When did sitting, standing, or kneeling become the ultimate scoff at authority or the loudest form of prayer? The answer lies within today's cultural tornado, where patriotism is being rewritten by protest movements eager to claim the spotlight. The wave crashed onto America's shores when figures in sports, like certain football players, chose to kneel during the national anthem. What was once a time for silent reverence and respect became an unsettling stage for controversy. In this theater of the absurd, the line between protest and basic decency has been trampled like the grass on game day.
This isn't just about athletes or what happens in a stadium. It's a window into how our society treats symbols that were once untouchable. When you stand for the Pledge of Allegiance or kneel in prayer, it reflects your values. But what happens when these gestures are hijacked by personal agendas? Consider this: in a world where kneeling is viewed as the ultimate act of rebellion, isn't it just as much an act of desperation by those who've given up on meaningful dialogue? For centuries, standing, kneeling, or bowing have been expressions of loyalty or faith. Now, they're thumbed noses signaling disdain for the same.
The flipside? This controversy unfolds at workplaces and schools too. Educators and employees are forced to navigate the minefield of what each position signifies. Parents across America wonder why they've had to explain to their children the convoluted reasons behind a player's knee on the ground, instead of simply revering those who've risked life and limb for the nation's freedoms. Institutions grapple with how to uphold respect in environments where everyone insists their way is the right way, sowing division like a modern Tower of Babel.
Why have such gestures become spaces for political theater? The answer is tangible; it's the shouting matches on social media, the memes that twist context, and the news headlines that ignite more heat than light. Everyone with a smartphone fancies themselves an expert—a citizen journalist ready to amplify the noise.
Yet, isn't it ironic? For a privilege so many veterans fought to preserve—the freedom of expression—it's now manifested as a contentious spectacle. It's as if patriotism has been reduced to a scorecard, where everyone keeps count of how further they can bend the 'rules' they deem oppressive.
There's a long history of symbolic defiance, sure. But, let’s put it out there: Revolution walked a different line. The Founding Fathers didn't resort to grand symbolic gestures alone; they engaged in debate, rhetoric, and, yes, the sometimes ugly reality of war. It's easy to kneel; it's far harder to stand when it means doing the tough, unpopular work behind the scenes. Context is sacrificed at the altar of convenience.
So where do we draw the line? At what point does expression morph into provocation? A protest isn’t worth much if it’s a constant storm without clear skies in sight—riling more than rectifying. It treads in dangerous waters where traditions that once united are being strained to the breaking point. The truth is, sitting, standing, or kneeling shouldn’t come with an asterisk or a hidden footnote assigning labels.
Through all this, let’s be frank: at some point, 'patriotism as performance' becomes disingenuous. Patriotism isn't about turning everything into a platform for protest, it's about the larger mission of striving towards unity. It’s about acknowledging faults but also celebrating common ground. You stand together for a reason. You sit when it’s respectful. You kneel when it's sacred. When they become regular episodes of a primetime outrage cycle, we lose sight of their origins.
There’s something to be said for keeping the sit-stand-kneel actions simple. Sitting should not signify acquiescence; standing, not blind allegiance; kneeling, not rebellion. When you dilute them in any other way, you're embarking on a path where every salute, every hymn, every tear shed loses its luster—not because they're outdated, but because they're used like currency in a politicized market.
Our role isn’t to cheerlead these displays as if diving headfirst into an on-trend wave of societal instability. The ultimate rebuke isn't outrage for outrage's sake—it's uncovering the roots and addressing the why-do-you-kneel questions instead of joining the noisy fray. Stick to gestures rooted in respect, loyalty, and unity. It’s not indoctrination—it’s national pride.
Sit, stand, or kneel—it’s less about the position and more about the conviction. So, what'll it be when the national anthem plays next time? A reflection of values that don't shift with the cultural winds but stand firm against them.