Holy crap.
I haven’t written an article in some time. Many topics have nearly driven me to write. I need to get all of them down on paper before I forget about them. However, here I am, compelled to action, and by what? My facebook page. The flag. Protests. NFL players.
Good lord people. Read the title of my blog please.
I’m a military Veteran, that’s no secret. I’m a United States Marine. I was a commissioned officer in the Army. I’m sure most of you are already forming what this article is naturally going to state and off we go……….wait for it……..
I DON’T GIVE A FUCK IF ANYONE KNEELS.
I have been bombarded with 1000s of facebook rants stating this opinion and that. I disagree with every single one I’ve read and I’ve read these rants from both “sides” of the argument. I think both sides are missing the bigger picture.
The overwhelming majority (of my personal fb feed) are on the side of disgust. With the players, with the NFL, with the protest, etc.
“This protest is ridiculous! Why don’t you actually DO something? Kneeling does nothing, get out there make a difference. All you’re doing is being divisive.” -- ok. Given the undeniable fact that the entire country is engaged in dialogue over this topic and awareness has risen 1000-fold, it’s a little difficult for you to argue that this protest is ineffective and not making a difference. Conversely, I’d venture to state that these players are doing the single most effective thing that’s in their power to do in order to create awareness and drive change and bring attention to their issue.
People beg those who are upset to engage in peaceful demonstration and control their anger and to not themselves engage in violence and yet, when those who are upset do just that they are still met with disdain and reproach.
“How can you disrespect the very thing that gives you the right to make an obnoxious amount of money playing a kid’s game??” – sigh. That flag. That anthem. Gives YOU…..nothing. YOU are born with natural rights. Every human is. YOU, along with your neighbors, as a collected community, agreed to fictitious borders and then YOU, collectively granted rights to an administrative organization to obtain common ends, this is your state government. This state government receives ITS rights from YOU. Those states, created by YOU, granted rights by YOU, then came together to former a federal government who received ITS rights by the individual States, whose authority was obtained by YOU and whose authority can be revoked by YOU. (in theory, more on that another time.) So, my point here is that the flag does not GIVE you rights. Our anthem does not GIVE you rights. Our very government does NOT GIVE YOU RIGHTS. It’s the other way around and its far past time that American citizens remember that.
“How can you disrespect the very men and women who gave their life to provide you with the right to (play this game, speak your mind, kneel, etc.)” – as I mentioned. I am one of those people. My life wasn’t taken fortunately during my 13 years of service; however, it could have been. Came close twice. I feel no disrespect from people expressing their views or opinions. I am not personally offended by their kneeling. If they, instead, were on the street looting from others and burning other’s property, then I would be highly offended and would actively defend those being harmed. For the people from whom they stole and the people whose property they destroyed were not the enemy and quite obviously had their rights transgressed. This type of protest is peaceful and the only thing hurt is subjective feelings. Perfection.
Those offended are offended by the feelings of tradition. Respect for tradition. Personally, I think tradition is a dangerous thing. I understand that most people take stock in their heritage and presumed culture, but look closely at the root word of culture. You see it? There it is. CULT.
It’s funny how the things within society that need be most closely scrutinized and questioned, are the very things that are tabooed from discussion.
I love this country, it’s my home, it’s where my family lives. I love my family. I will not defend this government, but I will defend my home and people who live here peacefully.
We fought for your freedom? Here’s a critical thinking question. We have been at war, fairly consistently, since the onset of WWI. We have been at war, fairly consistently, since the creation of a monetary system that would allow for a government to fund never ending warfare. We have been at war, fairly consistently, since the moment we gave lawmakers the power and money to create war. We’re taught and led to believe that we (the military members) are fighting for your freedom, have died for your freedom. If it can be demonstrated, objectively, that citizens of this country are far less free than they were before the fighting started………then have we really fought for your freedom?
Legit question. I’m open to answers.
Another fair question. In this, the land of the free, what is it, specifically, that you are any longer free to do?
Legit question. I’m open to answers.
In the most recent index of freedom (objectively ranking personal, economic and security) the United States has fallen to 20th in the world. 20th. This is not the land of the free any longer and it’s time we all recognize that and stop allowing it to get worse.
Ok. I can keep going on the flag worshipers, but I think I’ve made my point. Now. For the other side.
“We’re not protesting the military, we’re protesting the unequal treatment of minorities and of police abuse in this country.” – ok. Understood.
