TAKE A KNEE
Reposted on the Ted Nugent official Facebook page. Originally written by Stanislaus Drew. Copied and posted here for the sake of future reference to a well thought out piece written out of frustration during a time of National unrest.
Take a little trip to Valley Forge in January. If you don’t know where that is, just Google it from the sidelines. Hold a musket ball in your fingers and imagine it piercing your flesh and breaking a bone or two. There won’t be a doctor or trainer to assist you until after the battle, so just wait your turn. Take your cleats and socks off to get a real experience. Then take a knee.
Then, take one at the beach in Normandy where man after American man stormed the beach, even as the one in front of him was shot to pieces… the very sea stained with American blood. The only blockers most had were the dead bodies in front of them, riddled with bullets from enemy fire.
Take a knee in the sweat soaked jungles of Vietnam. from Khe San to Saigon… Anywhere will do. REAL Americans died in all those jungles. There was no playbook that told them what was next, but they knew what flag they represented. When they came home, they were protested as well… and spit on for reasons only cowards know.
Take another knee in the blood drenched sands of Fallujah in 110 degree heat… Wear your Kevlar helmet and battle dress… Your number won’t be printed on it unless your number is up! You’ll need to stay hydrated but there won’t be anyone to squirt Gatorade into your mouth. You’re on your own.
There’s a lot of places to take a knee. Real Americans have given their lives all over the world. When you use the banner under which they fought as a source for your displeasure, you dishonor the memories of those who bled for the very freedoms you have. That’s what the red stripes mean. It represents the blood of those who spilled a sea of it defending your liberty.
While you’re on your knee, pray for those that came before you, not on a manicured lawn striped and printed with numbers to announce every inch of ground taken… but on nameless hills and bloodied beaches and sweltering forests and bitter cold mountains… every inch marked by an American life lost serving that flag you protest.
No cheerleaders, no announcers, no coaches, no fans… just American men and women… delivering the real fight against those who chose to harm us… blazing a path so you would have ‘the right to take a knee.’
You haven’t an inkling what it took to get you where you are; but your ‘protest’ is duly noted. Not only is it disgraceful to a nation of real heroes, it serves the purpose of pointing to your ingratitude for those who chose to defend you under that banner that will still wave long after your jersey is issued to another…
If you really feel the need to take a knee, come with me to church on Sunday and we’ll both kneel before Almighty God. We’ll thank Him for preserving this country for as long as He has. We’ll beg forgiveness for our ingratitude for all He has provided us. We’ll appeal to Him for understanding and wisdom. We’ll pray for liberty and justice for all… because He is the one who provides those things.
And there will be no protest. There will only be gratitude for His provision and a plea for His continued grace and mercy on the land of the free and the home of the brave It goes like this…
“GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
by Stanislaus Drew
Mark Novak
September 25, 2017 at 5:05 pmAnother draft dodging patriot, while 58,000 of his fellow Americans fought and died in Nam this asshole walked around with shit in his pants to get out of the draft!
qball45 • Post Author •
September 26, 2017 at 9:24 pmBe happy that I’m a Constitutional Conservative that believes in your right to express your thoughts about another person without censorship. I can see that you are rather sensitive so I will not express my thoughts about your comments which would most likely be interpreted as extremely offensive.
Kp
September 28, 2017 at 9:50 pmSounds gamiliar
Take a little trip to Valley Forge in January. Hold a musket ball in your fingers and imagine it piercing your flesh and breaking a bone or two. There won’t be a doctor or trainer to assist you until after the battle, so just wait your turn. Take your cleats and socks off to get a real experience. Then take a knee.
Then, take one at the beach in Normandy where man after American man stormed the beach, even as the one in front of him was shot to pieces…the very sea stained with American blood. The only blockers most had were the dead bodies in front of them, riddled with bullets from enemy fire.
Take a knee in the sweat soaked jungles of Vietnam. from Khe San to Saigon…Anywhere will do. Americans died in all those jungles. There was no playbook that told them what was next, but they knew what flag they represented. When they came home, they were protested as well…and spit on for reasons only cowards know.
