There was a time: not long ago, that a person was expected to work hard in school, make as close to perfect grades as was humanly possible, graduate and join the forces of the gainfully employed.  If you did all of the above you were led to believe you would obtain a certain degree of success and fame.  Your life would have a relative amount of fiscal stability and all would be comfortable.  As I said this was “Once Upon A Time.”

In today’s world it seems all the old rules have evaporated.  We need to revert to having classrooms with educators that earned their degree in education.  Now in our public schools the classrooms are filled with mediocre coaches teaching subjects they know very little about.  The teaching title serves to add monies to their paychecks for the coaching they so feebly attempt on Friday nights.  Since we are educating with many uneducated instructors, grades mean very little.  We annually graduate illiterate masses in our public schools. 

Grades have very little influence on the level of success one can attain.  The individual prowess on the athletic field is the answer.  Colleges, those hallowed, ivory covered bastions of higher education proudly offer classes in basket weaving and needle point so athletes can graduate and be drafted by a professional team.  Untold wealth is heaped upon the most agile of the class.  The quality of the education becomes evident as these new millionaire, drug headed, wife abusers manage to spend a fortune so recently acquired. 

Above all, I challenge all participants to be honest with themselves.  What are you protesting?  You are not mistreated in any way.  You have life by the horns if you will act and live accordingly.  These subsidized protests are just one more step to destroying our constitution and letting anarchy prevail.  Then you will feel bad about your treatment. 

Evidently these individuals are not taught history or economics.  Hopefully every basic course in economics would enable these people to retain some of the riches that have been piled on them.  In reality many are broke, out of money, in just a short time after their playing career has ended.  Many have drug habits they can no longer afford and multiple children from multiple wives or girlfriends leaving the streets full of children that know no father figure or guidance.  Being fair, not all athletes can be thrown into this hopper.  Right now I’m just so fed up with them and their actions I’m going a little overboard, or so my wife tells me. 

A most superficial course in American history, if within their realm of comprehension and understanding, would educate students about the amount of sacrifice, stained with blood and then give more respect for the loyal patriots that have gone before them.  Starting with the American Revolution and continuing today, the stars and stripes have flown proudly over the battlefields that were covered in blood giving these athlete heroes the ability to play little boy games for huge amounts’ of money while exhibiting very little maturity, honor or respect.  Most of these athletes have never served one day in their own behalf to insure these liberties and freedom.  Others ridicule those that have. 

You and every person has the right for free speech and individual expression.  However, if you do not have enough courage to stand and respect your country and its banner, you don’t have to.  Go somewhere else to live where you are not expected to pay respect to the flag.  You have many countries that would receive you with open arms.  Try one of them.  See if you can play games and earn the riches you have in the U.S.A.  You should be required to learn the national anthem while receiving this outstanding education you brag about.  Get off your collective knees, stand at attention, with your hand over your heart and act like it means something to you.  Maybe you aren’t even smart enough to act that way. 

As for as the owners of these elite professional teams.  Where is your back bone?  You don’t need these teams for income purposes to survive.  They only satiate your egos and allow exclusive membership in the owners club.  You dictate the color of socks to wear.  You dictate what can and cannot be on the helmets.  Violations are subject to fines and suspensions.  As the owner are you not their bosses?  Do you not have the ability to fire employees that disrespect your customers, patriots and emblems of the country that lets you practice this free enterprise?  You must be Republicans because you can’t take a stand and follow through with it.  If you were Democrats it would all be socialistic anyhow and you would be telling the players what to do.  After all Democrats seem to feel they know more about our lives than we do. 

If you do feel so possessed that you must take a knee, go ahead.  Instead of one knee get down on two and try saying a prayer. For our country, and the liberties it provides. 

I just can’t be wrong.  But if I am, I’m still right. 

The thoughts and ideas expressed above are exclusively those of Jack Straley.  We may agree, and that’s fine, or we may disagree, that’s okay too.  My sole purpose is to encourage others to think, study, and become involved. Exercise your freedom and above all, when presented the opportunity, please vote.