MORE ON TAKING A KNEE: "Borrowed from Gail Larsen: 

Our country is injured - take a knee!!

Sam, age 15 "Mom, I don't understand the outrage over people taking a knee. It's actually the most patriotic thing one can do when our anthem plays right now." 

I asked him to explain his train of thought.

"My coach taught me you take a knee when a player is down from any team. You do it as a sign of respect and send energy to that player that he can not only get up, but not have an injury that he can't overcome. You're thanking him for a game hard played and hope he can join it soon. Both teams want the game to begin again, knowing their players are going to be ok and united in a show of comaraderie.

Anyone with half a brain knows our country is injured, we have people down. It's time for all sides to take a knee and focus their energy on helping the injured so the game can go on. Our team, the U.S., is actually disrespectful if we stand and cheer while we have players down. I love my team, I care for its players. When the anthem plays I will take a knee and send energy to healing so that the team can play on."

Jim Wiegel