Greetings Dear Reader,
This is an excerpt from Sheetrock
on the Road. You can get the entire novel
on Amazon. When I wrote it, I had no idea it would become
so relevant:
“There are many who do
not understand the importance of the national anthem. Before we begin what has been often called
the national pastime, we first pay tribute to a nation that allows us to have
such leisure. When I was a boy this
meant that you stopped talking, put your hand over your heart, looked at the
flag, and sang with all your might. You
showed reverence for the moment. Vendors
stopped selling hot dogs, peanuts, and beer until the song was over. I do not know what has changed but people
stopped teaching their children about this and those children grew up into
ignoramuses who talk on their cell phones, shout for the beer boy, or even
complain about the national anthem itself.
That song is hard to sing, has too many high notes, and is still one of
the best reminders that people died so that we could go to baseball games. So, the next time you are blessed enough to
go to a baseball game, hang up your cell phone, put down that beer, stand up
straight, put your hand over your heart, face the flag, and sing till your
throat hurts.”
As the football pre-season begins we are already hearing
protests of those taking a knee or raising a fist during the National
Anthem. I am not saying that those
protesting do not have a just cause.
Even if they did not they have a constitutional right to protest whatever
they please.
What drives me to the wall is their choice of where and
when. It may be lawful although that has
not been legally established yet. It is
not, however, wise. It is not
prudent. I do not care what your cause
may be or how just it is. That is not the right time to draw attention to
it. It disrespects the thousands of men
and women who have given their lives and limbs so that you can get paid to play
a GAME. Real wisdom understands that
there is a time and place to make your concerns heard. This is not it.
The purpose of the National Anthem is to remind us of the
freedom we have to enjoy public sporting events. It is to call to mind those who died so you could
play ball. When you disrespect that moment,
you dig into far more than your cause.
Our nation is not always right but I do not see anyone of those
protesting the anthem leaving so that they do not have to endure the
problems. There is a Canadian football
league. Again, I am not saying your
cause is unjust but this is not the kind of fun with flags that solves problems.
I care about your concerns and I value justice for
everyone. I even care about justice for
those who died to give you the freedom to disrespect their sacrifice. You treat the dead unjustly when you
disrespect the flag and the National Anthem.
I cannot follow in faith if I do not seek justice in all things, not
just your cause.
Wishing you joy in the journey,
Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer
who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home
owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure
store.”
(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Contacts for Aramis
Thorn:
Bookings at aramisthorn@aramisthorn.com
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