Today on Memorial Day we honor the sacrifice of those who gave their lives in the service of our country. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke often about the core principle of freedom that is central to our nation at its best. One of the phrases he used was, “The greatness of America is the right to protest for right.” The freedom we cherish includes the right to be constructively self-critical about situations, events, or policies that diminish anyone’s freedom based on race, economic status, nationality, or gender. Recently the situation of some NFL players protest of the mistreatment of black people by silently taking a knee during the national anthem is back in the news. The video below is a reminder of how the protest originally started when an NFL quarterback and a military veteran discussed how to protest in a way that also respected our country. Patriotism and protest are not opposites. On this Memorial Day let us give thanks to God for the freedom we enjoy as citizens of this nation including the right to protest for right.
