Letter: Kneeling NFL players should be respected

Friday January 5, 2018

Editor:

It's hard to reconcile conservatives' vitriol toward kneeling NFL players. If we assume their claims of patriotism are real, and since their predominant, chosen brand of superstition is Christianity, it seems strange that they - like our president and vice president - would be so angrily dismissive of the collective act of semi-prostration by these athletes as they mourn the demonstrated bias against men of color.
TODAY'S SPONSOR
:After all, kneeling is an act that signals obedience and reverence, and the flag and anthem are symbols of a nation whose foundation ostensibly rests on equality and freedom of speech, among other pillars.

Is kneeling not a respectful way of pointing out that we have a long way to go toward realizing our founding slaveholders' proclaimed ideals for our nation?

​But then, perhaps, they who abhor this quiet, respectful and peaceful act of protest have never had a son pulled over for driving while black or an unarmed brother shot by an officer of the law.

Bill Finlay
Exeter Township

Kneeling NFL players should be respected