“O. say can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming” I can picture myself in a big loud stadium surrounded by thousands of other football fans singing or listening to these words. I can see the images of the football players getting pumped while the anthem is sung. Quarterbacks ready to throw for long touchdowns, defenders eager to tackle. Then suddenly my eye is caught by the fact that one or two players are kneeling. I am confused. Why would they be kneeling during the anthem? I later discovered that NFL players starting with Colin Kaepernick decided to sit or kneel during the National Anthem in protest of racial discrimination and the death of African American individuals in encounters …show more content…
It has led to division in our nation and has not helped improve the situation of those individuals whom they are protesting for. Clearly, there are more effective things these athletes could have done to make a difference. In order to understand why and how Kaepernick's actions have been very counterproductive we must consider what he stated and what was the response to it. “"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick told NFL Media in an exclusive interview after the game. "To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder". Kaepernick stated this in response to the controversial shootings of African American individuals by police men. There has been an extraordinary debate about the social and racial issues in America but Colin Kaepernick-NFL quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers-started a very controversial debate with a simple act sitting or kneeling during the National
Colin Kaepernick feels that minorities are not being heard, so he used his higher status to draw attention to the racial inequality by not standing during the national anthem, instead he took a knee. The author of this article feels that the playing of the national anthem has brought politics into the NFL as opposed to Kaepernick as some people feel. However, this article also touches on the fact that his teammate at one point had also taken a knee in support of Kaepernick’s efforts. The way he chose to express his feelings has caused him to be viewed in a negative spotlight by many people all over the country. There are people even outside of the United States who have heard about this controversial situation Kaepernick has been going through.
Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers quarterback, started much controversy against America when he remained seated for the national anthem during a preseason game against the San Diego Chargers. Kaepernick seems to had developed an enmity against America. He feels that he and fellow African American athletes should not show patriotism to their country because of the unfair treatment their ancestors went through throughout history. Although Kaepernick does have a point about the racial discrimination colored people went through throughout American history, he still has no right to disrespect his country. Kaepernick himself is not black, he is white, but he is just drawing attention to himself.
Colin Kaepernick is a professional American football quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. Keapernick ignited controversy when he chose to remain seated while his teammates were standing to the "Star Spangled Banner". His actions yelled that he was against patriotism. "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color," Kaepernick told NFL Media in an exclusive after the game against Green Bay. " To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way.
“An athlete silently protests during the national anthem. People respond with taunts of "traitor," "you're a disgrace" and "leave our country!" Are these angry tweets aimed at National Football League players kneeling during the national anthem?”said by writers Lonnie Bunch and David Skorton.Due to half of the 49ers team kneeling during the National Anthem 49ers fans are burning their jerseys due to the refusal of the players to stand during the National Anthem.Many fans are outraged and boycotting National football because of the fact that football players are disrespecting the flag by kneeling during the National Anthem.The reason players should stand for the National Anthem is because the United States Flag stands for the individuality and
Colin Kaepernick, a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, has created much controversy in the nation over his latest protest. During a preseason football game Kaepernick was photographed sitting during the national anthem (McKirdy). When asked about the action later, Kaepernick explained, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” (Wyche). The nation exploded. Many showed their support for the quarterback, expressing pride in him for “standing up” for the things he believes in. Others displayed their anger with him for disrespecting the flag and all the things the flag represents. After seeing what a backlash his action received, Kaepernick decided to kneel instead of sitting, claiming that his new way of protesting would show more respect for those in the line of duty (Anthem uproar). Although he has the right to protest, sitting during the national anthem is the wrong way to draw attention to a specific cause.
Is it right? The San Francisco 49’ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, decided to draw attention to racial issues that have swept of the country. Kaepernick decided to take a kneel during the National Anthem during a NFL preseason game. After the game Kaepernick started a nationwide riot as some might call it. Many feel as if what the quarterback did was disrespectful, and feel the NFL should take action on the matter. While others love that Kaepernick used his position in society as a chance to address the issue. I agree that some of the social issues our country has should be faced, and talked about; although I also think the way Kaepernick did was not the right thing to do. In my opinion what he did ended up causing more arguments than fixing
"It's an oxymoron that you're sitting down, disrespecting that flag that has given you the freedom to speak out" (Brees). Many athletes have expressed what they believe in by taking action. Some are disrespectful actions and others are meaningful in spreading their cause. A big representation, especially across the NFL, is kneeling while our country’s anthem is played. The movement across the league of kneeling was introduced by Colin Kaepernick, QB of the 49ers. Many people think that what he and other players are doing is the wrong way to represent a cause and that it needs to be fixed.
Day after day, the nation watching, seeing blacks being shot for as little as putting there hands up, nobody decided to take action. And 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick decided to take action.
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.
Colin Kaepernick’s protest gained national attention due to his position in the NFL. Realizing that his protest would reach a much wider audience than any regular citizen, he chose to demonstrate that something needed to be done about the
For many, speaking up for what you believe in can be difficult and risky, but ultimately worth the risk. Colin Kaepernick took this risk, by kneeling during the national anthem to stand up against “ police brutality and the inequality that people of color”(NFL). With many unjust shootings and police beatings of African Americans, Kaepernick’s teammate Eric Reid couldn’t stand the violence anymore after “the killing of Alton Sterling in my hometown Baton Rouge, La”(Reid). Reid joined Kaepernick in taking a knee during the national anthem, in doing this Kaepernick and Reid inspired other players to raise awareness and help those in need. This decision caused huge impacts on the nation, the NFL, and the youth who look up to the players of the NFL.
Over the past few weeks, players of the National Football League, or the NFL, have been kneeling as a protest against any oppression against African Americans. A huge controversy developed around this topic as it snowballed out of control. Taking a knee during the sustainment of the National Anthem is disrespectful to those who have died protecting this country.
In 2016, Colin Kaepernick, a 49ers quarterback, took a knee during the anthem. He did this to bring attention that there is an oppression of “black people and people of color.” He also adds that once “there’s significant change, and I feel that flag represent what it’s supposed to represent,” then he will stand. All of the players up to now wanted to bring attention to unjustified police shootings that ended up killing people because of their race. Kaepernick caused many people who were passive and didn’t know how to deal with this topic to take a knee during the anthem. He along with many people began to spread awareness that America has a racism problem that should’ve ended decades ago, but is only getting worse.
Protesting in the National Football League has been going on, as some of the country’s most beloved and highly recognized athletes are seen disrespecting the United States of America on national TV every weekend. The players’ reason for the protesting is police brutality, you can see them kneeling, raising their fist in the air, or even sit in the locker room while the national anthem is being played. Although I do understand what they are trying to do, I believe that there definitely better ways to go about their protest. The protests started in 2016 when Colin Kaepernick, quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, took a knee during the national anthem. When question about his actions he responded by saying, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of colour”(Lake). While some people sided with Kaepernick most people took offense to his decision to kneel. In him doing this it has caused a league wide outbreak in protest; as players and sometimes even whole teams take a knee or show some type of protest during our country's anthem.
This act of defiance against the National Anthem was said to be disrespectful to the men and women that have protected this country. Many war veterans agree with this because they believe that the athletes are dishonoring the symbol that gave each of us our freedoms. “I stand for our flag and anthem, and I kneel for our fallen. That's what patriots do,” (Griggs). The veterans of our country are not the only ones expressing their beliefs on the subject; a publication by the Wall Street Journal states that before the National Anthem in Foxborough, Massachusetts, fans held a sign reading “Real Patriots Stand Up For Their Country” (“Anthem