I know you didn't steal that from Ambrose Bierce, but it belongs with the rest of his dictionary.

It's a good, solid, word...no doubt micro-agggression sensitve, safe-space seekers would look, may look, to have it banned.

Flag-worship is to the Cult of the Omnipotent State the same as relic worship is to other cults. It is ingrained at an early age, before the mind is capable of critical thinking. After that, most people are unable or unwilling to throw out the mental garbage and get their own opinions.

Bravo to those who have the ability to think for themselves and the courage to act, even in the face of tremendous ridicule from the myrmidon majority.

... and/or an insane minority ...

fuck that guy no matter what side of any particular opinion he is on

Kaepernick is just a pussy whipped little girly man. Leave that poor boy alone already, we don't want to make him cry.

That's silliness. It's not the anthem of the military. The services have their own songs. It's the anthem of the whole USA, and he was protesting a domestic nationwide issue.

The view that it doesn't matter which party wins, because they're both bad, is also silliness in my opinion, especially this year. "Both bad" doesn't imply "doesn't matter". But it's a fairly widespread view, and if he does have that view, it's not hypocrisy.

On the other hand, as I said, I do think it's silly, and I agree it's a damn shame. He could have motivated some of the people he inspired to vote, and didn't.

On the gripping hand, that's similar to saying, "if he agreed with me he should have done something else".

True dat

Opinion
 

Military people don't generally find it offensive; but, it's not silliness either.

When the flag is raised and Reveille is played in the morning on military installations; also, when the flag is lowered and Taps is played in the evening, everyone within sight and sound (who's reasonably able to) stops what they're doing, faces the flag (or the direction the sound is coming from) and either salutes when in uniform; or, places their hand over their heart when not. Even if in vehicles, they pull over to the side of the road (much as you would for a passing emergency vehicle) and step out of the vehicle to salute. They also stand for the National Anthem.

It's tradition that stems from devotion to this country and those who have been a part of it, past and present, making it what it is today. It's somewhat like the Muslim tradition of facing Mecca to pray five times a day out of devotion in that they both address the totality of what is being revered.

Military personnel don't expect civilians to mimic their traditions anymore than Muslims expect infidels to mimic theirs. Neither do they expect them to subvert those traditions; however, to protest some part of the whole. I wouldn't go to a sporting event in this country and not stand for the National Anthem anymore than I would go to a prayer session in a Muslim country and not kneel facing Mecca. Those who would do these things are seen by military personnel as small minded and distasteful ... pitiful rather than offensive.

Most all military personnel have some issue with the country they revere just as most all Muslims have some issue with the religion they revere; but, most all rise above it recognizing there's another time and place to address those. The disappointing exceptions ultimately fall by the wayside.

Again, it is silliness to bring up the military in any way in response to his protest. The military has nothing to do with it. Children in schools will stand for the anthem as well, but he's not attacking children.

And all that aside, a football stadium isn't the US military's version of Mecca. The military doesn't own football, any more than they own the anthem.

Now you're just spewing nonsense. He's protesting America and Americans. The US military is comprised of Americans serving America. They're every bit as affected as all other Americans. They just bring an added perspective to the table.

You've also made a dishonest transition from military men and women being offended to school children being attacked. Since when are the words offended and attacked synonymous?

Another dishonest transition is contrasting a football stadium to Mecca in the context of the US military as an organization. The discussion has been about the men and women in the military. For football fans, a football stadium CAN be a Mecca and men and women in the military CAN be football fans.

You present as a been nowhere, done nothing kind of person with contempt for the military. I find your argument to be small minded and distasteful ... pitiful.

Exactly. That's why it's silly to say that his protest has anything to do with the military.

Your whole point seems to be that there were military people among the people offended by him, and therefore Smith's quote is technically true.

Sure, whatever.

But I didn't say it was a lie, I said it was silly.

Again, Smiths quote was:If all he meant was "some of the people offended by the protest happen to be in the military", why even pick them out? Just to try to glom on to people's respect for the military and attach it to his argument.

Does that phrase apply to everything one might do that might offend someone in the military?

I'm sure there are a few members of the military who would be at least a bit offended at being co-opted into this guy's argument.

Silly are you for leaving the last line off of my paragraph when you quoted it:
"... an added perspective to the table" means that while it affects all Americans it can have an added effect on men and women in the military which I elaborated on in post #70. Reading comprehension.

I expressly stated the opposite:

Integrity in representing what others have said has never been your forte.

And you were wrong:

Exactly. Did you figure that out all by yourself; or, did you have help?

Perhaps to Mr. Smith.

I wouldn't be surprised; but, they'll take it in stride just as they do your arguments.