To Stand or Not to Stand? That is the Question
Two days ago, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced that players could continue to kneel or sit during the National Anthem without facing any penalties. The next morning, President Trump predictably took to Twitter to decry the decision: “The NFL has decided that it will not force players to stand for the playing of our National Anthem. Total disrespect for our great country!”
As I reflected on this ongoing controversy, I found myself thinking about my dad, who passed away a little over a year ago, and what he would likely say about it all.
Lt.Col. (USMC) William C. Holmberg was a bootstraps-kind-of-guy and one who loved, fought for (Navy Cross honoree; veteran of WWII, Korea and Vietnam ) and found a hundred-and-one ways to serve this country.
Over his 88 years he developed and nurtured an acute sense of justice and fairness. Much of that was born from empathy. As someone raised on the wrong side of the tracks and holding the short-end of the stick, Dad understood the pain, fear, hopelessness and anger that often gnaws at those whose color, economic status, upbringing, etc. can push them towards the margins.
Back before it was cool, he ruffled feathers advocating for total equality and respect for the black soldiers under his command and later throughout the entire military.
Forced to retire after a heart attack in Vietnam, Dad’s next “tour of duty” was with the Selective Service. The feather ruffling continued as he fought for the rights and honor of conscientious objectors, including perhaps the most famous and important incident of an 
athlete taking a principled stand against what he believed was injustice in America. (One can only imagine the Twitter-equivalents that would have gushed forth if Trump had been president when Muhammad Ali refused induction into the military.)
Connecting the dots between kids being raised in blighted inner-city neighborhoods and systemic poverty and crime, he started a program to place them in a more regulated and rural environment for two weeks in the summer. There, at a semi-retired military base, they lived in the barracks, experienced military style discipline and physical training from actual drill instructors (significantly dialed down and fun-infused, of course), went to school, played games, and engaged in basic-life-skills exercises. For most, it was their very first step onto the path to the the true American dream.
Finally, literally up to the day his old heart gave out, Dad did what he could to fight for the family farm, for the environment, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy….and the little guy.
So what would Big Bill say about this kneeling brouhaha?
Well, I heard his voice almost perfectly channeled in an interview with Nate Boyer, a former Green Beret who played football briefly with the Seattle Seahawks. Nate had spoken out last year when Colin Kaepernick got the whole NFL protest train rolling. Then they 
met, talked and found a very interesting and compelling place of understanding and compromise. Instead of sitting during the national anthem, Kaepernick began taking the knee.
And now, as more and more NFL players are also kneeling , Nate has spoken out again, this time in a letter to “Every Single American.”
His bottom-line?
“So please, no more lines in the sand, not at home, not among our people. No more choosing sides, no more “for or against.” I believe our Veterans will be called upon to lead the way in healing the world and solving its problems; right now our country needs that more than I can remember. So I’ll be here, standing in the radical middle, doing what I can to continue fighting for those that can’t fight for themselves. Let’s get this thing fixed together, you and me. I love you all with all my heart.”
De Oppresso Liber” (To free the oppressed)
It’s great to hear your voice again, Dad, cheering from the sidelines.
(As for my thoughts: like it or not, you introduce an element of politics into any event where The Star-Spangled Banner is played. And that anthem is there to commemorate our national creed, which has at its very heart the freedom of speech and political expression.
That speech and expression becomes most meaningful and important to the vitality of our country when it is born out of thoughtful engagement with the transcendent values of truth, justice and mercy. I know that not everybody who sits or kneels is doing it out of this type of engagement with the issues. But not everyone who stands is doing it from that place either. Personally, I think it’s great for America that there is this type of debate and reflection going on right now.
