rumitoid, People need to be heard. So many African Americans have been gunned down by police all over the country. Some for no apparent reason. Nobody seems to care. All these athletes are doing is respectfully kneeling with one knee to use their fame to bring attention to a real problem. It's not like they are burning the f**g, or trying to bring disrespect to the nation. I see nothing wrong with it. They are addressing a real problem that needs a light shined on it. They are just holding the flashlight, and I for one respect what they are trying to do.

My simple answer: No! But it is more complicated than that. The glaring fact in that action is how it effects the family and loved ones of our fallen heroes, who died protecting this country. It appears to disgrace their ultimate sacrifice. That sort of added pain is wrong. Yet is it justified? That is not the objective of these protests, yet for many, that is how it is perceived: as an insult to the f**g and our service men and women.

Kaepernick took a knee for the Anthem on the advice of a Vietnam Vet, he said it would be "more respectful." Why? It would show "complaint without being disrespectful." One is still bowing (by knelling) to the nation's sovereignty while trying to call attention to certain un-addressed possible injustices. I remember f**g-burning from the 60s. I got the point but it still bothered me. An attention-getter, yeah! But at what cost?

People have sacred symbols, they just do. Attacking those in an attempt to perhaps raise awareness on certain issues is very tricky and not kind. Of course, such tactics are not meant to be kind but to deeply jar the public, thoroughly move them out of their comfort zone. Make them look again, pause, reflect, wonder, question, dig deeper. But what usually happens is a knee-jerk attack. Not saying that is necessarily wrong: we all have our cherished beliefs.