Take another knee in the blood drenched sands of Fallujah in 110
degree heat.. Wear your Kevlar helmet and battle dress.. Your number won’t be printed on it unless your number is up! You’ll need to stay hydrated but there won’t be anyone to squirt Gatorade into your mouth. You’re on your own.
There’s a lot of places to take a knee Americans have given their
lives all over the world. When you use the banner under which they fought as a source for your displeasure, you dishonor the memories of those who bled for the very freedoms you have. That’s what the red stripes mean. It represents the blood of those who spilled a sea of it defending your liberty.
While you’re on your knee, pray for those that came before you, not on a manicured lawn striped and printed with numbers to announce every inch of ground taken…but on nameless hills and bloodied beaches and sweltering forests and bitter cold mountains every inch marked by an American life lost serving that flag you protest.
No cheerleaders, no announcers, no coaches, no fans…just American men and women…delivering the real fight against those who chose to harm us…blazing a path so you would have the right to “take a knee.” You haven’t an inkling what it took to get you where you are…but your “protest” is duly noted. Not only is it disgraceful to a nation of real heroes, it serves the purpose of pointing to your ingratitude for those who chose to defend you under that banner that will still wave long after your jersey is retired…
If you really feel the need to take a knee, come with me to church on Sunday and we’ll both kneel before Almighty God. We’ll thank him for preserving this country for as long as He has. We’ll beg forgiveness for our ingratitude for all He has provided us. We’ll appeal to Him for understanding and wisdom. We’ll pray for liberty and justice for all…because He is the one who provides those things. But there will be no protest. There will only be gratitude for
His provision and a plea for His continued grace and mercy on the land of the free and the home of the brave. It goes like this…
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
From a combat infantry vet
–William Stevens
qball45 • Post Author •
September 28, 2017 at 9:56 pmInteresting. When/where was it posted? I would be interested in seeing if Stevens didn’t post it after Nugent. Send the link.
Kp
September 28, 2017 at 10:09 pmhttps://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10154964236297467&id=734832466
qball45 • Post Author •
September 28, 2017 at 10:14 pmUnfortunately all I get is a “content can not be displayed” message when I click the link
Kp
September 28, 2017 at 10:15 pmI actually just clicked on your link to Ted Nugent’s Facebook page and scrolled down to the bottom of that post and it says it was written by Stanislaus Drew
qball45 • Post Author •
September 28, 2017 at 10:17 pmThat must have been added late. I’ve checked this out and have made the necessary changes. Thank you for keeping me straight. I appreciate your efforts.
Kim Grandy
September 28, 2017 at 5:04 pmMy thoughts exactly! I volunteered and served.
Bernie
September 30, 2017 at 10:37 amLol thanks Mark… I thought I was the only Nam era to remember Ted’s portrayal as a psycho ass hole who sucessfully proved to tje government that he had mental issues…
David
September 25, 2017 at 9:32 pmAmen
Teri
September 26, 2017 at 6:05 amWell said, Sir.
lindalwholden
September 26, 2017 at 7:56 pmThank you.
johnlramos
September 27, 2017 at 8:18 amTake a knee in the slave quarters on the plantation while the overseer whips you unconscious for working too slowly. Take a knee when your children are ripped from your home and sold to a rich child molester. Take a knee when your owner rapes your daughters. Take a knee when you yourself have fought for the United States abroad, yet when you return home you have to drink from separate fountains and the banks refuse you loans. Take a knee when the police set dogs on you for marching. Take a knee under the tree where you’re about to be lynched for looking the wrong way at a white woman.
How can people refuse to acknowledge that the flag and the anthem mean different things to different people? In my history, my ancestors were thrifty, hard-working people who suffered hardship and raised families in tough conditions. In the history of black people, their ancestors were livestock.
But boy, those NFL fans have all the answers, don’t they? You’re not standing for the anthem? That means you disrespect our military! You want to talk about slavery? That’s just playing the race card! Nothing you can do or say is legitimate, so STAND UP, you son-of-a-bitch! Show some RESPECT!
It’s such a pleasant country under Donald Trump. There’s so much to talk about.
