CarrieDaway

There are so many things going on in the news that I don’t know where to begin. I miss the days when national tragedies happened a few times a year verses a few times a week (day). First and foremost, we need to prioritize our help for those in Puerto Rico and other Caribbean nations. It’s inhumane to trap people on islands without resources and in the eye of dangerous storms if they don’t want to be there – we must open our hearts, doors and borders to those who want/need to migrate.

Second, in this debate over the anthem, take the knee. Take the knee in reverence to the flag and in recognition that we can do better. Take the knee to show each other and the world that we care and we will no longer accept the status quo. We have a race problem in America (and it’s not just black and white) that we have avoided facing for far to long. It’s not pretty, it’s not comfortable, it’s not easy but that’s why kneel – for strength to do the hard thing.

A couple other points to that issue: The history of the Star Spangled Banner and George Clooney’s prayer for the nation.

I pray for my country.
I pray that we can find more that unites us than divides us.
I pray that our nation’s leaders want to do the same.
I pray that young children like Tamir Rice can feel safe in their own neighborhood.
I pray for all of our children.
I pray for our police and our first responders.
I pray for our men and women of the armed services.
I pray that dissent will always be protected in this great country.
I pray for a more perfect union.
And when I pray, I kneel.

Photo credit: Mike McCarn/AP