I was asked about this when it all "broke" last year.
I served and I stand as a personal choice not because it's my duty.
I also would defend you in a crowd if you chose to kneel beside me.
Ignore it all. It's media hype. Who gives one fuck what the owners, coaches or athletes think. They are not on my radar in any way shape or form. My concern is with the bluster and saber rattling of our President. His personal feelings should be put aside (just like everyone is telling the "players who protest"). He should be pushing for national unity instead of fueling more animosity between sides.
It's a bit of a leap to say you hate your country because you don't stand for a song. All that good government bullshit they force fed kids in the 50's, 60's & 70's (me included) has clouded the judgment of some well meaning people who cannot fathom the idea of symbolic resistance but are "all for" symbolic support to our country.
Also it's mostly millennials (younger generation) who are dying in Iraq/Afghanistan not guys in over 40/50/60. So I don't see any of this as generational. I think it's a bunch of bullshit from both sides, a cheap parlor trick (hey look over here) to keep us "rank and file" Americans fighting each other instead of the corrupt lawyers, bankers and generals who are fucking up our country.
If you don't agree, we're still cool. If you think I don't deserve the right to have this opinion...fuck off