A few thoughts.
First, a lot of people posting here I've never seen before. That's interesting, but I do hope nobody is creating accounts that aren't truthful to push an agenda.
Second, the "love it or leave it" view is simplistic and childish to the point of being offensive, and in fact it is the EPITOME of unAmerican. You want love it or leave it? Go to Iran, or North Korea. People rant about showing respect for soldiers and veterans and those who have died for our country? Well, those Americans died in part to ensure we remain a country of people who have the right to protest peacefully.
Third, likewise, the idea that the flag is only about our military and veterans, and that anyone kneeling during the salute is somehow insulting them, despite the fact that nobody who has taken part in this form of protest has ever said anything of the sort, is likewise simplistic and childish to the point of being offensive. Please, we desperately need people to stop clinging to these positions of absolutism and understand that isn't how the world works, and we also need people to actually listen to what is being said and stop this insincere layering of ones own issues and thoughts over the actions of others, especially when said actions have been explicitly explained to not be that way.
Fourth, some of the greatest pieces of America came to be through uncomfortable protest, and worse. Slavery ended through protest and eventually conflict, women got the right to vote through protest and eventually conflict... the country came to be through protest and eventually conflict! While the current protests are not as focused as those examples, with as obvious desired outcomes, let's not forget that much good can come from uncomfortable protest, as it raises awareness and galvanizes Americans.
Fifth, the fact that the guys who are protesting are millionaires means nothing. They are still Americans... being rich doesn't change that. And the fact that many of them come from backgrounds where they have encountered racism and inequality and are now in a position to have a platform and voice... and they are willing to endanger that in order to make a point? I give them a lot of respect for that.
Sixth, our country still has major problems with race. I can get more detailed if people wish (two of my degrees from Duke were in history and African American studies) but there are a bevy of facts that support that. Blacks are convicted at much higher rates than whites in similar circumstances, blacks are given more jail time than whites in similar circumstances, black soldiers are disciplined by our military justice system at a much higher rate than white soldiers... and its only now, with the advent of the iPhone (which makes it easy to record) and Facebook/Twitter (which makes it easy to share said recordings) that much of white America is finally seeing what black America has been dealing with for decades. It makes some white Americans very uncomfortable, and some go to extreme lengths to try to deny that there is any serious issue, insisting that everything is fair and equal against all reasonable evidence. The sooner we can all accept that there are still big issues with race in this country, issues that impact all Americans of all races, and we can start to have honest discussions about it, the better,
Seventh, I've never sat for the anthem. In fact, I worked in sports for years, and heard the anthem a LOT. And I always made sure to take a moment during it to reflect on the goodness my country has afforded me, because I thought it was bad to simply stand like a robot. But I also realize it is a song and a flapping piece of cloth, and if someone isn't feeling the same way I am about that song and that flapping piece of cloth, that is their experience. I'm not going to crap on it; I am the type to want to learn more about why they feel that way. I think that is a far more useful approach.
Eighth, on a practical matter... let's not pretend that the anthem, and players standing, is some important aspect of football. It isn't. In fact, it only started a few years ago, and only because the US military paid the NFL to have players do it in order to help with recruiting, my guess is primarily among minorities. So don't act like it is some created-by-God, essential to the universe thing... it all came to be because of a government program aimed at symbolism and increasing military recruiting.
Ninth, we do need, as a nation, to be a bit less sensitive in letting people ask questions and debate certain topics. A certain element of Americans desperately wants to ask questions about how the fragmented black family became a thing, about why crime is so prevalent in black communities, about why so many black men are in jail. Sometimes we discourage this and act offended by it, when really it is something that needs to be discussed, or it will be this lingering doubt in some people's head. That said, these people also then need to LISTEN to the answers they get... too often they simply refuse to listen to people with more experience, more education, more information.
Tenth, many Americans need to have more conversations with people of different colors. When I hear some of the mind blowing stuff and stances that some white Americans take, I can't help but think "Good lord... do you actually TALK to any black people about this stuff?" I have had the great fortune of being close to a lot of black people in my life... lived in a black frat, worked with black athletes, taught black kids, talk to the same group of black dudes every night... and it has gone a long way towards helping me understand things.
Finally, I think Duke basketball fans should remember... our favorite basketball team is largely made up of young black men. Don't be saying things that you wouldn't say to their faces, and if you are truly a fan, a real fan, you should always be ready to understand what many young black men go through (including our guys), how many young black men feel about these issues (including our guys), and be ready to support them... if you actually have respect and care for them beyond just that they wear a certain jersey and throw a ball through a hoop.
Anyway.... I know some will be all like "tl/dr" but I hope on a Duke forum that will be the minority.
