Curt A Torell: Pledge allegiance to God, not U.S.

Thanks to Patrick O’Neill, for his Aug. 31 Point of View “Why I stand – or choose to sit – with Kaepernick.” I, too, refuse to stand while the national anthem is sung. Instead, I sit, head bowed in prayer, directing my allegiance to God alone, rather than to an imperfect nation.

This is neither an act of disrespect nor an act of protest. It’s simply my way of following God’s commands. When God said, “you shall have no other gods before me” and “you shall not make for yourself an idol” and “you shall not bow down to them or worship them,” I think God really meant it.

When the New Testament says, “No one can serve two masters” or the Quran says, “Therefore serve me, and Me alone,” these are words to heed.

More than once, unbridled nationalism has led us into war. We have killed others, coveted their possessions and borne false witness against our enemies. Our wars squander national treasure that could instead feed the hungry, clothe the poor and tend the sick.

Colin Kaepernick’s integrity may cost him his career, but he has opened the way for us to have a much-needed conversation about coerced patriotism.

This story was originally published September 10, 2016 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Curt A Torell: Pledge allegiance to God, not U.S.."