We are living in bizarre times, as Charles Dickens said: \"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.\"<\/p>\n
The great debate of: to kneel, or not to kneel <\/em>continues within American Society. Some players are getting fired, others suspended and some benched. At a high school volleyball match, a veteran who faithfully served America became intolerant of the disrespect shown to the country and liberty he committed his life to and he walked away. Now he\u2019s suspended for a year.<\/p>\n Arron Colen of The Blaze wrote:<\/p>\n Jim Saddler is a 67-year-old Air Force veteran who served as a presidential flight attendant on Air Force One for Ronald Reagan. He now works as an usher at Indiana Pacers games, and also as a referee for high school volleyball, softball and basketball.<\/p>\n On Oct. 9, he was set to referee a North Central High School match. During the national anthem, he saw some fans in the bleachers sitting. It angered him, but he brushed it off.<\/strong><\/p>\n But when he saw a North Central player take a knee during the anthem, he\u2019d had enough. He turned his referee flag in at the scorer\u2019s table, told the coach he was leaving, and handed $20 to an assistant athletic director to cover his salary for the match on his way out the door.<\/strong><\/p>\n Now, he\u2019s been suspended by the Indiana High School Athletic Association \u2014 for more than a full year.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Saddler is still angry about the anthem protest, and that\u2019s not going to change. But, he said he regrets that he let his anger get in the way of doing a job he said he\u2019d do.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the Air Force, you have a duty, and you do it,\u201d Saddler told IndyStar on Thursday. \u201cThe same with sporting events. I guess I went AWOL. I feel bad about it.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat they did just upset me so badly that I just could not stay there,\u201d Saddler said. \u201c(But) I know it\u2019s her constitutional right to do what she wants to do. And it wasn\u2019t fair to the other girls who were standing and respecting the flag. After I thought about it, you know, sometimes it takes you a little time to sit down and think about stuff and what you did. And after I thought about it, I would never ever do that again. I would never break a contract.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018A privilege and not a right\u2019 The IHSAA commissioner, Bobby Cox, said there was no chance of Saddler\u2019s suspension being reduced. According to IHSAA bylaws, Cox said, officiating games is a privilege and not a right.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think the IHSAA (cared) about what I said or what I did or that I said I wouldn\u2019t do it again,\u201d Saddler said. \u201cHere I am a retired veteran, you have to see my point of view of what I did. Right?\u201d...<\/p>\n (H\/T The Blaze, USA Today and IndyStar)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Regardless of race, gender or religious preference... the reality is we all have a choice to make at some point in our lives - to come together and stand for truth, liberty and freedom, or continue to allow divides to perpetuate.<\/p>\n People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.<\/em><\/strong> \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Informational Insights: Vet Punished for Patriotism, Huh?<\/h2>\n
\nAfter finding out about his severe suspension, Saddler tried to apologize to the IHSAA for walking out, and to see if his punishment could be reduced, but to no avail.<\/p>\nPossibilities for Consideration: Bridging the Divide<\/h2>\n
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Add Your Insight: Welcome Collaboration<\/h2>\n
\nSOREN KIERKEGAARD<\/p>\n