Someone I looked up to, who doesn’t participate in the national anthem or the Pledge of Allegiance, recently asked me: “When did standing up against injustice and inequality become so un-American?” This made me think about the celebrities on television, the sports stars, the people in my community and in my family. What do they stand for?
Sitting down will do nothing for your cause. In America we are free to act, so anyone who feels strongly about something is able to stand up and do something about it. They can volunteer at a civil rights office or at a veterans home, campaign, make a poster or a website, or fundraise for a cause.
When did not standing to respect veterans, soldiers and families who have lost moms, dads, sisters, brothers and grandparents become so American? When did the reasoning for not standing become someone’s “right”? When did this become a valid explanation for doing nothing and calling it a statement about equality? It is their right because soldiers fought and died for their freedom.
Some will say, “I will not honor an inanimate object.” Would they honor an idea? Would they honor a person? What about thousands of World War II veterans who still stand on frail legs? What about all the fallen soldiers? Those soldiers aren’t breathing. They died for America and the flag symbolizes their sacrifices.
Since when did they come to know more than Jimmy Carter, Neil Armstrong and George W. Bush? They all stood for the anthem. They knew what the flag represents and what our country stands for.
“Land of the free.” We are all free because of the soldiers and the sacrifices they make everyday to protect our country.
“The home of the brave.” Sitting, inactive, that is not brave. So many who exercise this right have done nothing in their lifetime to be able to sit. Henry Abraham, Lee Adams, Thomas Howard and Keith Dawson are brave. They deserve to sit. Not because they choose to sit but because they choose to stand up when duty called for them to fight for justice and equality in the world.
We stand for respect, to think about the families. We stand to think about our soldiers and veterans.
When they sit or kneel, they are not standing up against injustice or inequality but disrespecting veterans like my papa.
He was a pilot during World War II. He flew a B-17 bomber across Europe and Asia. He risked his life and left behind his wife and four children. He is 95 years old, and he stands for the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem. Sometimes when he stands he holds my hand to steady himself. I help him stand. He says the pledge; he is brave.
He has taught me many things. What I stand for, how to use my voice, my legs, my mind and my gift of freedom as an American to help stop injustice in the world. I help my papa stand. If my words have helped one person stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem or to give their seat to a veteran who earned it, I will have made him proud.
The America he believes in will stand.
Emma Cowing is a 13-year-old writer. She lives in Lowell.