stand up, please

dear protesters, 

football for me started when my little brothers began pop warner in elementary school. we spent so many afternoons at the field for their practice... for me it was social hour with my friends. it later evolved into high school games on friday nights. as i got older, football games became events filled with family, friends and yummy food... often cozy fires, chili, and ben's sweatshirts. then there were those games we spent tailgating and laughing the afternoon away in anticipation of the game that evening.

football brought people together. it was healthy competition between friends. it was something people looked forward to all week. 

it was the true american sport. and like all american sports, the game did not start until we were blown away by the national anthem... a song that gives me chills every single time i hear it... every single time. 

now, quite simply, you have ruined that for us all. you have taken something so pure and polluted it with your own political agendas. you have chosen to disrespect the very symbol of a country that gives you the freedom to act in such an ignorant way. 

our flag and the national anthem do not stand for a particular president or belief and they are surly not  symbols of oppression. in fact, they have stood for exactly the opposite. over the years, the flag and those men and women who risk their lives to defend it, have traveled the world fighting against oppression... a cause many americans have given their lives for.

you are in the spotlight and have the opportunity to be a role model and make such an impact on people... so use that in a productive way and stop disrespecting our flag and our country. you play a sport with mixed races and backgrounds and can show the world how it is possible to come together despite your differences and win.

get it together and please, stand up.

sincerely,

yours truly