This Is Why #IStand | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics

This Is Why #IStand

Show respect where respect is due, and direct your political anger towards the source.

216
This Is Why #IStand
Wikimedia Commons

Sports are dominating today's headlines, but for reasons that are different than one would assume. More and more professional players are choosing to kneel, sit and even remain inside locker rooms during the National Anthem in protest of President Trump and his words during a rally.

Everyone has a right to protest, but there is such a thing as protesting incorrectly and inefficiently. We do have the right to kneel before the flag, but should we?

What is to be gained besides negative media attention and trying to prove yourself against higher authority?

Brandon Tatum posted a video on Facebook that went viral, in which he discussed a very valid point to this new form of protest. View this video here.

He quotes, "The issues they are talking about have nothing to do with the flag, you can address those issues on another venue. If you really care about black lives, you don't need to be taking a knee. You need to be out there doing something in the community. If you care about laws and oppression, you need to be voting. You need to be putting yourself in a position to help pass legislation. Do something about it."

He also adds, "What has happened since Colin Kaepernick took the first knee? Has unemployment changed in the black community? Has black on black crime changed? Have police stopped shooting black people? Tell me what has changed."

No matter how you feel about our current state as a country, the reason you are sitting there reading this right now is credited to the millions of men and women who have sacrificed so much so that you may live, and work and have a family and have the rights that you do now.

There are so many other ways to protest for your beliefs. The national anthem is just a few short minutes of your time where you should stand on your feet and think of all those who died in service to this country in which you are a citizen of.

I stand for my grandpa, my aunt, my uncle and many more in my family, all who have risked their lives in protecting this country. I stand for the millions of Americans who die fighting for freedom every year. I stand for the people that those brave men and women have left behind, those who may never see their loved ones again.

I stand for the many values and strengths of this country, and to not stand is to disrespect everything that has been hard fought and solely won.

Please, stand with me. Show respect where respect is due, and direct your political anger towards the source.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

189394
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

14407
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457471
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26417
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments