Regarding Dr. Paul Jankiewicz’ letter to the editor: Colin Kaepernick began protesting police killings of unarmed black men, women, and children by sitting for the National Anthem. Nate Boyer, an Army vet, former Green Beret, and NFL center, suggested to Kaepernick that he kneel, instead.
In a USA Today interview, Boyer said, “I expressed to him, maybe there’s a different way of demonstrating, where you’re showing more respect for those who laid down their lives for what that flag and anthem stand for. I suggested kneeling, because people kneel to pray; we’ll kneel in front of a fallen brother’s grave.”
Players are not protesting the flag or the National Anthem. If you would like the NFL to show respect for the flag, demand they take the flag off the uniforms, stop carrying the flag horizontally and, for goodness’ sake, get representations of the flag off of beer cans and cups at the stadiums. All of those things are against the U.S. Flag Code, but they happen every game day in the NFL.
I genuflect every time I enter a church, I knelt in front of my father’s casket and I was on my knees to ask for my bride’s hand in marriage. I don’t believe anyone can say this is not a respectful gesture, even if made in protest.
Andy Champ-Doran
Kingston
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