Standing for the Anthem — What it Means to Us CPT (r) Tyler Merritt September 10, 2016 Relentlessly Patriotic 215 All over this great nation, we have the honor of showing our pride and patriotism all the time. Our school kids recite the Pledge of Allegiance every morning, flags wave over most major retail outlets and even at our sporting events, we get to pay homage to the sacrifice that allows us to live as we do. It’s become our sacred tradition and it’s more important than ever in this day and age. It’s true that we commercialize everything these days, so it’s nice that there’s a moment in the middle of all of the fanfare where we first take a break and think about how amazing it is to have the freedom to attend such sporting events. It is baked into our foundation at Nine Line — one of our most important core values is relentless patriotism. So we had something to say about recent events. Understanding the Controversy There’s plenty of outlets out there who express anger at what’s happened recently with Colin Kaepernick’s protest of the national anthem — so there’s plenty of places to go to for expressing frustration. What we’re going to focus on today is the reason that we keep this tradition, and what people who refuse to stand for the anthem are de facto saying to many veterans when they decide to act as they do. Whether it’s a more subtle act like refusing to stand for the pledge or raising a fist during the National Anthem, or it’s a much larger and consequential act — like stomping on or burning our flag — it’s incredibly disrespectful of those who have given their lives in the name of liberty all around the globe. And not just for Americans. It Goes Further One of the great things about America is that we, as a nation, have challenged tyranny and oppression all over the planet. The motto of US Army Special Forces is “De Opresso Liber” — to free from oppression. Our Navy and Coast Guard patrol the waterways of the world, helping to fight terrorism, defending civilians against piracy, and rendering aid to anyone needing help out at sea. Marines have brought humanitarian aid to places in need. Airmen have been routing out the Islamic State with their drone program, helping allied efforts to purge the region of evil. Matters like ethics and morality are strong influences on everything our nation’s military is asked to do. So it isn’t just for Americans at home, but for the entire world that veterans have sacrificed. It’s for our sacred honor that we fought, for this that we walked the line. Does Kaepernick Have a Point? It’s bigger than any one American issue. It isn’t that we aren’t sympathetic that there are problems in our nation. No one is perfect — and heaven knows, we’ve made some serious mistakes in the past in terms of race in America. But today, we enjoy the freest society that has ever existed on this planet. Members of all races are protected by law, from the lunch counter to the voting booth. Often times, the focus of anger in many protests is an exception to the rule, not the standard. At the end of the day, you have to ask — is it really that bad for the majority of Americans? Are the majority of Americans being brutalized or killed by police? Absolutely not. In fact, it’s a very small minority of communities that ever experience this. On the whole, things are going pretty well for everyone. And that’s really something that we should cheer. We should be celebrating our progress, not decrying the minority who might be having issues. What We Ought to Do At Nine Line, we have a very basic philosophy in terms of the flag and flag-related symbols, like the National Anthem — you don’t mess with it. Show pride in the institution as a whole. Save your protest for the institutions deserving it. For instance — instead of stomping on the flag to show displeasure, why not pick the seal of Congress or the President? Instead of decrying the police, why not spend that effort encouraging the positive examples of brave officers who really engage with their communities (like most do). There are forces out there, both in the US and abroad, that want to see us crumble and fall. One of the best ways to bring that about it through dissent and fragmentation. Break down the unity that exists and public support for the military starts to fall. After public support starts to fall, Congress sadly starts making decisions about appearances instead of what troops in contact need to get the job done. This whole discussion has great repercussions on those who are currently putting their lives on the line for you and me. And this is the worst part — we know what’s in store for current servicemembers because we’ve been where they’re going now. Maybe not literally, but we’ve been in the situation, faced the dangers and know what can happen when support for the military falters. So when you get the chance to next time, stand up for your country. Stand up for those who have sacrificed for our collective good. Stand up for the weak and stand up for those who need help. Take up your grievances with the people who committed them — not the American people as a whole. Use your First Amendment right to say whatever you want, just make sure you’re aiming at the right target. And while you’re at it, don’t miss your chance to display your unapologetic, relentless patriotism with a shirt that matches your message. And, you know, look like a badass while doing it.
