particularly by those who are not at risk to fall victim to that inequality.  Please correct me if I am wrong, as I do not want to make any incorrect assumptions, but based on your post, I believe that you feel anyone who kneels during the National Anthem is disrespecting the flag, even if they genuinely and thoroughly articulate their thoughts as to why they respect the flag, our trops, etc. but feel compelled to kneel.  In other words, regardless of what they say, in your opinion they're disrespecting the flag.  If that is an incorrect assumption, please let me know.  Because I also assume (again I could be wrong), that if that same person felt that your dismissal of their legitimate complaints and their form of protest was borne out of racism, even if you could prove you were not racist, you would be offended too, right?  You would also be right to be offended in that context as they'd be allowing their set in position on an issue cloud their judgement on the reasons behind your opinion.  

We cannot have it both ways in my opinion, it is not fair to say, "X,Y,Z is disrespectful to the flag by kneeling during the National Anthem because I say so, but I am not racist for feeling that way, even if they say so".  That is why it is so critical when forming opinions, particularly on the actions/statements of others, that we truly take the time to undertand where they're coming from, and how they've come to form their opinion.  

Refusing to stand for the national anthem is refusing to stand for the national anthem. I don't really give a damn about the reasons. The next person's really heartfelt reason might be global warming or some other thing. It's still disrespecting the flag, and they have earned disrespect for doing it