What is "Disrespectful" to Our Nation?

 

BENDING OF A KNEE - VS- STORMING THE CAPITOL 

We have all seen it by now.  If you haven't, let me know the rock you have been under because I want to go to that place with you!  Supporters of our current leader have stormed The Capitol; the place where officials from around the world gather to vote on issues affecting our country and its people - and it will go down in history.

Several conversations I have had this week brings me to ask the question, what do you consider disrespect of our nation? I am assuming it would depend on your political party, or if you have any values and integrity, you would answer fairly. That can be debated however.  

As seen in Newsweek's photo of Colin Kaepernick, he is kneeling - peacefully.  While he may be causing a "disruption" to some, he is quiet and kneeling for what he believes, not physically hurting anyone or destroying property - Federal property at that!  Choosing to use his platform to state a point, it has forced many young people to ask questions and many older Americans to be upset and lashing out at the athlete.

Now let's look at the San Francisco Chronicle's picture here:

This is taking a different kind of knee.  This is physically causing harm to someone- using the "platform" - line of work/career, in a different manor.  This was clearly about power - which became abuse of that power. The blue line could argue that he is doing what needs to be done to control the "hostile" environment but really, it seems the situation was under control long before this.  It appears to be a power message. THIS my friends, is white power. The fact that this form of ABUSE could occur and people believe it is right because one holds a badge and deals with dangerous situations and disruptive people every day.  Let's look at a different perspective.

NBC posted this photo.  It clearly shows a different intent of protesting for what you believe in. Imagine that.  The leader of the "free world," 45, wanted to put a wall at our borders but look who is scaling the walls of one of the most well-known, monumental, federal buildings in our country; his supporters, the ones who were in favor of him building a wall to keep out some immigrants that wanted to come here and clean our toilets, cook our food, clean the hotels we travel to, manicure our lawns and pick the foods we eat from fields - to have a better life - doing the stuff some Americans don't want to do!  We know what the other photos look like.  We have watched numerous broadcasts and have seen the protesters bragging, and posting on their own social media, about the actions they have taken and are proud of. Now imagine this being your property, your home! 

The problem with the two photos above is that the actions put FEAR into people's lives.  It caused a chain of events that resulted in more fear, rioting and death of citizens.  Meanwhile, all an athlete did was quietly bend on a knee for what he believed in.  This is white power. This is white supremacy and I cannot believe we are back at this point of the Civil Rights Movement.  

Racism and discrimination has always existed, we know this.  But 2020 has shown us that we have not come as far as I thought we did.  What some consider to be disrespect to our nation is completely different to others.  Understandable - but ethics people! Think about that crap! Some people missed that class and/or conversations at the dinner table. This year has shown me that people's idea of integrity and humanity is completely different and that the values I have in my family are completely different than what I will allow in to  my home. Relationships have been cut and severed.  No shame in my game because I think there is a fine line with disrespect and the line has been crossed a LOT this year. 

2021 has got to be better than 2020.  Has to be.  We are hating each other to a point I have not seen in my life time and our children only learn from us.  Get your heads out of your rear ends people. Imagine someone climbing the fence to your house and breaking in.  Bending on one knee, quietly, patiently waiting, well - that just doesn't look that disrespectful anymore now does it? Think about that crap!