Anthem Protest

In the article, “National Anthem Protests”, written by Steve Byas on The New American, on October 24, 2016, states that when the San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, decided to kneel during the national anthem that his protest wasn’t about the police brutality on blacks but to disrespect this country. Texas senator, Ted Cruz, states in the article that “it’s very easy when you’re sitting there, rolling in millions of dollars to disrespect this country” (13 Byas). Kaepernick and many other NFL players have stated that they are not disrespecting our flag but kneeling in protest to the police brutality on black people across the country. Although the players have said this, people beg to differ.

A big controversial topic going around in the news over the past few weeks has been Colin Kaepernick and his stand to end the hardship for people of color and police brutality in the United States. This silent stand started early this preseason when a number of different events involving people of color and police officers around the United States not getting along. However, this has started to become more publicized as more and more people in the National Football League have been joining in with Colin Kaepernick and taking a knee or sitting during the national anthem. This stand has become way more than a simple silent stand as many people around the nation are starting to voice their opinions on this subject. Even though everyone argues their thoughts on this subject.

Ever since September of last year, the NFL National Anthem Protest has been one of the most controversial topics across social-media, alongside with other protests against police brutality. Many have criticized for such an action for being disrespectful to the National Anthem and Flag. Those, who have supported it, claim to protest against the nationwide police brutalities against the Black people. Looking back to the history of the United States, such sports protests are not a unique incident. During 1968 Olympic game, which are hold in Mexico City, African American Athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their black-gloved fists to speak for black civil rights. Yet, back then both the U.S. government and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) did not show support for such an action, though today the IOC claimed that the black American athletes has made names for themselves for doing such protests.

September 14, 1814, was the day a 35 year old lawyer penned a short poem overlooking Fort McHenry after a night of British bombardment. The man was Francis Scott Key and his poem or song is now known as “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Now over 200 years later, a majority of the American population sees this song as a symbol of American liberty and freedom. However, not all agree. Recently, NFL players have begun to kneel, as a means of protest, during the national anthem played before every game. Consequently, this has caused people like Matt Server to speak out and voice their opinions. In “COUNTERPOINT: Kneeling during the national anthem is the wrong way to protest,” Server communicates to his audience that kneeling during the national anthem is the wrong thing to do. Server’s claim is accurate because of the American perception of the national anthem and the ineffectivity of the protests.

It is often said that the government control can be the threat for people because it means that the government dominates the country. North Korea is one of the examples that represents the government control. However, the problem of the government control is also disputed in America.

I think that the players in the NFL need to stand for the Anthem. America keeps us safe and we all need to respect our country. Some of these sports players have the biggest influence on us and there are many kids that may look up to them. These kids are influenced spin these players actions. But then I think I can see why some people kneel during the Anthem. Let’s use African Americans for example, they haven’t always had their rights in the U.S and sometimes aren’t always treated fairly because of racism. Maybe they don’t respect the flag because they feel like America has disrespected them. But here’s what I think should happen to the people who kneel. Each player that kneels should either have a two game suspension or be fined. For

I once tried to convince a friend that the NFL players that were taking a knee during the National Anthem wasn't right. He told me that they were doing it for the people that don't have a voice and that they they are more likely to get results that anyone else. I should have said, “I don't care if they take a knee or not but do it before or after the Nation Anthem not during it.” This would have established some common ground and it would have been a good compromise. I instead said, “They shouldn't knee at all because it's disrespectful to our country and all the people that have served and are currently serving to keep the US safe.” That response wasn't going to bridge the gap; all it was going to do is make us want to favor our side more.

The NFL players, who chose to sit out or kneel during the Star Spangled Banner, was a not sign of disrespect and shouldn’t receive any consequences. Colin Kaepernick, an NFL player, had something to say about this protest, “ I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color”(Kenny 1). Any of the NFL players who didn’t want to stand during the National Anthem did nothing wrong. Trump’s idea to fire or suspended the players is just foolish. Many people would have done the same thing without hesitation, but this country is just so argumentative about topics like this. It is such a controversial topic. It is outrageous that these players had the

On one side of the controversy are the people who agree with the protesting and kneeling for the National Anthem. Both the players and viewers agree with the message they think is getting across. They are kneeling against police brutality and the injustice they think is being served. In

An enslaved future in which people in a society are punished for wanting independence. This is the dark future Ayn Rand, author of Anthem, has set in this heart-wrenching dystopia. Ayn Rand sets the protagonist, Equality 7-2521, against his society to find the meaning of individuality and the sacred word “I”. Modern Day U.S society is much more progressive that Anthems’ society because of its’ individuality, education, and technology.

Societies are different in many ways. The society that Anthem is based around is a collectivist society, in this society everyone is treated equal. Equality 7-2521 didn’t care for this type of society organization. He discovered a tunnel that had been left from the unmentionable times, and they were instructed to have no affiliation with the unmentionable times. While in this tunnel he made some gave discoveries, one of these discoveries was electricity. He later presented this finding to the scholars, they didn’t not appreciate his assertiveness with his new finding, so he had to leave fearing his life. He ran into the uncharted forest and eventually found a house from the unmentionable times.

I feel that President Trump needs to reevaluate his ideas and compare those who want social change because truly the protest has a deeper meaning that the President hasn’t viewed. The only way for change to occur is by uniting all communities, a reality that is being created by the NFL players to promote equality.” By acting and not going, hopefully, that will inspire some change when it comes to what we tolerate in this country and what is accepted and what we turn a blind eye to,” a quote from Steph Curry which I agree that people can often disagree due to having a limited mind with certain ideas that leads to false assumptions and judgements about others. Both authors from CNN and Fox News remained impartial and reported about the same issue using multiple sources from social media mainly from players and the president’s reactions but were also written the same day. However, both sources reported the situation about Colin Kaepernick differently. The report from CNN stated that Kaepernick initiated the protest that set the

Would you ever kneel during The National Anthem like football players from the 49’ers, Cowboys, Dolphins, Browns, Giants, Panthers, Broncos, Saints, and etc. Every day I would hear on the news especially on Monday mornings that another football team made the list and that at least one of their players would kneel. One day me and my mom were sitting on the couch and I turned on the Giants game. A few minutes later, when The National Anthem came on people started taking a knee, my mom walked out of the room looking a little mad and disappointed. Right away, I figured it out and put the pieces together. She started yelling and explaining to me why that was so wrong even though I knew. Some people think that they should be fired, benched,

Caleb I strongly agree with you because I believe that kneeling during the national anthem or during the pledge is very disrespectful to anyone who believes in the true spirit of americans. Many people have had their lives taken fighting for the flag and to kneel in front of it is very rude. I am not against protesting or people rights or any of that I just think that there is better ways to express yourself. He could have instead said something or even done something that showed that he thought that african americans or anyone should have equal rights. Americans are also very proud of the flag and when you kneel you kind of are saying that you don’t really care that much. If he is showing that he doesn’t care about his country he shouldn’t

I believe that the current kneeling during the anthem debate is a example of sociocentrism and egocentrism. On one had we have players and fans who see an issue in the country and feel that this is the only way to have their voices heard. On the other hand, you have people who do not believe that politics should be in sports and have vowed to not watch a game until this is resolved.