The Lone Football Player Who Honored His Country

Connor Brewer, of Millikin University, stands alone in respect of the National Anthem.

Todd Starnes of Foxnews reports on a sole football player standing in respect while the National Anthem was played at the start of the game. Where were the other players? Inside. "respectfully" protesting the National Anthem as a sign of protest to racial injustice in America.

The story reports that on Sept. 24, 2016, a few players took a knee while the National Anthem played. The crowd reacted with outrage. From the context of the report, the players were apparently accused of being anti-American and disrespectful of the sacrifice of our military.

So, for the following game, the whole team decided to stay in the locker room so that their action cannot be understood or construed as "disrespectful."

One football player had the courage of doing the right thing. Alone he stood in the field while the Anthem was played.

Courage is a virtue that only applies to good acts. What Kapaernick did was not true courage which presumes that the finality of his act is good. When participants of the Black Lives Matter overcame the fear of getting caught for stealing, rioting, pillaging, destroying property or attacking police and community, it was not courage but a further aggravation of their irrational act.

Inherent to the virtue of courage is the understanding that a greater and lasting good (grace, merit, eternal salvation) can be achieved or attained by suffering temporal difficulties.

Connor Brewer practiced true courage because his cause was good and honorable.

This case is very applicable to the spirit of chivalry. Many times people reduce knighthood to a fighting class among many other fighting class. Many times Vikings, Barbars, the Romans and even the Muslims are pooled together as all part of a fighting class. Knighthood stands apart from the crowd because of the virtues inherent to knighthood not inherent to the other fighting classes.

Chivalry was not simply a method of fighting. It was a way of life permeated by the faith. Hence, the 10 commandments of chivalry reflected this.

In this sense, Connor Brewer fulfills the 4th commandment of Chivalry; "Thou shalt love the country in which thou was born."

It is difficult to see how the other players are displaying love for the country and respect for our fallen by staying in the locker room. This is the very definition of cowardice. It is the opposite of the spirit of Chivalry.