When black lives matter got started some years ago I was happy. I was happy because they were speaking out against abuse of authority and police misconduct. They were then, and to this day still pretty much are, the only group out there tackling this issue. I was happy it was being discussed and brought to the forefront. In some ways, I still am.
What I didn’t like, and still don’t like, and am losing patience with, was the racial bent to their message.
African Americans, statistically do not corner the market on receiving abuse of authority or being victimized by police misconduct. This is an issue for every American. In 2016 over 1,100 people were murdered by police interaction. In 2015, over 1,200. So far, in 2017 there have been 881 to date on 9/25/17. So, we’re pretty much on pace for an average year of deaths. Average number of police killed each year? 65. That number has been steady for decades, regardless of fear inducing media stories. This does not include all officer deaths in the line of duty (car accidents, heart attacks, etc.), just those that were directly murdered by a citizen.
Those aggregate number of people murdered by police include all killings. Many of them were insanely justified. Many, however, were not. Here’s the kicker. All of those that were justified, would have been clearly justified for an average citizen. In other words, the aspect of being a police officer did not make the situation more prevalent toward being a justified killing. The average Joe on the street is more than justified in defending his / her own life should it be threated.
Those aggregate numbers tell another story. It’s not just African Americans being caught in the crosshairs of police violence. It impacts everyone. White, black, male, female, young, old, you name it. You can identify all kinds of proportional data. I totally get it. However, this is NOT a police vs. African American issue, this is an issue of the People (ALL THE PEOPLE) vs. the abuse of authority issue.
Unfortunately, since BLM has dominated the narrative on this topic for years now, American citizens only see this is a racial divide. It is not. Statistically, it is not. There is an issue and it’s for all of us to bear and all of us to solve.
I wrote a separate article on Law Enforcement. If you care, it’s a few articles back on my blog. Please read.
In conclusion. We all need to take a step back, relax, and allow people autonomy to act as they’d like to act so long as they naturally are not physically hurting others of stealing their stuff. It’s pretty simple. Stop being so blindly offended by “Old Glory” and instead let’s go out and create something new instead of reaching near violent reactions to glorious moments over 200 years old that mean very little to the things happening today.
I haven’t written an article in some time. Many topics have nearly driven me to write. I need to get all of them down on paper before I forget about them. However, here I am, compelled to action, and by what? My facebook page. The flag. Protests. NFL players.
Good lord people. Read the title of my blog please.
I’m a military Veteran, that’s no secret. I’m a United States Marine. I was a commissioned officer in the Army. I’m sure most of you are already forming what this article is naturally going to state and off we go……….wait for it……..
I DON’T GIVE A FUCK IF ANYONE KNEELS.
I have been bombarded with 1000s of facebook rants stating this opinion and that. I disagree with every single one I’ve read and I’ve read these rants from both “sides” of the argument. I think both sides are missing the bigger picture.
The overwhelming majority (of my personal fb feed) are on the side of disgust. With the players, with the NFL, with the protest, etc.
“This protest is ridiculous! Why don’t you actually DO something? Kneeling does nothing, get out there make a difference. All you’re doing is being divisive.” -- ok. Given the undeniable fact that the entire country is engaged in dialogue over this topic and awareness has risen 1000-fold, it’s a little difficult for you to argue that this protest is ineffective and not making a difference. Conversely, I’d venture to state that these players are doing the single most effective thing that’s in their power to do in order to create awareness and drive change and bring attention to their issue.
People beg those who are upset to engage in peaceful demonstration and control their anger and to not themselves engage in violence and yet, when those who are upset do just that they are still met with disdain and reproach.
“How can you disrespect the very thing that gives you the right to make an obnoxious amount of money playing a kid’s game??” – sigh. That flag. That anthem. Gives YOU…..nothing. YOU are born with natural rights. Every human is. YOU, along with your neighbors, as a collected community, agreed to fictitious borders and then YOU, collectively granted rights to an administrative organization to obtain common ends, this is your state government. This state government receives ITS rights from YOU. Those states, created by YOU, granted rights by YOU, then came together to former a federal government who received ITS rights by the individual States, whose authority was obtained by YOU and whose authority can be revoked by YOU. (in theory, more on that another time.) So, my point here is that the flag does not GIVE you rights. Our anthem does not GIVE you rights. Our very government does NOT GIVE YOU RIGHTS. It’s the other way around and its far past time that American citizens remember that.
