The recent NFL owners' action is a trip wire for me. When interests outside the State acquiesce in diminishing freedom and liberty and the sphere of personal action, that reminds me of those examples of the first day of tyranny from history and fiction. To demand that NFL players stand for the national anthem while the flag is disrespected all throughout the same stadium — worn as clothing, emblazoned on beer cups, laid flat on the ground, all violations of the code of conduct — as one sports commentator pointed out is an obvious affront to everyone who believes in the Constitution.
Here are three diaries I wrote in 2006 which serve as comparisons to what is happening now:
First day of tyranny: Sebastian Haffner
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2006/6/24/221747/-
First day of tyranny: Margaret Atwood
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2006/6/23/221551/-
First (and more) day(s) of tyranny: Sinclair Lewis
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2006/11/3/265848/-
If we don’t stand up for our rights NOW, we and many others will pay for it dearly very, very soon.