Jenna Hickman
September 27, 2017 at 7:09 pmAmen!!!!!
Erin Casseday
September 28, 2017 at 1:47 amWhat you said is true about the history of blacks in America, but if it wasn’t for the flag and what it stands for, and for those that faught for freedom, they would still be slaves. And if you don’t believe that, just go to South Africa.
johnlramos
September 28, 2017 at 6:54 amWell, if you want everybody to stand for the flag, go to North Korea. What a fun game. Everybody can go somewhere.
Matt Blair
September 28, 2017 at 4:27 pmJohn sounds like you need to go somewhere you worthless piece of shit come on up here to the north you whiny bastard
johnlramos
September 28, 2017 at 6:38 pmIt’s always puzzled me why snowflakes such as yourself always get so offended about every little thing.
Kelli
September 28, 2017 at 4:07 pmSlavery was a horrible thing, there’s no arguing that. However, no American alive today was ever a slave. No American alive today was ever a slave owner.
johnlramos
September 28, 2017 at 4:36 pmTrue. But the national anthem was around then, and so was the flag. You can let yourself off the hook, but you can’t let the flag off the hook. The flag has to take responsibility for everything, good and bad. If people have mixed feelings about that, they should be allowed to respond to it in their own way. Why do people want to FORCE displays of respect? What does that say about them?
Chris Gebhardt
September 29, 2017 at 11:31 amThe flag was the union flag that wanted to end slavery not tje confederate flag
johnlramos
September 29, 2017 at 1:22 pmThe flag did not end slavery. The Civil War did. For part of its history, the flag presided over a nation that allowed slavery. Then it presided over a nation that allowed Jim Crow. Then, finally, for a short time, it presided over a nation that didn’t have either. The flag represents it all, good and bad. The snowflakes always have trouble accepting that, which puzzles me, because it’s easy enough to understand. Why shouldn’t somebody take a knee for a flag that allowed slavery and Jim Crow? Why should they stand just because a few snowflakes get upset?
CG
October 3, 2017 at 3:27 pmYes Amen
Matt Blair
September 28, 2017 at 4:22 pmIf you don’t like it here dude pack your f’ing shit go somewhere else see how that works for you dumbass lot of the slave owners were f’ing black you dumbass I can’t believe how many stupid motherf’ers that have been raised in the United States and you are one of them dumbass
johnlramos
September 28, 2017 at 6:39 pmThere, there, snowflake. Don’t sweat the little things.
Flash
September 29, 2017 at 7:27 amHave you done anything lately to combat slavery in present day Saudi Arabia,etc….or you just prefer to use the issue as leverage against the citizens of one of the few countries that abolished it back in the 1800’s?
johnlramos
September 29, 2017 at 7:43 amAnything to take the focus off of what I’m talking about, I guess. I think the sight of angry white people screaming at kneeling blacks about respect is exactly what’s wrong with this country. We’ve seen that scene play out over and over again in our history, and every time the sensitive white snowflakes consider themselves to be 100 percent in the right. I’m sure the day after the Civil War ended, the snowflakes were like, “What are those disrespectful blacks complaining about now? We set them free, didn’t we?”
Bob
October 1, 2017 at 9:46 amI love how black guys can say n***a all they want to whoever they want. They label themselves that. But as soon as a white man says it, they are racist. Yet a black man can call a white man ‘honkey, cracker and SNOWFLAKE” and everythings all good. Racist hypocrite
johnlramos
October 1, 2017 at 11:48 amAwwww. Are you getting upset, Bob? Do you know who gets upset easily? Snowflakes. They can’t seem to handle anything.
Janeen Eggebrecht
September 28, 2017 at 4:38 pmMy ancestors were all slaves. They were white and so am I
So, the black family was not the only slaves. People need to know their history and not only tell their side.
Tonya
September 29, 2017 at 9:05 amThey only know what they want to know.
Frank Glenn Troyer
September 29, 2017 at 3:41 amHollywood has done much to misinterpret history. Most slaves were not “whipped” as they were expensive “property”. Today farmers don’t go out and take a sledge hammer to their equipment just because the equipment is not working properly. Yes, some slaves were indeed whipped but not the majority. Blacks owned slaves in America also. Most southerners did not; they were too expensive for most people. If slavery is such an issue now, fight to dissolve slavery that exists in a great number of countries of the world. Again it is blacks owning black slaves. And by the way, the Europeans did not go into the interior of Africa to capture slaves; they bought them from tribes of black men who had too many slaves. There is enough guilt to go around. Let’s work to end all slavery, today in the 21st century.
johnlramos
September 29, 2017 at 7:14 amI see. Because slaves didn’t get beat as often as I think, I’m exaggerating the evils of slavery. What is wrong with you? The fact is that for 300 years, everything about American society was set up to minimize or totally eliminate the humanity of black people. I think I’ll focus on that.
Oh, and I’ve seen plenty of farmers beat their tractors. Don’t display your ignorance.
Tonya
September 29, 2017 at 9:01 amWe’re you ever whipped by a slave owner? We’re ANY of your family even whipped by slave owners? I doubt it, ya make it seem like this was last week, and also that the police just pick on black folks, give it a rest already, tired hearing whinning. Get a JOB, GET off the streets stop being thugs, drug dealers, because after the cops have to use lethal force then everyone is father of the year, best person you could have ever meet, Please everyone has the same opportunity it’s if u chose to use it for the good or not.
johnlramos
September 29, 2017 at 1:18 pmI can sense that you’re not too bright, so I’ll try to use smaller words. We had slavery for 200 years and Jim Crow for 100 years after that. That’s 300 years of official and unofficial American policy designed for one purpose: To deny black people basic human and civil rights. You don’t shake that shit off overnight. It’s only been about 50 years since the Civil Rights movement, so basically white supremacist policy has been the law of the land for 85 percent of our history. If it were up to me, we’d be taking a knee for the next 300 years just to break even.
Chris
October 1, 2017 at 5:42 pmHello John, if i recall correctly, the United States of America declared its independece in 1776… then fought a bloody war to make independence a reality…. the flag, the country, the constitution, the government didn’t exist prior. Simple math, 200 (slavery)+ 100 (Jim crow) + 50 (civil rights) what year do you think this is? Or learn your history. @EXAGGERATING LOUDMOUTH
johnlramos
October 1, 2017 at 5:55 pmDon’t be a buffoon. Slavery was here long before our independence. Let me give you an analogy: When you step across a boundary line from one country to another, you’re in a new place, but the landscape is exactly the same. Thus with slavery—first we were British colony, and then we stepped across the line and became our own country, but the slavery stayed the same. I doubt the slaves much cared whether it was British people working them to death or Americans. Man, you snowflakes will grab at anything.
Rob
October 1, 2017 at 9:01 amI agree with your reply and I don’t believe that NFL players are taking a knee to disrespect the flag. It was seen as an opportunity to raise awareness to a social injustice. Certainly that is an honorable pursuit. It certainly has gotten people talking. Mission accomplished. I don’t think that it was the greatest way to protest as it’s been obviously misunderstood and turned into something else. Being in the public eye gives sports stars and entertainers an opportunity to reach many ears. The sad truth is we watch actors and athletes for entertainment not for their political stance our beliefs. They can pursue those things with the millions of dollars they are paid and on their own time. When I go to a concert I want to hear the band play music not preach their political bs any more than I watch football to be reminded of social inequality. Now if the NFL players really wanted to make a difference they should join together and sponsor a commercial during their game explaining their disappointment in the current social climate and what they are doing to change it. Taking a knee is just an easy way to being misunderstood and driving a wedge even further between the races as many people don’t see it as a protest but as disrespect just like this article.
johnlramos
October 1, 2017 at 11:51 amI love how snowflakes are such experts in how black people should behave. Somehow, it always has to do with them needing to show more “respect.” Really, snowflakes—it’s a knee on the ground. Why don’t you dig deep into your inner reserves of strength and try to deal with the horror?