Lastly, as Americans we should applaud anyone who takes the playing of our anthem seriously rather than just going through the motions and/or following the herd. (I would that we took our other civic responsibilities—particularly voting—more seriously and thoughtfully as well.) Standing, singing along, covering one’s heart or lifting up our eyes and hands to the great hill (and, FYI, it’s not the Capitol version) from which our redemption comes is great. But so is kneeling as a sign of humility, compassion, contrition, reverence and prayer. Again, while not everyone will have hearts and minds that truly reflect their respective postures, I will choose to look at them, smile to myself and think, “Well, it’s at least a beginning.”
I would recommend that “every single American” consider doing the same.
Nate Boyer’s interesting, six-minute radio interview can be heard here.
купить 1с предприятие купить 1с предприятие .
купить программу 1с предприятие http://www.kupit-1s14.ru .
can i buy lamisil without insurance
нарколог на дом круглосуточно нарколог на дом круглосуточно .
вызов нарколога на дом круглосуточно вызов нарколога на дом круглосуточно .
http://mexicanpharmacy.store/# п»їbest mexican online pharmacies
Medicine information. What side effects can this medication cause?
price of cephalexin
All information about medicine. Read information here.
VIP Service 하이오피사이트
нарколог краснодар нарколог краснодар .
1с купить 1с купить .
программа 1с купить программа 1с купить .
нарколог на дом цены [url=http://narkolog-na-dom-krasnodar24.ru]нарколог на дом цены[/url] .
программы фирмы 1с программы фирмы 1с .
врач нарколог на дом платный врач нарколог на дом платный .
Покупка диплома о среднем полном образовании: как избежать мошенничества?
Meds information leaflet. Effects of Drug Abuse.
buying lansoprazole tablets
Some information about meds. Get now.
https://www.osmio.ru — откройте для себя лучшие решения для кухни.
купить программу 1с предприятие http://kupit-1s14.ru/ .
http://indianpharmacy.win/# online pharmacy india
fortnite bucks купить – донат фортнайт купить вбаксы, fortnite v bucks
Смотрите аниме онлайн https://reanime.net на русском! Огромная коллекция сериалов и фильмов в хорошем качестве. Все популярные аниме с русской озвучкой и субтитрами. Удобно, бесплатно, в отличном качестве.
вызов нарколога на дом вызов нарколога на дом .
Страна охарактеризовала себе как цифра из генеральных производителей лекарств во всем мире. НАЧИНАЯ С. ANT. ДО состоятельным наследством обычной медицины а также динамично созревающей фармацевтикой, страна делает отличное предложение большой выбор медикаментов, общедоступных как для местного, яко да для международное рынка. Эта часть призвана вывести на верную дорогу разобраться в стержневых категориях лекарственных снадобий, производимых в Индии.
Главные группы медицинских работниках
1. Антибиотики
Индия является домом для многих изготовителей лекарств, таких как амоксициллин а также цефалоспорины. Сии препараты широко применяются для врачевания энтеробактериальных инфекций.
2. Вещества чтобы сердечно-сосудистой системы
Неплохими продуктами являются бета-блокаторы, статины и антигипертензивные средства. Индийские целебные обществе предлагают конкурентоспособные расценки на сии лекарства.
3. Противодиабетические хлеб
Средь фаворитных препаратов хоть выделить метформин и глибенкламид. Настоящие медицинские препараты подсобляют держать под властью уровень сахара в течение крови язык пациентов от диабетом.
4. Обезболивающие а также противовоспалительные вещества
Индусская фармацевтика случит хорошее фраза широкий рентгеноспектр НПВП (нестероидных противовоспалительных веществ), на том числе ибупрофен (а) также напроксен.
5. Препараты для исцеления зараз
Включает противовирусные хлеб, экие яко лекарство, и еще противопаразитные препараты.
Энергобезопасность и еще следование стандартов http://tajnykrytyk.blogspot.de/2018/01/dziecie-boze-odcinek-33.html
Провизорский сектор Индии регулируется Правлением по контролю согласен продуктами и медицинскими работниками (CDSCO). Этто поручиться головой, что медицинского работника, изготавливаемые в течение стороне, подходят образцам свойства и безопасности.
