The men and women who have served this country in its armed forces did not serve a flag. They didn’t sacrifice for a song. They didn’t die for a piece of parchment. The did it for ideals those things represent. They served for decency, freedom, self-determination, equality. They died for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. None of these things does an African-American have in this country to the same extent that a white person does. NONE. If you claim to not see that, your head is either in the clouds, in the sand, or up your own ass.
If you are somehow aggrieved over peaceful protest, you are aggrieved over the Bill of Rights . If you are somehow outraged that someone in this country sees the way this country treats them as different from how you are treated, then you are outraged at the Constitution. If you are somehow triggered by people who want only what they are supposedly guaranteed by those documents, then you are triggered by the founders of our country.
No one dishonors the military by peacefully protesting what they see as wrong about this country. No one shows contempt for the flag that stands as nothing more than an avatar for the ideals that this country was founded upon by pointing out the inequalities in our society. No one disrespects a song by trying to make those ideals more true. No one shows irreverence for heritage by asking only for what is theirs, just as it is yours.
You want to show respect for the Bill of Rights? You want to show reverence for the Constitution? You want to show admiration for our country’s anthem? You want to show adoration for our country’s founders? You want to honor our military and the sacrifices they made, and make every day? Then stand for equality. Chant for opportunity. March for tolerance. Kneel for civil rights.
