Fox News Poll: Views shift on kneeling during national anthem

The way I've heard it articulated, SSgt (Join to see), is that the lack of respect is shown by not rendering honors for the U.S. flag during the playing of the National Anthem, both of which are symbols of the country for which the service members died.

LTC Stephen C. That seems to be the general consensus among naysayers, sir, but what most fail to remember is that we fight for their freedoms to do whatever they wish during the playing of the anthem. They're civilians, and aren't bound to the same customs as military personnel, and if we are to speak ill of one of our rights as Americans, then we need to ask ourselves what we are really fighting for.

The retort to this usually is along the lines of, "but the flag code says...", but the flag code also has a key word in there for each procedure pertaining to honors to our flag: "should". Not "shall", not "will", not "must", not "am/are legally obligated to, lest ye be punished", but "should". Therefore, I say that while I salute the flag at the position of attention, they can sit, kneel, or stand on their hands and heads for all I care.

Personally, I believe that those who are against such practices, and would attack those who don't stand for the flag are comparable to the Nazis who retaliated against August Landmesser for performing a similar act. Are we really going to stoop as low as a failed fascist regime? Lest we forget what happened to said regime as well.

I'm poignantly aware of all the pros and cons of this issue, SSgt (Join to see), nor do I disagree with your response. It appeared there was an implied question in your original comment and I simply elaborated on what appears to be the prevailing sentiment of those that are displeased with the behavior of NFL players and the NFL generally. Perhaps the implied question wasn't there after all.

Numerous times I've read the chapter of the United States Code (USC) concerning the flag of the United States of America and I know well that the subparagraphs are all "should never[s]". However, that's precisely why our country will never end up like Nazi Germany, because the code reads as "should never" and does not read as "shall not" or "will not". Personally, I think a citizen of the United States should WANT to follow the USC as it pertains to the flag of the U.S., but that's just me. Every citizen has the Constitution behind them to behave as they see fit regarding the flag of the U.S.

My last observation is that both the left and the right need to be mindful and respectful of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. There are many examples of both sides trying to disassemble the Constitution.