Trump asks if NFL players who protest should be in country

if they do not want to stand, perhaps they should not be in the United States.

It’s clear that Kaepernick hates America. He is free to hate to his hearts content. He is partial to Cuban communism and Marxism. These ideologies are incompatible with American democracy. So maybe Trump is right, Kaepernick would probably be much more comfortable in a country that suits his ideology and has fewer of those terrible white people that he dislikes so much.

Last month I attended a Seibiu Lions game in Tokorozawa. Before the game they played the Japanese national anthem. You can bet that I was standing to show respect to the country that welcomed me in. There are people in Japan that aren’t all that friendly to people of different races and nationalities. But it isn’t everyone by a long shot. Unlike the NFL players, I do not blame the nation as a whole or all Japanese people for the shortcomings of some individuals. That would be racist.

Personally, I would never sit down while the stars and stripes are waving in the wind and an audience is singing the national anthem, but that's me.

For that matter, I have never wanted to burn an American flag and I can't understand Americans who do so, but that's me.

At the same time, it's a free country and that means freedom of expression, so I respect the rights of fellow Americans to express themselves as they like as long as it doesn't involve violence and/or destruction.

Whether your employer is willing to allow this when you are at work is a different question entirely. They pay, they decide what is and isn't ok for work.

The boss's boss (NFL) can request specific actions, if they like, but the team owner is the final word.

Respectful actions against the current group in power is part of being American. Protesting in a non-violent manner is being a good American, even when I disagree with whatever your action might be.

Unpopular speech is still protected, just as much as popular speech.

You have to stand, proudly, for the national anthem. Or you shouldn't be playing, you shouldn't be there. Maybe you shouldn't be in the country

Some people might feel the same about draft-dodgers.

Trump needs to blow his posing ‘patriotic’ crap out of a different orifice.

What ignorance! Why do the American people put up with him?