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.
darknet links https://github.com/abacuslink4jjku/abacuslink – dark web market urls
Kamagra Kopen Online: Kamagra – Officiele Kamagra van Nederland
Buy Tadalafil 10mg Tadalafil Easy Buy Tadalafil Easy Buy
dark markets https://github.com/aresonioncq0a7/aresonion – darknet markets onion address
darknet markets onion https://github.com/darkwebsitesyhshv/darkwebsites – darknet drug links
dark web market https://github.com/darkwebsitesyhshv/darkwebsites – darknet drug links
https://generic100mgeasy.shop/# Generic 100mg Easy
darknet markets onion darknet sites
online pharmacies without an rx
dark market url darknet links
мостбет казино войти мостбет казино войти .
kamagra 100mg kopen Kamagra Kopen kamagra 100mg kopen
dark markets https://github.com/aresonioncq0a7/aresonion – dark web markets
скачать 1win с официального сайта https://1win9109.ru/ .
1вин кыргызстан knowledge.forum24.ru/?1-0-0-00000101-000-0-0-1742817704 .
darknet markets onion darknet markets links
darknet markets links darknet market
dark web market urls dark market list
1вин. 1вин. .
bitcoin dark web darknet links
люблю такое
это означает, https://teletype.in/@ceramtrade/Kak-garmonichno-ispolzovat-keramicheskuju-plitku что ее возможно благополучно использовать для покрытия вашей террасы.
dark market 2025 darknet marketplace
dark markets 2025 bitcoin dark web
darknet markets links https://github.com/darkwebsitesyhshv/darkwebsites – darknet websites
darkmarket list onion dark website
darknet markets 2025 dark market 2025
Buy Tadalafil 20mg: cialis without a doctor prescription – Tadalafil Easy Buy
Kamagra: Officiele Kamagra van Nederland – Kamagra Kopen
dark web market list darkmarket
dark market darkmarket list
http://www.bazyydlyaxrumerkupitt.ru – Купить базы для Xrumer с быстрым доступом
РедМетСплав предлагает внушительный каталог высококачественных изделий из нестандартных материалов. Не важно, какие объемы вам необходимы – от небольших закупок до крупных поставок, мы обеспечиваем оперативное исполнение вашего заказа.
Каждая единица продукции подтверждена требуемыми документами, подтверждающими их происхождение. Дружелюбная помощь – наша визитная карточка – мы на связи, чтобы ответить на ваши вопросы по мере того как предоставлять решения под особенности вашего бизнеса.
Доверьте вашу потребность в редких металлах профессионалам РедМетСплав и убедитесь в широком спектре предлагаемых возможностей
Наша продукция:
Поковка вольфрамовая ВНЖ 7-3 Поковка вольфрамовая ВНЖ 7-3 предназначена для использования в высокотемпературных и агрессивных средах. Она обладает отличными механическими свойствами и высокой сопротивляемостью к окислению. Благодаря своим характеристикам, эта поковка идеально подходит для производства различных инструментов и деталей в аэрокосмической, электронной и других отраслях. Не упустите возможность купить Поковка вольфрамовая ВНЖ 7-3. Закажите её прямо сейчас, чтобы улучшить качество своей продукции и повысить эффективность процессов.
darknet drug links https://github.com/aresmarketdarknetl9khn/aresmarketdarknet – darknet markets 2025
darknet links darkmarket list
darkmarket dark web marketplaces
dark market onion darknet markets onion address
tor drug market darknet drug market
kamagra 100mg kopen: Officiele Kamagra van Nederland – kamagra gel kopen
dark markets 2025 https://github.com/aresmarketdarknetl9khn/aresmarketdarknet – darknet drugs
dark market url darknet links
https://tadalafileasybuy.shop/# Tadalafil price
dark web market urls darknet markets
darknet drug market https://github.com/abacuslink4jjku/abacuslink – bitcoin dark web
tor drug market dark market link
https://kamagrakopen.pro/# Officiele Kamagra van Nederland
buy Viagra over the counter Generic 100mg Easy Generic100mgEasy
dark market 2025 https://github.com/darkwebsitesyhshv/darkwebsites – darkmarket url
dark market 2025 https://github.com/darkwebsitesyhshv/darkwebsites – dark web market list
darknet links https://github.com/nexusdarkrtv1u/nexusdark – dark web market
darknet market links bitcoin dark web