I fully respect NFL players like Seahawks’ Michael Bennett for their freedom of speech.

And I agree that we are not all treated equally. I’m a white male who was the victim of a cop putting a loaded 38 special to my temple for a minor traffic incident while in college. And, yes, we have prejudice in our country. But — there is no excuse for taking a knee. Here’s why.

The American flag represents freedom for all citizens of our country just as the Statue of Liberty represents liberty. By standing at attention, you are showing respect for the men and women who served our country for our freedom. Twenty million American soldiers alone gave their lives in World War II.

Taking a knee shows disrespect for those warriors who fought for our freedom. These soldiers are the backbone of our country. And they didn’t get paid big bucks. They served for their love of America. I am one of those Americans.

H. Clay Freeman

Bellevue