Kneel or Stand?

I debated on making a statement in this tsunami of opinions about our "Flag".  I am proud that I am an American.  I am not proud of our country right now.  I am grateful for the men and the women who have fought and are fighting for my freedoms!  Grateful beyond words.  There is no other country in which I would choose to live.  I am ashamed of the infantile actions of those who could influence change for good.  Name calling, temper tantrums, revenge, violence of adults is pathetic at best. 

I am sad that we have bottomed out to the point that if I disagree with you, I must now hate you and fight you and disdain you.   The rancor and the shouting, the positioning of sides solves absolutely nothing.   You are screaming so loud no one hears what you are saying.

The irony to me of this 'hot' topic of whether one should or should not kneel or stand or salute our flag is that in our country we have that freedom.  I respect what our flag stands for!  I will stand!  Our country was founded, as people fled from totalitarian governments!  The price of their fleeing was high and every country in the world has a flag that represents what they stand for.  In the United States of America you are free to go elsewhere you are not forced to stay.  When I return from over seas, I am always grateful that our flag is still flying and I am home safe!

The issues are deeper than 'respect' for the flag.  The issues are that these 'kneelers' have no clue about their true freedoms here.  These athletes have more money and influence than the majority of us will ever know.  The color of their skin has not held them back!  They are in amazing positions that can send them to the 'ghettos', the inner city where good role models are needed and encourage young people who need good role models.  Black, White or somewhere in between,  the color of our skin is forgotten when we give back!   They can and should be change agents. Some are. :)

Twice now in Africa, I  have been invited to visit the King of the Western Provence in Zambia. I am a white American, he is a black African there is no white privilege. He likes what we bring to his table (clean water, schools, clinics, agricultural development)  but he controls all of the cards and we are to be used to serve him. 

By our standards his compound and home are very modest and old.  That stated, he is King and has power over my presence in his world.  No one stands above him, we all squat or kneel.  No one turns their back on him, we leave his presence walking backwards.  As a woman I am required to enter through a side door.  Men go in directly.  As a woman I am to wear a long skirt (I had to wrap my shawl around my long pants if I wanted to be in his presence on my last visit).   We kneel and clap 3x.  We proceed a bit further in our kneeling position and repeat the clap.  This is done until we arrive in reception area.  He has power over his people and in general they do not thrive under his rule.   He went to college here in the US and knows our 'casual' ways but demands that we succumb to his, on his turf.  It is demanded!  He is King.  There is no freedom in his presence.

Kneeling is a form of humility and submission.  Standing (as we do with our anthem) is a sign of strength and pride.  Once again we have this whole thing backwards.

Use your voice, your posture, your resources to better man kind.  

Much will be required of everyone who has been given much. And even more will be expected of the one who has been entrusted with more. 

Luke 12:48 (Bible)