The waving and snapping of each exquisite stitch of fabric hanging from the pole and the clinking of its swivel serve as both unintentional and intentional reminders of where the origins of freedom began. At times, standing still and waiting on its recognition, the flag has been raised since the beginning of its creation and recognition in 1776.

Consciously review the colors, the stars, the stripes, and the stitching up close. What do you see? Truthfully, there are endless possibilities of history worth noticing. The first thing I and countless others see is red. It signifies the importance of resilience and valor within our home of the brave. Then I see blue. It represents the degree to which many strive for vigilance, perseverance, and justice within this land of the free. And then I see white. It exemplifies the purity and the innocence in this land of milk and honey. I see brave, young men and wome

n on and off the battlefield regardless of race, religion, color, creed, and sexual orientation, making America stronger and prouder every day, even with the hardships faced in the past, present, and in the future.

The American flag is raised as a symbol of the unity of the American people. Along with the National Anthem, it mirrors and illustrates America as a people unabridged, dignified, and driven by the desire to bring out the best in one another. While these are the values we strive for and often possess, the flag does not declare that The United States of America is an impeccable and absolute nation.

It has been a longstanding tradition in the United States to play the National Anthem before the commencement of sporting events. Up until 2009, players in the National Football League (NFL) were not required to be present during the playing of the National Anthem, but that year it became mandatory that they do so. In what has been a recurring series of events, players have begun to kneel and/or link and hook arms during the playing of National Anthem. This observance began with quarterback Colin Kaepernick in August 2016 when he played for the San Francisco 49ers. Kaepernick first knelt during the National Anthem alongside his teammate Eric Reid to “call attention to the issues of racial inequality and police brutality.”

“After hours of careful consideration, we came to the conclusion that we should kneel, rather than sit, during the anthem as a peaceful protest,” said Reid in an interview with The New York Times. Both Reid and Kaepernick are African Americans, and they felt that American authority consisted of oppression towards colored people. And so, they took the approach to kneel as a form of protest to the injustices they perceived.

Since then, peaceful protesting became a phenomenon at school sporting events across the United States. Additionally, other players in the NFL and other professional sports also followed in Kaepernick’s footsteps. In March 2017, Kaepernick became a free agent when his contract ended with the San Francisco 49ers. It seemed that with his resume Kaepernick would have no trouble finding a position with another team. However, that has not happened, and it is predicted that he will continue to be a free agent due to the publicity caused by his protest.

Recently, just as the protesting began to ease down, a new flame was sparked when President Donald Trump made abrasive remarks towards this behavior. This prompted a mass protest among NFL players, causing teammates to kneel and hook arms together. This activity has prompted discussions on what the flag and the anthem truly mean. Some Americans believe the tradition is honoring the fallen military soldiers and police officers. Others believe it depicts the “entirety of the American experience.” I believe the National Anthem honors both the fallen veterans and police officers and anyone in between who has sacrificed and/or made contributions towards this country. Additionally, the anthem represents America’s past experiences and its present turmoil.

Since the birth and establishment of The United States on July 4, 1776, America was no longer comprised of colonized branc

hes governed by England but was now an emerging autonomous nation. Since then and until now, it is understood there are no perfect leaders or political systems. Hardships have been undergone and will continue to remain. That is why Americans need to unite now more than ever to show that, even throughout all this, there are still people who care and love each other no matter what. We must show that even through disagreements, reckless remarks, and violence, we are an eager unified people who support one another. It is never easy, but with time and commitment, it is certainly possible.

It is my belief that kneeling is a cowardly move. Many comments made by the NFL players, especially Kaepernick, are vague and do not portray a valid enough argument to disrespect those gracious and selfless Americans who have and continue to put their lives on the line so that we may be a free nation.

Kaepernick should not be signed to an NFL team as there were other ways to go about peaceful protesting.

If Kaepernick and all other NFL players wanted to go about protesting and attempting to “make a change,” then they could refute Trump’s remarks through an open discourse, not taking the easy way out and kneeling to make a “statement.” I understand it is their right as per the First Amendment of the Constitution; however, that does not mean it is the right approach and way to go about things.

Instead, they should unify and speak out for the idea that as a people it is important to send a positive message to everyone.

The protests have a negative impact on current servicemen and police officers and children across America. First, the military. They are at the games both in the stands and on staff, and many are overseas or are reintegrating. They are, essentially, the reason these games can continue and are the reason that freedom continues to prevail. So, although they fight for everyone’s freedom, they are repaid with disrespect to both them and their country.

Second, police officers. They are protecting and fighting for everyone. Although, there have been unfortunate incidents of officers misbehaving, most are working to ensure the safety of the citizens they see. They are serving our country, risking their lives all the time, which are commitments most of us would not dare to do.

Lastly, children are everywhere. Many are huge fans of the NFL players and even aspire to be like them some day. The players are their role models. Many young fans watching may believe the message that it is okay to be ungrateful to those who helped get them where they are today. It is important for children and everyone else to know that outreach is always better than outrage.

It is crucial to understand that when disagreements arise, we must still be there for each other. It is easier to come together rather than disperse and fall apart. Above all, it is imperative to acknowledge love and glimpses of light in times of hardship because that is the most important and true American experience that one can endure and salvage for the rest of days to come.