There is a lot of evident confusion about this “disrespect to the Flag” business by kneeling during the National Anthem at sporting events. To be fair, traditionally kneeling in most situations denotes respect, not disrespect. You kneel to pray, to propose, to meet royalty (once upon a time anyway). So it seems hard to say that kneeling for the flag during the National Anthem, in and of itself and without other considerations, is disrespectful.
However, standing, sitting or kneeling for the flag alone is not really the issue. It is the National Anthem that is the real issue. Chapter 36, section 301(b)(1)(C) of the United State Code states that when the National Anthem is played
“all other [than military] persons present should face the flag [if flying] and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart”.
Thus kneeling violates this standard and is both disrespectful to the playing of the National Anthem and the flag since the flag is always present at such events. But even if there were no flag, it is still disrespectfull to kneel during the National Anthem. Of course nitpickers will seize on the word “should,” but it cannot be gainsaid that the statute provides a standard and official guide to conduct during the playing of the National Anthem, and to do anything other than comply with that standard is disrespectful by definition. Let’s remember that your elected representatives wrote and enacted that statute.
And it is also disrespectful, by the way, for people to be chattering to each other, scratching their crotch, adjusting their underwear, leaving their hat on, slurping their ice cream, gnawing on their pretzel, etc., while the National Anthem is played. It is also disrespectful to the performers of the National Anthem, who almost uniformly (Roseanne and other supposed big shots notwithstanding) treat their performance as a solemn occasion and have the right to expect the same from the audience. With some few exceptions, each one of those performers worked and practiced a great deal to prepare and they do their best, even if it hurts the ears.
Thus these people who think kneeling is OK and not disrespectful to either the flag or the National Anthem are simply mistaken and selfish. Rather, they rely on their own intent as justification for their actions and claim that “Because I say it’s not about disrespecting the flag and that is not my intent, my actions are really about protesting historic racial injustice, it’s OK to do.” Well, your “intent” does not matter a rat’s patootie to anyone. That is effectively the same thing as saying “I had no intent to discriminate against you Black person on the basis of your race even though I checked my wallet after you bumped into me, so it’s OK that I did.” C’mon. You can’t have it both ways. If intent rather than action is the guiding principle, then there are no principles: it is then OK to do anything you intend with complete disregard for the consequences. Please take a moment and envision the social chaos that will ensue if we all take that attitude. Rioting and looting will seem tame by comparison.
There are plenty of other ways to call attention to things you don’t like. You can kneel or do somersaults during the whole game if you want, just not during the National Anthem. You don’t have to be offensive to protest what offends you. But if you want to be disrespectful, go ahead, just don’t tell us that you’re not.