BYRNES: Politics and platitudes

Appearing in the Press editorial Nov. 19 is the opinion of former baseball player Eric Byrnes on the subject of the NFL and patriotism — whether to sit or stand during the playing of the anthem. Guess what? Mr. Byrnes stands. To do otherwise, he believes, would be divisive. In his opinion, social injustice can only be fixed through unity, not division.

Well, he’s got it right about one thing, When everyone stands for the anthem, that’s unity. But if everyone were to remain seated that would be unity, too. Wouldn’t it? Of course it would.

The thing about causes is most of us from the outside looking in won’t see much to like about them. Oh, we may give lip service, but, really, if there’s nothing in it for us personally, we don’t generally relate. The cause itself, the organizers. the methods, whatever. Something about it isn’t right. Don’t march in the streets; it’ll make me late for my appointment. Don’t upset the status quo or my belief system. You know? It may not be much, but it’s mine.

And the platitudes! Mr. Byrnes has a bunch.

Nothing like platitudes and politics to mess up your thinking. But it would be nice to know, before we all go totally gaga, where and how the military is currently fighting for our freedom. In Niger, possibly? With drones?

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Coeur d’Alene