Chris
October 1, 2017 at 5:45 pmContinue too behave as you are and you’ll continue to be marginalized
johnlramos
October 1, 2017 at 6:09 pmI know that the sight of a knee on the ground is a huge insult to your sensitive snowflake eyeballs, but I’m telling you the best solution would be for everybody to just chill out, mind their own business, and let Americans respond to national symbols however they wish. If people didn’t make a big uproar about it all the time—starting with our wild-eyed Squawker-in-Chief—it would just become a curiosity and people wouldn’t worry about it too much. As a conservative, I think that’s the best way to go. Just chill.
Steven Kequom
September 28, 2017 at 1:19 amWear the uniform and earn veteran status before you open your mouth then shut the hell up. #USMCVet
johnlramos
September 28, 2017 at 6:50 amWhat is that I hear lightly fluttering in the background? A snowflake? Ah, yes. A snowflake. So offended. Poor little guy.
Brandon
September 28, 2017 at 8:56 pmSnowflake or not.
qball45 • Post Author •
September 28, 2017 at 9:14 pmBrandon, unfortunately the missing parts of your comments would be inappropriate for children to read. And guess what… My children read what is on my site. Therefore I choose not to allow the remainder of what you wrote to be posted.
Brandon
September 28, 2017 at 9:16 pmYou must be a too.
qball45 • Post Author •
September 28, 2017 at 9:20 pmUnfortunately, this is my website and you will not be allowed to write things such as what you just did. I certainly hope you didn’t expect otherwise. There is obviously a reason to have comments approved prior to posting.
Roy Barshaw
September 29, 2017 at 8:24 pmAMEN!!!!!!
Alan Riekki
September 29, 2017 at 11:18 pmFor Johnlramos: You are so caught up in your hate you miss the point. You should be glad to be here, in a country that is constantly trying to improve itself. The only country to do so with the wonderful system we have. It is not perfect, no place, no group, no person is, but it is better every day. Many here identify so heavily with being poorly done to they themselves don’t want it to improve, because they would lose what they live on… the “poor us” blues. It’s childish to piss on the anthem and flag because you think there are some bad cops out there. Yes, there are some bad cops out there. Yes there are some bad shootings. Yes, there are some JUSTIFED shootings, and there are a lot of protesters that do not want to EVER hear that a shooting was justified. Do without cops and first responders for a while, and you will cry out to the government the flag and anthem represent to get them back!
johnlramos
September 30, 2017 at 1:27 amThanks for the lecture, snowflake. What you’re seeing here is not hate. It’s sport. After watching our president lose his shit over an American citizen putting their knee on the ground, I decided to go snowflake-hunting. It’s been good, too. I’ve already cleared out three or four nests. You should feel privileged I’m even talking to you.
Tracy Loyd
September 30, 2017 at 4:09 pmThis is the way so many liberals feel… Everybody else is just so dumb and misinformed … it’s a privilege for me to even address them.
johnlramos
September 30, 2017 at 6:40 pmI’m not saying everybody else is dumb and misinformed. Just the people on this thread. If you’ve been reading my comments, I bring up great points in unique and original ways to explain why we should think about slavery more than we do, and why we shouldn’t mind if people take a knee during the anthem. The people on this thread can’t seem to handle that. They read a few words and–SSSST!–they melt like snowflakes in a campfire. It’s sad.
Rob Stewart
October 30, 2017 at 10:40 amYou feel we should think more about slavery. We should remember what you went thru? Oh wait, I mean your father, oh not him either. I mean your grandfather. Oh he wasn’t a slave either. So you want to be like a woman and bring up something from over 100 years ago to play the victim card. Kinda hard to move forward when your so set on living in the past.
Honorable Rev Ho
September 30, 2017 at 4:21 amThe people they are sticking up for do know what it’s like to take a bullet. Sorry you feel bad for them insulting your freedom. Boo hoo
Terry
October 1, 2017 at 6:01 pmI really could. Are less who wrote this or who posted this. I like the words and the meanING within them. You people who bitch and moan over the smallest things really don’t have much of a life. Think about it. Was your gripe really worth the time of day. Or does the meaning of the words speak out to you about this country. .
johnlramos
October 1, 2017 at 7:05 pmYou must be referring to my “gripe” that the US was a white supremacist country for most of its existence. Sometimes it seems to me that a lot of you wish it still was.
