I can’t tell if the flag has “codes” or not.
We appear to have them, but then I’ve also read where the Supreme Court overturned Flag Codes as unconstitutional a few years after the Pledge of Allegiance was deemed a violation of religious freedom, at least for non-military personnel.
Regardless, there are some things that I do know:
* Kneeling is considered to be one of the most respectful acts in the world.
* Colin Kaepernick’s protest was passive and peaceful, exactly what we all want to see in a protest. He didn’t overturn any cars. He didn’t bash the front windows of shop keepers. He didn’t use hateful language. He was just one guy in a sea of guys and all he did was kneel instead of stand.
* There are lots of violations of Flag Codes that seem to go unmentioned, including the flag used in advertising (Section 8.i… there goes all the 4th of July marketing!) and the most ironic: “The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.” (Section 8.c) So everyone in a football stadium standing to respect the giant, HORIZONTAL flag covering the field is, in fact, disrespecting the flag. The Kaep anger, in context, seems a bit hypocritical, no?
* The NFL didn’t even require players to come out for the National Anthem until 2009, so it’s not like it was a long-standing traditional (pun intended!).
…AND…
I also know — as an employer — employees shouldn’t be doing personal things on company time.
So, ultimately, I don’t know why there’s a controversy.
If Colin Kaepernick — or any other American — wants to protest something… a freedom that we’ve fought wars over to protect… they should be allowed to do it peacefully… on their own time.
If they want to do it on company time, though, and what they’re protesting is not part of the job description, then they have the freedom to not do that job.
The NFL should have outlawed political expression after Week 3 of Kaepernick’s protest a few years back… in the same way they outlawed commercial expression in the 80’s… and it was a good thing they did, else every NFL player would look like a walking advertising billboard by now.
So maybe what everyone should really be upset about is why Roger Goodell, commissioner of the NFL, makes $40 million a year and can’t even put out a simple camp fire in his own backyard.
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