Why I stand for the national anthem

I will stand for the national anthem because I live in a free country. This freedom comes with a price. This freedom comes from the ultimate sacrifice. This freedom comes from hard work, deep thinking, intense arguments, powerful protests, and a continued dedication to improving our country. This freedom also comes from a long and sordid past.

I have never wanted to be a soldier or a politician. I have been happy to enjoy the freedoms and luxuries that come from living in America, and have tried my best to stay an informed, unbiased, and productive citizen, while maintaining a deep appreciation for those who do the dirty work to ensure that I am able to do so. I am aware of the sins of America’s past — the mistreatment of Native Americans, slavery, crime, corruption and racism. I am also aware that as a modern-day white woman, I have rarely experienced these atrocities first-hand. Perhaps this is one of the reasons that I am able to remain optimistic that the country I see on the news is not my country, that the anger, hatred, and vitriol that has become a daily running soundtrack is not the America that comes to mind when I hear “Oh say can you see …”

However, my reality is my own. It comes from a place of love, compassion, and hope. I continue to choose this reality every day, despite the ugliness I see online and in the news. Some days it is easier than others. To me, the national anthem is merely a symbol of the good version of America, the America that we hear about in ever shorter news clips and see on the front page of dwindling small-town newspapers. To me, the national anthem is a symbol of the amazing Americans I know. These people and places are why I continue to live in America despite its many flaws.

For many people in America, however, the national anthem symbolizes something else. For them, it is a reminder of the devastating portions of our collective past that the history books do not highlight. It is a reminder of the racism they have experienced at the hands of leaders and officers who were sworn to protect them. For some, it is a ballad to a country with a flawed justice system that has failed their friends and family one too many times.

When I stand for the national anthem, I am standing up for hope, I am standing up for the millions of Americans that are actually willing to stop, listen, and understand why the person next to them chooses not to stand. I am one of millions of Americans who respect our veterans, understand our rights, and refuse to shame or demonize anyone for exercising their right to peaceful protest.

I am one of millions of Americans who will not give in to the Us-vs.-Them mentality that is dominating daily headlines and social media. I am one of millions of Americans who would rather spend their time discussing solutions and working together than furthering the divide by blindly picking a side and standing firm, regardless of common sense or empathy. We do not move forward and grow as a country by negating the worth and experience of our fellow citizen. We do not get to decide how others should feel, think, or react to a particular symbol, because of the significance we personally attach to it.

Do we not all agree that America offers some amazing opportunities and freedoms? Do we not all agree that the sacrifices made by our service members are many and great? Do we not all agree that protest has been an essential part of the development of our nation (women’s rights, civil rights, etc.)? Do we not all agree that there are some people in power (politicians, judges, police officers, etc.) who are corrupt and racist? Do we not all agree that there are criminals who are a legitimate danger to the many upstanding men and women in uniform? Do we not all agree that, at the end of the day, we are all human, and we all deserve safety, kindness and equality?

Sure, there are those at the far ends of the spectrum who would not agree with these basic truths, but for most of us, we know better.  We know that anything worth discussing is never, ever simply black and white, right and wrong. We know that the majority of American citizens simply want a chance at the pursuit of happiness that our country was built upon. I stand for the national anthem because of what it means to me. You kneel for the national anthem because of what it means to you. Because of the freedoms we all enjoy, neither of us have the right to tell the other which is the correct action. Why, then, do we continue to divide ourselves over a peaceful act of protest, rather than having an intelligent discussion about the myriad of issues behind it? Perhaps ignorance really is bliss?

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Former Havre Daily News reporter Crystal Faldalen now lives in San Antonio