“How can you disrespect the very men and women who gave their life to provide you with the right to (play this game, speak your mind, kneel, etc.)” – as I mentioned. I am one of those people. My life wasn’t taken fortunately during my 13 years of service; however, it could have been. Came close twice. I feel no disrespect from people expressing their views or opinions. I am not personally offended by their kneeling. If they, instead, were on the street looting from others and burning other’s property, then I would be highly offended and would actively defend those being harmed. For the people from whom they stole and the people whose property they destroyed were not the enemy and quite obviously had their rights transgressed. This type of protest is peaceful and the only thing hurt is subjective feelings. Perfection.
Those offended are offended by the feelings of tradition. Respect for tradition. Personally, I think tradition is a dangerous thing. I understand that most people take stock in their heritage and presumed culture, but look closely at the root word of culture. You see it? There it is. CULT.
It’s funny how the things within society that need be most closely scrutinized and questioned, are the very things that are tabooed from discussion.
I love this country, it’s my home, it’s where my family lives. I love my family. I will not defend this government, but I will defend my home and people who live here peacefully.
We fought for your freedom? Here’s a critical thinking question. We have been at war, fairly consistently, since the onset of WWI. We have been at war, fairly consistently, since the creation of a monetary system that would allow for a government to fund never ending warfare. We have been at war, fairly consistently, since the moment we gave lawmakers the power and money to create war. We’re taught and led to believe that we (the military members) are fighting for your freedom, have died for your freedom. If it can be demonstrated, objectively, that citizens of this country are far less free than they were before the fighting started………then have we really fought for your freedom?
Legit question. I’m open to answers.
Another fair question. In this, the land of the free, what is it, specifically, that you are any longer free to do?
Legit question. I’m open to answers.
In the most recent index of freedom (objectively ranking personal, economic and security) the United States has fallen to 20th in the world. 20th. This is not the land of the free any longer and it’s time we all recognize that and stop allowing it to get worse.
Ok. I can keep going on the flag worshipers, but I think I’ve made my point. Now. For the other side.
“We’re not protesting the military, we’re protesting the unequal treatment of minorities and of police abuse in this country.” – ok. Understood.
When black lives matter got started some years ago I was happy. I was happy because they were speaking out against abuse of authority and police misconduct. They were then, and to this day still pretty much are, the only group out there tackling this issue. I was happy it was being discussed and brought to the forefront. In some ways, I still am.
What I didn’t like, and still don’t like, and am losing patience with, was the racial bent to their message.
African Americans, statistically do not corner the market on receiving abuse of authority or being victimized by police misconduct. This is an issue for every American. In 2016 over 1,100 people were murdered by police interaction. In 2015, over 1,200. So far, in 2017 there have been 881 to date on 9/25/17. So, we’re pretty much on pace for an average year of deaths. Average number of police killed each year? 65. That number has been steady for decades, regardless of fear inducing media stories. This does not include all officer deaths in the line of duty (car accidents, heart attacks, etc.), just those that were directly murdered by a citizen.
Those aggregate number of people murdered by police include all killings. Many of them were insanely justified. Many, however, were not. Here’s the kicker. All of those that were justified, would have been clearly justified for an average citizen. In other words, the aspect of being a police officer did not make the situation more prevalent toward being a justified killing. The average Joe on the street is more than justified in defending his / her own life should it be threated.
Those aggregate numbers tell another story. It’s not just African Americans being caught in the crosshairs of police violence. It impacts everyone. White, black, male, female, young, old, you name it. You can identify all kinds of proportional data. I totally get it. However, this is NOT a police vs. African American issue, this is an issue of the People (ALL THE PEOPLE) vs. the abuse of authority issue.
Unfortunately, since BLM has dominated the narrative on this topic for years now, American citizens only see this is a racial divide. It is not. Statistically, it is not. There is an issue and it’s for all of us to bear and all of us to solve.
I wrote a separate article on Law Enforcement. If you care, it’s a few articles back on my blog. Please read.
In conclusion. We all need to take a step back, relax, and allow people autonomy to act as they’d like to act so long as they naturally are not physically hurting others of stealing their stuff. It’s pretty simple. Stop being so blindly offended by “Old Glory” and instead let’s go out and create something new instead of reaching near violent reactions to glorious moments over 200 years old that mean very little to the things happening today.