Carol Marol
October 27, 2017 at 8:52 pmWow… these posts are a lot to digest in one reading….Personally, I believe that the NFL players have every right to “take a knee” in protest of the atrocious crimes committed by police officers/departments across this country. It is freedom of speech…It’s so saddening to see their protests as against the American flag and soldiers, it’s kind of disgusting because no one is listening to either side. Argh. We are a good country, made up of mostly good people. I wish we could just listen… or if we got together at a tail-gate at a football game somewhere, I bet we could really just all get along — because we are all Americans and we love this country…Freedom of Speech is one of our best qualities as a democracy…
Carol Marol
October 27, 2017 at 9:03 pmOh! and one more thing… My husband was Ted Nugent’s guitar tech for a tour back in the 80’s. Oh Ted, you have truly disappointed us with your current politics. Oh well! Freedom of speech….If Ted is reading this… you met my husband’s mother backstage in New Haven, CT and as a music professor at a prestigious University, she stupidly said “You will never be a part of music history”… and you went “Ha ha ha ha ha!!!!” Mazzerati… Mazzerati….Love your music, but your politics suck.
Carol Marol
October 27, 2017 at 9:17 pmOK, so now I have another comment….why not? John L. Ramos…you are absolutely spot on. This country is a racist country. White men rule the world. And their corporations rule government. i can’t see us getting out of this situation. Oh crap. Watch filmsforaction.org… I don’t think there is anything we can really do as citizens to change the world except just to be better versions of our own selves (No one wants to listen to me on FB, so here I am.. Ha ha)….
Carol Marol
October 27, 2017 at 9:31 pmTo continue along that thought…
Being better versions of ourselves… Means putting aside our “hard held” beliefs for a moment and listening to the “person” on the other end of the conversation — be it a post, a tweet, whatever.
It’s really about how we treat each other. And then having conversations about getting along. Just starting these conversations in our country and even just starting to entertain that thought and getting it out there on CNN and FOX.. that maybe this is one way we can stop the fracturing of our country….we need to talk and listen to each other and stop barraging each side with negative comments and vitriol .. that does absolutely no good…Oh, just wishful thinking. This will never happen.
Carol Marol
October 27, 2017 at 9:58 pmHa! One more thought and then I am done….We CAN make it happen! Grassroots movement? It started here on Ted Nugent’s website? Well, respond if you are interested in starting conversations that will make like better for all of us.
qball45 • Post Author •
October 28, 2017 at 11:54 amA. This is Ted’s website http://www.tednugent.com
B. This is my website not your launch pad for some hairbrained “grassroots movement”
C. I’m not sure exactly what you think you can “make happen” other than to drive up my page views and clicks.
Rob Stewart
October 28, 2017 at 3:19 pmCarol you and so many other people ate wrong when it comes to freedom of speech. Believe it or not freedom of speech pertains to being able to say what you want on your own time. However when you are employed you can be censored. Your employer has ever right to fire you for saying things that puts the company in bad light. And has happened many times like when broadcasters have said something racist on the air. They can’t claim freedom of speech. They’re fired.
Carol Braden
October 28, 2017 at 5:06 pmHi Rob,
You do have an excellent point. I just wish that both sides could see these protests for what they are… and not having to do with the flag/anthem.
The employers/owners should have shut this down from the get-go if that’s how they felt. Then it would have been over and you are right, the players could have organized something on their own, or gone on the air with different news organizations as they saw fit.
It sucks that we are where we are right now. And yes, starting conversations with each other does really seem like a “Hair-brained” idea. Not?
Carol
Carol Braden
October 28, 2017 at 6:41 pmDear qball45. I did misunderstand whose website this was/is No worries, I am not planning on launching anything from here…You can just kick me out or ban me, whichever you see fit. BUUUTT… I thought that starting conversations between people who have differing views might be a good idea to stop this insane divide we have. We have more in common with each other than our differences… We all love our children, we want to have a good home, stability, clean water, food, shelter, a chance to pursue happiness, love, and a good life. We are really not so different.