Freedom Of Speech : Freedom Of Speech?

Although NFL athletes are a huge figure in America today, they still choose to disrespect their country by kneeling during the National Anthem. I believe kneeling during the National Anthem is unpatriotic, separate’s teammates and the community, and is also bad publicity. This has caused people to protest the NFL by doing things such as burning their season tickets. Kneeling during the anthem has caused a huge controversial issue that is impacting many. This has not only caught the attention of adults but also children. The NFL is now losing its focus on football and putting more focus on politics.

In 2017 controversy struck when the NFL tried “taking a stance” and protesting the National Anthem. In this protest, many NFL players one by one knelt down while the National Anthem played at their sporting event. The National Anthem is a song for our country and symbol to represent all of the men and women who have fought in our military. This song is not played just for our entertainment, it is to honor the flag and what it stands for. The protesting was started by Colin Kaepernick, last season, when he was the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. He was the first player to take a knee during the playing of the National Anthem, now many other NFL players this season are following in his path and doing the same thing. Many players and viewers claim it is for police brutality and the injustice that is being served, while other viewers see it as entitled millionaires disrespecting the flag and the military. Everyone has different opinions on the issue, but no matter what the country needs to respect one another as humans and be united; the American Flag is a symbol of our freedom and the NFL needs to recognize the National Anthem rather than kneeling and disrespecting what it stands for.

One reason why players are Kneeling during the national anthem is to speak out about racism and Police Brutality. Another reason is that the NFL is a big platform and a lot of people watch it so lots of people will see them protesting. Kneeling Players from the NFL have been interviewed on why they kneel, and they say we are not trying

“Taking a knee during the National Anthem these days screams disrespect for our flag,our country and troops.” People are seeing the message that the players are trying to send as disrespectful for our country and troops.”My son and the entire armed forces deserve better than that.” In response,people who are against the kneeling for the National Anthem are going to try to protest in a peaceful manner by not watching the NFL games and not going to the games.The big issue is that the National Anthem has nothing to do with the inequality in our country nor is it raced based.The National Anthem stands for more than what some people are making it out to be. The players are unaware of the true meaning of the National Anthem.

The current debate over kneeling or sitting in protest during the national anthem to protest police brutality was ignited by Kaepernick in 2016, and later adopted by many other professional football players, high school athletes, and professional athletes in other sports, all who have refused to stand for the national anthem. These protests have created disagreement and sparked a public conversation race, police brutality, the flag and if the NFL is the best forum for to protest such issue. Colin Kaepernick has since said “he’s not protesting the flag but police brutality against African Americans. www.Procon.org

Should NFL players be permitted to kneel at the national anthem? Some players that have defied team rules have been kicked off teams for kneeling. However, some advocate that this is a good way for the players to express their political views. Although these players are role models for kids of all ages, their actions imply that you can disrespect the flag, our American anthem, and our current military soldiers and veterans. NFL players should not be permitted to kneel at the national anthem because it is disrespecting our flag and military and violates team rules.

This act of kneeling down should be considered as an act of patriotic criticism, rather than a betrayal of the nation. After all, patriotism does not mean that we should love and support everything that the government conducts, but rather we should criticize for the greater good of the government, so that it could improve. Government could only improve, if they can hear the voice from the people. Only after accepting the criticism can one improve. Therefore, the focus of such protest in the NFL should be why they protested, instead of the act of protesting. After all,

Is kneeling during the National Anthem disrespectful to America. People have been asking this question for a year and a half right now. The National Anthem is a moment of time where we all become one, looking at the possibilities of the future. We honor the many people who served and who are serving in the armed forces and the public forces with great respect. They are the light of which blocks out the darkness, so it won't affect the United States of America. The United States of America is a beautiful place with many cultures and beliefs. We learn from each other new things that we can use to benefit our life's. The many instances of kneeling in the NFL have brought a large consequence to the financial side of the NFL and other associated businesses. In the NFL, viewership has dropped over 10 percent in the 2017 season so far. The NFL is a 13-billion-dollar business. The effects of the protest have led to almost a 2-billion-dollar loss in revenue. Kneeling in the NFL has created controversy and arguments that we cannot ignore forever.

Over the last few years police brutality and social injustice have been very prevalent in the media. In 2016, a protest for social injustice and police brutality directed towards African Americans was started by NFL player Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick began to kneel during the national anthem to bring attention to social issues. Since then Kaepernick has received praise from the black community and even more backlash, including from the president. Other NFL players began to support Kaepernick and kneel along with him. Kaepernick was later fired for his actions. I am going to discuss whether or not NFL players should be allowed to kneel during the national anthem while they are playing.

Have you seen NFL players kneeling during the National Anthem? Well I have. And it’s not very cool. NFL players shouldn’t protestrest by kneeling during the National Anthem. Because they’re disrespecting our country, the players kneeling is causing viewers to boycott the NFL, and the players are a distraction to the other players.

It’s been hard to ignore the mixing of sports and politics lately. Some football players have been kneeling during the National Anthem instead of showing respect for the men and women in our armed forces. Although they’re trying to send a message to people all over the country, I think they are going about it all the wrong way. Football players should stand for the National Anthem no matter what.

Kneeling for the national anthem is a legal form of protesting, which is a First Amendment right. Our forty-fourth president, Barack Obama stated that “Colin Kaepernick was exercising his constitutional right to make a statement. I think there’s a long history of sports figures doing so.” The First Amendment right helps the national anthem protest because it supports players to exercise their constitutional right. Not only NFL players kneel in protest, but people outside of football or any sports still kneel in protest. They are not on football fields or kneeling during the anthem. For example, Stevie Wonders has kneeled on his own time, on a stage and not during the anthem.

The National Football League players who are kneeling for the national anthem are disrespecting our country and what it stands for. Our flag stands for freedom and liberty. The players should respect that. Before every NFL game, the flag is brought out by an Honor Guard. This is part of a time-honored ceremony intended to present our nation’s colors (the flag) and National Anthem in a respectful manner. By kneeling during the national anthem, they are disrespecting the flag, the national anthem, all our nation stands for, the people currently serving in the armed forces and all of those who gave their lives in our nation’s service. As a result of all the players or coaches kneeling, long time NFL fans are burning jerseys, cancelling season tickets, not showing up for games, not watching games, and canceling the NFL Sunday ticket and well they should.

Last year during the beginning of the 2016-17 season a Former NFL player Colin Kaepernick started the season with a quiet protest of kneeling during the Star Spangled Banner. Nobody noticed until the second week of the preseason when he knelt again. His purpose for kneeling was to shed light on racial inequality and police brutality.

The controversy involving the NFL teams, their players kneeling, turning around, locking arms etc has caused many to debate on this topic. The national anthem is performed out of pride of the country and to pay our respects to the people that have fought, risked and sometimes lost their lives for the United States. Players not just from the National Football League but sports across the country have been protesting this because of racial injustice which has caused backlash from many people including President Trump. Keeping in mind that it is the player's right to express their first amendment by kneeling during the national anthem I and many other people believe this is wrong because they are doing it for all the wrong reasons, yes there is