And yet, almost universally, the "kneelers" are upset when they are accused of lacking patriotism. "How dare you question my patriotism?" they ask. Gee…that's not hard to figure out. No one "questioned their patriotism" until they refused to stand for the national anthem or took a knee in front of the flag.
They want to be seen as patriots, even when they do disrespectful things; Our memory is long enough to remember many times that members of America’s intellectual establishment criticized those who say the Pledge of Allegiance or sing the National Anthem as "flag wavers," or "false patriots."
The worst mass shooting in American history took place this week, a crime unspeakable in its horror, and perpetrated for a reason that no one has of yet been able to determine. The horrific murder of 58 people in an attack that left more than 500 other people wounded or injured is almost beyond our comprehension. What could compel someone to do such a wicked, evil thing? As far as we know, the killer was not making a political or religious statement; we have not been told if he was on medication; there is no evidence that he had been cheated, or fired, or denied a promotion, or jilted – reasons that twisted minds often use as excuses for murderous attacks. We all want to know why this took place – what possibly could have motivated the killer to have done this? Most of us would not even strike someone who had upset us, let alone take his life; and surely there are very few who would commit mass murder. But we are wrong to try to ascribe normal thoughts to such a deviant mind. He does not think as the rest of us do. Surely, somewhere along the line, there must have been a hint or a clue or an indication of what the killer might do. There are thousands of people and hundreds of organizations trying to answer those questions.
Americans must never forget those who were killed, but we should not think of them only for the way they died, but for how they lived. In one of those mysterious juxtapositions that are features of life, we cannot help but take note of the fact that most of the 21,000 people at the music festival stood, illuminated their cellphones or other lights, and sang God Bless America about an hour before the shooter struck. The contrast between those thousands who stood up for America with the few hundred who have publicly refused to in recent weeks can’t go unnoticed. We imagine that despite the terrible slaughter that took place, those who stood and sang for America that night would stand and sing again. They celebrated the joy of being an American; the "kneelers" decry its flaws. The contrast could not be greater. Some of the lyrics are especially appropriate, beginning with some from the introduction :...Let us swear allegiance to a land that’s free. Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, as we raise our voices in a solemn prayer: God Bless America, land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her, through the night with a light from above.”