Freedom and Democracy
One of the definitions I like for determining if you live in a free democracy is if you have the freedoms to worship how you please openly, make fun of the government and peacefully protest what you feel is unjust behavior. I think living in the US provides you with these freedoms. I don't think, I know. So if Mr NFL QB wants to sit through the national anthem it isn't a sign of what's wrong with the US it's a measure of what's right. A place less free wouldn't tolerate that kind of behavior. Can you imagine a Soviet era athlete doing this? Or a Chinese one today? While I don't agree with his sentiment, I defend a person's right to lawfully and peacefully express themselves because I know it shows we still have more freedom than most.