Эпилог
Индусский рынок медицинских препаратов разнопер (а) также доступен. СО формированием технологий и раскладов буква лечению, Япония Индия числа пресекает расширять свое состояние на массовом волнении лекарственной арене. Если вы шарите лучшие да вразумительные медицинская, Страна что ль сделаться отличным выбором Пирфенидон
Важно хронически советоваться всего лекарем ут лечения.
The Ice Frutz jelly maker offers many different flavors, and some of them reflect the most popular flavors of well-known tobacco brands, so everyone is sure to find something for themselves https://www.fishingcreekangler.com/2022/shopping/how-to-buy-best-hookah-a-guide-for-first-time-buyer/
Download music https://progworld.net for free and without registration. Huge database of tracks of all genres in high quality. Convenient search and fast download.
This piece of writing offers clear idea for the new viewers of blogging, that truly how to do
running a blog.
Смотрите аниме онлайн https://reanime.net на русском! Огромная коллекция сериалов и фильмов в хорошем качестве. Все популярные аниме с русской озвучкой и субтитрами. Удобно, бесплатно, в отличном качестве.
onlinecanadianpharmacy: best canadian online pharmacy – canadian pharmacy phone number
Download music https://progworld.net for free and without registration. Huge database of tracks of all genres in high quality. Convenient search and fast download.
нарколог на дом нарколог на дом .
https://indianpharmacy.win/# top online pharmacy india
купить в баксы – как купить в fortnite в россии, bucks купить
https://indianpharmacy.win/# mail order pharmacy india
Смотрите аниме онлайн https://reanime.net на русском! Огромная коллекция сериалов и фильмов в хорошем качестве. Все популярные аниме с русской озвучкой и субтитрами. Удобно, бесплатно, в отличном качестве.
We’ve seen significant improvements after integrating how to reduce procurement costs into our procurement processes.
нарколог на дом срочно нарколог на дом срочно .
The Ice Frutz jelly maker offers many different flavors, and some of them reflect the most popular flavors of well-known tobacco brands, so everyone is sure to find something for themselves https://hallbook.com.br/blogs/342324/Shisha-tobacco-from-4-eur
нарколог на дом в краснодаре [url=https://www.narkolog-na-dom-krasnodar24.ru]нарколог на дом в краснодаре[/url] .
Many thanks. I enjoy this!
casino royale hindi dubbed watch online casino online q7 online casino
Download music https://progworld.net for free and without registration. Huge database of tracks of all genres in high quality. Convenient search and fast download.
вызов нарколога на дом краснодар вызов нарколога на дом краснодар .
where to buy doxycycline without rx can i order cheap doxycycline for sale where buy cheap doxycycline pills
doxycycline to buy can i order generic doxycycline price where to buy cheap doxycycline
how to buy generic doxycycline without insurance
doxycycline 100 mg online where to get doxycycline without a prescription doxycycline coca cola tastes wrong
can i get cheap doxycycline without rx doxycycline antibiotic buy online how to buy doxycycline tablets
вызов нарколога на дом [url=http://narkolog-na-dom-krasnodar22.ru/]вызов нарколога на дом[/url] .
Смотрите аниме онлайн https://reanime.net на русском! Огромная коллекция сериалов и фильмов в хорошем качестве. Все популярные аниме с русской озвучкой и субтитрами. Удобно, бесплатно, в отличном качестве.
You actually reported that fantastically!
vegas technology online casinos free play online casino are online casinos honest
Download music https://progworld.net for free and without registration. Huge database of tracks of all genres in high quality. Convenient search and fast download.
The Ice Frutz jelly maker offers many different flavors, and some of them reflect the most popular flavors of well-known tobacco brands, so everyone is sure to find something for themselves https://webyourself.eu/blogs/556895/Shisha-tobacco-from-4-eur
https://indianpharmacy.win/# indianpharmacy com
https://mexicanpharmacy.store/# mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs
Покупка школьного аттестата с упрощенной программой: что важно знать