Edit: Just realized after posting that I used the wrong 'Its' in the title.

I apologize for all the text but I need to get this off my chest.

For those who don't know, second string quarter back for the San Francisco 49ers Colin Kaepernick was caught sitting down during the playing of the USA's National Anthem last Friday. People on both sides have spouted out hatred all over social media and news outlets lately and I want to give my personal opinion while I am cool, calm, and collected. I am sharing it here because I value feedback from people who are similar to me (libertarian views but not political, MGTOW, independent thinking, and not religious.) Also, my job is the same one that Nate Boyer had before football with the exception that I serve in an active duty group. I am using a throwaway because I am paranoid about the information I share on the interwebs. Onto the body...

I feel that our National Anthem should not be played at sporting events. Crazy right? You probably weren't expecting that. I would say that I am patriotic but not blindingly so. When I joined the Army at 18 in 2007, US deaths in Iraq were at their highest point because of the surge. I knew this going into it but I still had the desire to serve for mostly selfish reasons. The events on September 11, 2001 occurred when I was 13 years old and in a formative time of my life. I remember being so incredibly angry that people wanted to terrify and kill so many people that were going about their daily lives. Yes, a part of me enlisted because I wanted to support the US of A. The biggest player in my decision was that I wanted to go to the countries, cities, villages, and homes of the people who support and participate in attacks like those on that Tuesday, and put the same fear that those Americans felt into them. During my handful of deployments, I experienced what I enlisted for and I experienced some things I wasn't expecting...

When I hear the National Anthem, a lot of things are running through my mind, none of which being how I think America is perfect, great, and pure. I am thinking of all the men and women who volunteered or were drafted to carry out America's foreign policy which is dictated by politicians who are voted into office by the American people, who gave away their short time on this planet. I am thinking of my 19 year old self walking along a ridge in Afghanistan and how 233 years before then, there were 19 year olds walking through the Virginia mountains wearing the same uniform. I am thinking about how my high school sweetheart broke up with me while I was in a combat zone on Christmas Eve over email and how I swallowed the red pill, killing my belief in a fairy tale called love and soon after, religion. I am not an emotional person and I can remember the last time a tear actually fell from my eyelid was when I had to put my childhood dog down during the holidays 5 years ago. However, every time I hear a decent rendition of the National Anthem I get misty. I deeply respect the sacrifices that people in this country have made and that is what I honor when I hear that song.

I feel that the Colin Kaepernick situation is going to spark a movement where more and more NFL players, role models, and fans stay seated with hats on their heads during the Anthem. If this happens, I would much prefer that The Star Spangled Banner not be played so that this divisiveness is not seen on such a scale. It's a shame that every possible area of life is being assaulted by left-wing ideals and political correctness. The NFL is one of the last mainstream entertainment organizations I consume and after this event, I am not watching/supporting the NFL in any way unless it changes which I highly doubt. For the record, I served and everyone else served so that people can exercise their first amendment rights but I feel on a personal level that CK is going about this the wrong way.

Lastly and more optimistically, thanks to the MGTOW way of thinking I will be leaving the military in 6 months at 28 years old with close to 200k saved up and using my GI Bill to learn a trade skill. I am off all social media already and after I leave the service I will stop ingesting so much news. I plan to become financially independent, remain never married with no kids, pursue hobbies, and enjoy life...going my own way.