Recently, there’s been a lot of talk about the NFL teams and individual players protesting the national anthem. Personally, I don't think that during the playing of the national anthem on publicly viewed television is the place for protesting for racial injustice. There is a time and a place for peaceful protesting, but this is not one of them.

Why? Because it’s now becoming the trendy thing to do. You have 8 year olds, who can’t form an honest, true opinion, kneeling for the national anthem because their favorite NFL player does it. Heck, you’ve even got a former criminal kneeling for “the killing of innocent black men” when he himself killed two innocent black men. If you want something to change, get up and go change it. Start working in your community to change things, don't just #takeaknee and expect change to occur, that’s not how life works. Colin Kaepernick started this whole thing and he actually went into the community and changed things, but most of the players are simply taking a knee and continuing on with their day to day lives. Just because you do something on TV, doesn't mean anything.

Also, taking a knee is highly disrespectful. Wait, stop before someone tells me I’m a white supremacist; let me explain. Yes, I understand that we do many other things that are considered disrespectful according to the flag code. For example, disposable decorations, plates, clothing, swimwear, etc so not standing for the national anthem is just as disrespectful.

Yes, there is a racial injustice problem in parts of the country, but what you have to do is go change it. Be the change you want to see in the world, go out and start making a difference because once one person starts, a whole lot of other people join. And yes, we do have freedom of speech and we live in a country where you can do that and not be severely punished for it. In some countries, you so much as look at a political leader or a symbol of the country the wrong way and you’re dead on the spot.

Thankfully, we’ve moved pretty much away from that but there are still some places in the world where they don’t have the freedom that we as Americans do. But do you know what gave you that freedom? The men and women who have fought and are currently fighting for our country. That’s why it’s disrespectful. By standing for the national anthem, we’re taking a minute to remember our country’s history and ultimately the men and women who fought, and are currently fighting for our country. Being someone who knows and is related to those who serve, I find it extremely disrespectful for people to kneel during the national anthem. Linking arms, I could care less about, but taking a knee is where I draw the line.

I stand and will always stand for the national anthem, and if you find that offensive, I don't care because I'm proud to be an American!!

God Bless America!