Sunday, Monday and Thursday in stadiums across the country we are there for one reason only, the game. The players play the game, the spectators to enjoy the game and root for their favorite team.
Why is the national anthem performed only at ball games, not swim meets, track meets, horse races, golf tournaments, to mention a few? So the kneeling or sitting players are disrespectful for doing it during the playing of the anthem.
The American patriots in the stands are silent, as they stand there like statures and do not sing. They, too, are disrespectful. In any sports arena in Europe, Canada, and maybe the rest of the world, their fans stand proudly and loudly sing their country’s anthem. While our patriots remain silent.
So eliminate the performing of the anthem and we will all be there for the reason that we came, the game. The president will be happy, the owners will be happy, and the fans will be happy. The players will be puzzled but they can take their grievance to another level and perhaps accomplish what they were kneeling and sitting over.
Or you can do what the Seattle Seahawks did while playing in the King Dome when the Oakland Raiders came to play. The anthem was performed while the players remained in their locker rooms because when the Raiders stepped on the field, it was chaos for the remainder of the game.
So you have two simple solutions, pick one!
Marjorie Nahl is a resident of Kailua-Kona who sent this letter to all 32 NFL owners.