Editor's note: The following is an opinion piece that first appeared at USAToday.com. The writer is not employed by Military Times and the views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Military Times or its editorial staff.
Life presents plenty of opportunities for us to disagree with one another and seemingly fewer opportunities on which we agree. Standing together during the national anthem at sporting events should be one of those times when we agree, when we focus on the things that bind us together, even as we prepare to let our voices be heard in disagreement about which team is the better team.
It's important to remember that our military is composed entirely of volunteers. It obviously takes a special kind of patriotism for people to volunteer to risk their life for their country. Theirs is not blind patriotism that pretends there is nothing wrong with the country. Every man and woman in uniform knows we still have work to do to achieve the equality, opportunity and justice for all to which we aspire. But every member of the military also knows that what is right about America is worth defending. And if it's worth defending, it's worth honoring.
I spent my professional life defending individual rights, and I did so with the knowledge that sometimes people would use those rights in ways that might be hurtful or insensitive. I just hope that the athletes who are using the anthem as a protest understand why people like me intend to keep standing during the national anthem. We do so not because we agree with everything America has done, or everything that has been done in America's name, but because despite all of that the world is a better place because America exists. That seems to me to be worth the honor of respect during the national anthem.
President Obama greets Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin Dempsey during Dempsey's retirement and change-of-responsibility ceremony Sept. 25, 2015, at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Washington, D.C.
Photo Credit: Petty Officer 2nd Class Dominique A. Pineiro/DoD
What's wrong about America can't be fixed unless we acknowledge, protect and, yes, honor what is right about America. For for those who don't like standing because they disagree with what America has done, stand and pay it forward for what you think America should do. Then, as the last echoes of the anthem fade away, go back to arguing for change from that foundation of promise that is the national anthem.
Martin E. Dempsey is a retired Army general, a Duke University Rubenstein Fellow and chairman of the Jr. NBA Leadership Council .
