By Michael Fryzel
Having been told the importance of respect for our flag and National Anthem growing up as a child and carrying that respect throughout my life, it is disheartening to see those two symbols that unite us as a country are now being used to protest important issues facing our nation.
There does not appear to be any argument from anyone that although it’s the best country in the world, the United States is not void of problems, such as racial strife, crime, senseless killings, prejudices and discrimination. We have had these problems for decades, continue to have them and despite all the efforts of so many people to correct them, they continue.
The right to protest the wrongs, to march against the problems and to voice your opinion without fear of retribution is what makes our country special. The freedoms we enjoy are only dreams in the minds of individuals who live in countries where such rights do not exist.
Somewhere along the way, certain individuals and groups began to believe that the most productive way to protest what they felt was wrong was through violence and disrespect. Destroying businesses, burning police vehicles and injuring others seemed to them to be the best way to get their message heard.
What they did and how they did it was noticed. The media gives such events tremendous coverage and the whole world watches. While these protesters may feel they are accomplishing something, I believe they are hurting the cause they are attempting to help.
Peaceful demonstrators clearly make their position known in a more lasting way. Thousands of individuals marching arm in arm as they have done to promote civil rights, voicing their opinion for or against abortion or supporting a candidate for public office ring true to the American way of how things are done.
The recent protests by members of the NFL, while perhaps not intended to be, came across as disrespectful to our nation’s armed forces and the symbols we hold true uniting our country as one, in spite of the problems we struggle to solve.
Symbols have always been used as a way of bringing people together especially in times of tragedy and national strife. After 911 the flag was seen flying everywhere from public and private buildings to the vehicles of first responders and private citizens. A piece of cloth with stars and stripes colored red, white and blue representing the strength and endurance of every individual who lives under that flag. A National Anthem that in a few words tells the story of a country that will not waiver, will be forever strong and will work to unite its citizens in times both good and bad.
Continue the peaceful protests, speak out on what you believe but do so in a way that will let everyone know that the United States will forever be strong and never stop trying to be better.
Stand for the National Anthem and respect our flag, because despite differences, those symbols are what will hold us together, help us solve our problems and continue to make our country great.
Michael Fryzel is a former chairman of the National Credit Union Administration. He can be reached at meflaw@aol.com.