rant · moment 5 of 14
Kneeling Isn't Pissing on the Flag
from Living on the Edge of Death · #112
Audio-only archive episode — no video to seek.
4 minRay argues NFL players kneeling is a mild gesture compared to what special forces endure, mocks the sacredness of the national anthem's War of 1812 origins, and fantasizes about Putin as a paternal figure tousling his hair.
- 11:40Kaepernick kneeled after talking to a soldier who suggested it as a respectful form of protest, not desecration.
- 11:59Tim argues that even if players were actually desecrating the flag, elite soldiers trained through Hell Week should be able to handle it.
- 12:40The flag itself is a horseshit representation—just a banner about a forgotten war from 1812.
- 13:07The national anthem's lyrics about fighting for freedom could apply to any country in the world; Russia uses the same framing.
- 13:42Tim imagines what it would be like to have a paternal leader like Putin tussle his hair and show him affection after school.
- 14:17American leaders over the last 50 years have either been shot, indicted, or disgraced—Reagan rotted in office, Bush faked wars, Clinton got impeached.
- 14:46Tim questions what great honor America is defending and finds the obsession with American exceptionalism reveals weakness.
Barack ObamaVladimir PutinRonald ReaganGeorge W. BushBill ClintonKaepernickSEAL Team 6Delta Force