The Stars and Stripes: the most beautiful sight. Symbolic of our freedom, and a representation of our countless successful battles, our growth as a nation, our traditions and strong culture.

  Most of all, it’s a symbol of American pride. It is not something not to be disrespected in any form of protest. Our country should not be degraded and discredited, especially by those who receive an education, use public transportation, practice religion freely, use any public entities for that matter, and especially not by anyone who’s receiving any form of government assistance.

  Regardless of political beliefs, the one uniting factor amongst all people is their common love for our country. Since the election of Donald Trump, many left-leaning Americans have lost pride.

 “Our country sucks” is one common phrase flowing through not just Eastern, but presumably many other schools as well. Just last year 1.38 million foreigners immigrated to the United State, seeking political or religious freedom, or just to start a better life. Immigrants don’t pour in by the millions because America is so terrible

  At this point, hating our country unfortunately has become a trend. They have no real life experience, most of them aren’t up to date in politics, and they don’t know what’s going on around the world. How many of those people who so strongly despise America have actually traveled to countries like Pakistan, Syria, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, or communist North Korea?

  How many have stood by and fought with their brothers and sisters and watched them get shot down? Of those people who hate our country, how many have been handed a folded American flag? But when ignorant and uneducated people see NFL players kneeing for the national anthem, it becomes a trend.

  You start to see kids sitting during the Pledge of Allegiance at school. Among dozens of other students, a girl in my class refused to stand for the Pledge in class because she “doesn’t stand for no flag.”

  Just because kneeling for the anthem is a First Amendment right, that doesn’t justify that the platform on which players are protesting is right, and it doesn’t make it respectful.

 It’s always easy to kneel or sit in defiance, but I will always stand up for my beliefs. I will always salute the flag and I will always stand for our anthem.

  I will always continue to thank our veterans who granted us our freedom, and I will always be proud to be an American.