On Monday, ‘take a knee’ syndrome leeched into local government in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where some members of the city council—all Democrats—decided to pull a Colin Kaepernick during the pledge of allegiance. The council also voted to give themselves raises afterwards (via MLive):





Chip Smith, 5th Ward; Chuck Warpehoski, 5th Ward; Sumi Kailasapathy, 1st Ward; and Jason Frenzel, 1st Ward; moved in front of the council's table, turned toward the flag and took a knee when it came time to recite the Pledge of Allegiance after the meeting was called to order. Warpehoski said the move was an act of attention, concern and respect. "I can't speak to what is in each person's heart, but for me to 'take a knee' is an act of attention, of concern, and of respect," Warpehoski wrote on his website ahead of Monday's meeting and also stated at the meeting. "And it is in that spirit that I take a knee at tonight's City Council meeting: out of respect for the aspiration that we be a nation 'with liberty and justice for all,' with full attention that we fall short of that ideal in many ways, and with humble dedication to continue to work that the promise of the pledge may be fulfilled."

Oh, shut up, man. All you did, as with the NFL players who engaged in these antics, is make yourself look like a fool. Of course, you have the right to do it. And we have the right to lambast you—harshly. Again, it doesn’t matter why you do it. That’s lost when the vast majority of the country views these protests as unpatriotic. It could be food aid for some underdeveloped country. It could be the best charity with a universal cause that everyone can get behind—no one cares when they think you’re spitting on the flag, our veterans, and our troops still fighting in Afghanistan. This is getting absolutely pathetic.