A video going around Facebook shows a grieving widow reaching out to touch a flag-draped coffin as it comes off an aircraft.  As the gut-wrenching scene plays out, other family members gather around. The video ends as an Army honor guard marches to carry the casket away.

The caption exemplifies so much of what is wrong with rampant nationalism and unthinking patriotism.

“THIS IS WHY WE STAND!”

This caption obviously references NFL football players who chose to take a knee during the playing of the National Anthem.

Football players refusing to stand for a national song is not the problem here. The problem is politicians who send young men and women across the world to die in senseless wars and the “patriots” who cheerlead the killing.  The flag-waving, colorful parades and military fly-overs that serve as liturgy for America’s national religion help make this kind of human sacrifice acceptable to the masses.

Maybe instead of acting like triggered snowflakes when a football player kneels during the National Anthem, these these people could direct some of that emotional energy toward working to ensure this scene isn’t repeated. Stop supporting the wars.