I Hate Politics, But...
So, some athletes didn't stand up for the national anthem, and now half the country is up in arms about how disrespectful and unpatriotic they are. Well, I for one, come down with the other half of the country. I support their constitutional right to free speech. I believe they are the ones being truly patriotic by invoking their rights to call attention to an injustice. Check it out: Amendment 1 - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right for the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Being an American, being patriotic, means that you have to acknowledge someone else's opinion - and defend their right to it. THAT's being patriotic. THAT's what our military has fought and died for. It is our right to individually or collectively signal the government that there's something not quite fair - not quite right - going on.
While a piece of cloth and a sheet of music are representative of our country, they mean nothing without our spirit, our fight, our grit, our culture, our constitutional rights and freedoms. They're just symbols to which we've affixed national meaning. But as far as being made to stand or pledge or salute, you know who else demands that? Hitler, Stalin, Mao Zedong, Kim Jong Un & Il, the KKK...and, well, you get the idea.
And NOW, the dumpster fire that is our current administration, is calling for companies and organizations to "lay down the law" on whether or not someone is free to exercise their rights during business hours. WHAT??? I'm sorry, but that just doesn't fly. A company can tell you how to dress and when to work and how to be tolerant and sensitive to your colleagues' differences, but it cannot tell you to leave your constitutional rights at home. Those rights are part and parcel of every American. Are you raising your eyebrows? Good...you should also consider that broadcasters now must choose whether or not to bleep the SOB remark - such impudent words coming from a world leader. That should be enough to keep those eyebrows raised and maybe enough to make you think about standing up (or taking a knee) to disrespectful, unpatriotic jerks.
What the fuck is going on!!! Definitely something not quite right.
While a piece of cloth and a sheet of music are representative of our country, they mean nothing without our spirit, our fight, our grit, our culture, our constitutional rights and freedoms. They're just symbols to which we've affixed national meaning. But as far as being made to stand or pledge or salute, you know who else demands that? Hitler, Stalin, Mao Zedong, Kim Jong Un & Il, the KKK...and, well, you get the idea.
And NOW, the dumpster fire that is our current administration, is calling for companies and organizations to "lay down the law" on whether or not someone is free to exercise their rights during business hours. WHAT??? I'm sorry, but that just doesn't fly. A company can tell you how to dress and when to work and how to be tolerant and sensitive to your colleagues' differences, but it cannot tell you to leave your constitutional rights at home. Those rights are part and parcel of every American. Are you raising your eyebrows? Good...you should also consider that broadcasters now must choose whether or not to bleep the SOB remark - such impudent words coming from a world leader. That should be enough to keep those eyebrows raised and maybe enough to make you think about standing up (or taking a knee) to disrespectful, unpatriotic jerks.
What the fuck is going on!!! Definitely something not quite right.
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