This nation was built on Judeo-Christian beliefs. We all should be looking back at those beliefs when we talk about the things that are happening in our nation.

In Ecclesiastes 3:1, we are told that “there is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.”

We seem to forget those teachings when things are not going our way.

Today we have a big brouhaha over sports figures taking a knee in protest of the National Anthem. As our Judeo–Christian teachings have taught those of us who have cared to learn, this is not the place to be taking a knee in protest.

These sports figures have been paid big money to entertain those who have paid large amounts of money to come to the stadium to watch them perform — or a large viewing public at home whose lives evolve around their consumption of sports. Most of these viewers wish to be entertained without being offended by someone protesting some cause.

It appears that these sports figures who are taking a knee could care less about their image. Many people from the young to the elderly idolize these sports figures. Rather than showing the population that they disrespect the nation that has provided this opportunity to make an exceptional living at a game in which they love and can impact so many people, those sports figures should be showing those who watch them their love for this nation of opportunity. They should also be setting a positive image for those who watch and idolize them.

I don’t like some of what President Trump says but there are times he must get down on the linguistic level of audience he wishes to address.

As a leader President Trump is right to condemn those who are taking a knee. They are disrespecting this nation at a place where they are being paid large salaries to entertain those who wish to watch them.

In Ecclesiastes 3:7 tells us that there is “a time to tear apart and a time to sew together; a time to be silent and a time to speak.” When you are being paid to entertain is not the time to tear apart. It is a time to be silent. It is apparent that our sports figures need to develop an understanding of the proper use of time.

Ray Shamlin

Rocky Mount