[TreesAndBirds]

I think even aside from the issues motivating Kaepernick's anthem boycott, a bigger issue is what the flag and anthem represent? When Stanford's football team runs out on the field carrying the American flag, what does it even mean?  Is Stanford's team playing for the military?  Setting an example all Americans can be proud of, by taking school and football equally seriously?  Representing pride in their country in general?  Something else?  It's clear the flag and anthem have lots of meanings to lots of different people. I never thought of the military when anthems are played at Olympic medal ceremonies, but apparently some do.

The real problem is when people claim CK's disrespecting the military, even when he says he's got no beef with and respects the military. There are too many interpretations of the things involved to justify anyone having a strident position on this issue, no matter what it happens to be.

For me, the national anthem is unifying, or at least intended to be. Sports is competitive and evokes passions against other cities, schools, people. The anthem reminds us that despite the competition, we have a lot in common, and lets not let the competition get out of hand. It also reminds us that there are more important things than sports.  And I think it's more appropriate in sports because you dont have the same type of competition in the arts, movies, etc. That said, I understand it can mean different things for different people.

[TreesAndBirds]

I think even aside from the issues motivating Kaepernick's anthem boycott, a bigger issue is what the flag and anthem represent? When Stanford's football team runs out on the field carrying the American flag, what does it even mean?  Is Stanford's team playing for the military?  Setting an example all Americans can be proud of, by taking school and football equally seriously?  Representing pride in their country in general?  Something else?  It's clear the flag and anthem have lots of meanings to lots of different people. I never thought of the military when anthems are played at Olympic medal ceremonies, but apparently some do.

The real problem is when people claim CK's disrespecting the military, even when he says he's got no beef with and respects the military. There are too many interpretations of the things involved to justify anyone having a strident position on this issue, no matter what it happens to be.

For me, the national anthem is unifying, or at least intended to be. Sports is competitive and evokes passions against other cities, schools, people. The anthem reminds us that despite the competition, we have a lot in common, and lets not let the competition get out of hand. It also reminds us that there are more important things than sports.  And I think it's more appropriate in sports because you dont have the same type of competition in the arts, movies, etc. That said, I understand it can mean different things for different people.