I don't hear many people talking about what the national anthem means to them individually. We all have our own thoughts and perceptions about that meaning. I was taught that standing for the national anthem was a sign of respect for those who gave their lives for their country. The ultimate sacrifice. Politics and government aside for one second. Many human lives have been sacrificed to protect what their country was or is today. Even if it is not a perfect entity, it has enabled so many to go so far and we should honor those who were sacrificed to provide those opportunities. They were human beings who mattered. I don't agree with taking a knee or anything less than standing at full attention in order to honor the past lives of many. With that said, I do agree that the gentleman who started this whole debate and division among citizens has every right to protest what he feels is an injustice. As dis-tasteful as it is to me personally, he has a right to do so. I wish he had found a way to express himself without changing a ceremony meant to honor the death of others (In my eyes). I believe his dis-satisfaction is with the manner in which the country has evolved to govern itself and not necessarily with the country(America) itself. I too share in this dis-satisfaction. I do not believe that the country is governing itself upon the ideals set forth by the founding fathers. Our founding fathers were by no means perfect and in many regards not practicing what they preached, but they were still able to give their country a rough draft on paper unlike anything the world had known before it. America is as much an idea based on ideals we humans should strive for as it is something in reality on paper, at our feet, or governed by in her various institutions. She has not let us down, we have let her down. Her ideals still burn bright. The commander and chief, through his comments on this matter, is the largest example of how we continue to let her down. He has only increased the divide among us when he should be working to unite the people. Even the NFL has let her down by simply trying to steer clear from the issue. Wow that really didn't work out how they had envisioned it. Let's just give the mainstream media more material to whip everyone into a bigger frenzy. The mainstream media is just another entity on a long list who has let Lady Liberty down. I say everyone should stand, honor those who have fallen and show respect for an idea, a symbol, America! As imperfect as she is. People should unite and work together to fix the problems faced today so that she is no longer left out in the cold...