And I am glad I am capable of seeing that and not getting offended by an athlete, person or citizen that has every right to exercise their right of displeasure with our country whether I like it or not. Whether I respect it or not. 

 

Life goes on. 

---