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.
1win aplicația http://1win5025.ru .
darknet drug market darknet websites
darknet markets darknet marketplace
Работая с «НЕФТЕГАЗМАШ» у вас есть возможность рассчитывать на: полную и своевременную комплектацию ваших заказов и авансовую систему оплаты, поставку оборудования в сжатые сроки и различным видом транспорта. Наши сотрудники имеют в области теплогазоснабжения профильное высшее техническое образование. Ищете регулятор давления газа рдук2н рдук2в? Neftegazmash.ru – тут есть каталог продукции. Также здесь можете ознакомиться с условиями доставки в любое время. С радостью предоставим действующие разрешения и сертификаты. Обращайтесь к нам и точно не пожалеете об этом!
dark web market links darknet site
1win,com https://1win7004.ru/ .
buy viagra
onion dark website darknet market lists
https://adaptable-goat-dd3cmf.mystrikingly.com/blog/e851ed8da7d
dark web drug marketplace darknet market lists
Преимущество
Подробнее можно узнать тут – вывод из запоя краснодарский край
https://usaindiapharm.shop/# UsaIndiaPharm
http://en.xrumergsabase.ru/gsa-captcha-breaker — Unlock hassle-free captcha solving for GSA SER and other tools.
dark market 2025 darknet websites
Для успешного продвижения вверх по карьере нужно наличие официального диплома о высшем образовании. Быстро и просто заказать диплом об образовании у проверенной организации: kupitediplom.ru/kupit-diplom-v-salavate/
купить диплом о высшем образование в алматы
Tremendous issues here. I am very satisfied to look your article. Thanks so much and I’m having a look ahead to touch you. Will you please drop me a mail?
dark web drug marketplace darknet market list
indian pharmacies safe: USA India Pharm – top online pharmacy india
dark web link dark web market list
https://squareblogs.net/kevalaurcl/h1-b-smotret-anime-onlain-ispol-zuite-boruto-base-dlia-kachestvennogo
darkmarkets darknet market links
darknet sites dark web markets
indian pharmacy online: reputable indian online pharmacy – indianpharmacy com
мостбет официальный сайт http://www.mostbet5003.ru .
darkmarket list dark markets 2025
dark market list darknet drug store
USA India Pharm: USA India Pharm – Online medicine order
tor drug market dark web markets
mostbet casino http://www.mostbet7001.ru .
скачать мостбет официальный сайт https://www.mostbet6043.ru .
How Online Casinos Remain So Popular
Online casinos have modernized the gambling landscape, delivering an exceptional degree of convenience and selection that conventional gambling houses can’t match. Over time, countless gamblers around the world have embraced the adventure of virtual gambling thanks to its ease of access, appealing qualities, and progressively larger selection of games.
One of the strongest selling points of virtual gambling hubs is the sheer selection of titles provided. Whether you like playing on traditional fruit machine slots, trying out plot-filled video slots, or exercising tactics in strategy-based games like Roulette, casino websites provide endless options. A large number of platforms moreover include live casino options, letting you to engage with actual dealers and other players, all while enjoying the engaging feel of a real casino without leaving your home.
If you’re unfamiliar with the world of online gaming or are looking to explore reliable sites, why not join our active interactive platform? It’s a platform where gaming aficionados exchange tips, making it easier for you to maximize your online casino experience. Explore the experience and start your journey now: vavada регистрация.
Adding to the extensive catalog, internet-based gambling hubs are known for ease of access.
1win https://1win5025.ru/ .
После поступления вызова наш нарколог выезжает к пациенту в кратчайшие сроки, прибывая по адресу в пределах 30–60 минут. Специалист начинает процедуру с подробного осмотра и диагностики, измеряя ключевые показатели организма: артериальное давление, частоту пульса, насыщенность кислородом и собирая подробный анамнез.
Подробнее можно узнать тут – нарколог на дом вывод из запоя в новосибирске
tor drug market dark market list
but with similar huge number of payment systems for discretion it’s a bit challenging to choose which https://hikvisiondb.webcam/wiki/What_Need_interesting_From_Students_Who_Make_Payments_From_China gateway provider to work with.
Основной этап терапии — установка внутривенной капельницы. Через капельницу вводятся специально подобранные растворы, способствующие быстрому выведению токсинов, восстановлению водно-электролитного баланса и нормализации работы внутренних органов. При необходимости врач назначает дополнительные медикаменты для защиты печени, стабилизации сердечной деятельности и купирования симптомов абстинентного синдрома. В течение всей процедуры состояние пациента контролируется врачом, который корректирует схему лечения для достижения наилучших результатов. По завершении процедуры специалист дает подробные рекомендации по дальнейшему восстановлению и профилактике повторных запоев.
Подробнее тут – http://kapelnica-ot-zapoya-nizhniy-novgorod00.ru/vyzvat-kapelniczu-ot-zapoya-nizhnij-novgorod/https://kapelnica-ot-zapoya-nizhniy-novgorod00.ru
darkmarket link dark web drug marketplace
1вин вход https://1win7004.ru/ .
казино онлайн kg https://mostbet6038.ru .
dark market url darknet market
мостбет промокод мостбет промокод .
служба поддержки мостбет номер телефона http://mostbet6043.ru .
Авто журнал онлайн https://clothes-outletstore.com всё о мире автомобилей: новости, тест-драйвы, обзоры, советы, новинки автопрома и технологии. Читайте с любого устройства — всегда в курсе автоиндустрии.
onion dark website best darknet markets
darkmarket darknet marketplace
Клиника «Детоксика» в Сочи специализируется на комплексном лечении запоя и восстановления здоровья пациентов с индивидуальным подходом. Наши преимущества:
Получить больше информации – вывод из запоя недорого
mostbet kg скачать на андроид http://mostbet6043.ru .
Хочу рассказать о своем опыте по заказу аттестата пту, думал это не реально и стал искать информацию в сети, про купить диплом риэлтора, купить диплом слесаря ремонтника дпо стандарт, купить диплом слесаря сантехника, купить диплом строительного техникума ссср, купить диплом сыктывкар, постепенно вникая в суть дела нашел отличный материал здесь diplomybox.com/kupit-diplom-magistra-v-novosibirske)
Авто журнал онлайн https://clothes-outletstore.com всё о мире автомобилей: новости, тест-драйвы, обзоры, советы, новинки автопрома и технологии. Читайте с любого устройства — всегда в курсе автоиндустрии.