Taking a Knee--Moving Forward

Once more with the NFL and this kneeling business.  Many could just remain disgruntled and tuned out, but I think it’s time to move forward.  Here’s my proposal in two parts.

Part I – Game Day

The announcer begins:  Ladies and Gentlemen, please be silent for a minute for prayer, meditation, or deliberation upon those blessings and issues that we face in America.

--Note:  Americans are not good with silence.  The first time this was done, it would have to be about 25 seconds.  The next time 30.  The next 35 and so forth until finally a full minute was given to this.  During this time, fans, coaches, players, and vendors could stand, sit, kneel or whatever they needed to do while considering others  around them in this short time that was set aside.  This is a time of silence not showtime or political activism.  At the end of this time, the announces would say.

The announcer continues:  We ask that all stand and face the American flag—the symbol of this great nation in which we enjoy the blessings of liberty and have the best chance of resolving all that afflicts us.

The national anthem is played, the game kicks off, and people who feel alienated by the disrespect to our National Ensign might once again return to the NFL.  Now, anyone who took a knee or raised a fist during the time to render respect to our flag and what it stands for would be saying, “It’s all about me.”

Part II – Working on Issues

The players who believe they have something of value to say, need to say it.  I suggest a website and a few commercials sponsored by these players.  These promulgations begin with a letter of apology.

We who have taken a knee these past few months seek your forgiveness.  We had our reasons, but we did not exercise wisdom.  We want you to enjoy professional football once again and we want to perform our best for you.

We acted rashly in our decisions to take a knee.  We had what we felt were legitimate reasons, but we did not account for those that would be disrespected.  We do not want to disrespect our service men and women who stand in the gap to preserve the very freedom that we exercise.  We do not want to alienate any American who loves this nation so dearly that such acts could not be viewed as anything but disrespectful.

But, and this is a big one here, we needed to and still need to get people’s attention.  We need help addressing our nation’s problems. Taking a knee angered many and mobilized few in helping anyone.  We want to keep your attention, enlist your assistance, and be as patriotic as those whom we have angered.

So, from now on, we will stand for the flag and ask your help to make this nation realize all the ideals which it represents.  We are blessed to live in a nation where we the people can be a part of the solutions to some very serious problems.

Please forgive us.  Please help us.  Please don’t forget the issues because we have chosen a course of wisdom over disdain.  And please accept our sincere apology.

I am tired of division, divisiveness, and cowardice in this nation; however, I am hopeful that we can move forward and not be entrenched in these positions.