Flag Stereotypes

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.

Other sources such as EndingFed News Network; a profoundly conservative news website, were highly opinionated on Kaepernick’s decision. This article expresses why the author thinks Kaepernick’s national anthem protests were Un-American. “What we’re mad at isn’t motives behind the protest, it’s the fact that Kaepernick used America and the national anthem as his platform for protesting police and social injustice” (EndingFed News Network). This author took facts from the events that occurred and shared his or her own opinion. The content focuses less on informing the reader, and instead, tries to convince the reader that Kaepernick’s action were

The trend of standing up for what others believe has stormed across the nation for diverse reasons. One of many examples of this situation includes the National Football League(NFL). Approximately two years ago, quarterback Colin Kaepernick began to protest the national anthem due to his belief that his rights and the rights of other african-americans were being violated. Shortly after many other professional athletes followed his lead and protested the national anthem by kneeling down, locking

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.

When Colin Kaepernick kneeled during the “Star Spangled Banner” a mass dispute over race, patriotism and football broke out across the United States. Many people who were opposed to Kaepernick's protest believed he was disrespecting our military by not standing with his hand over his

Kneeling during the national anthem is not just wrong it is also disrespectful to the multitudes in our country who have served or or presently serving this great nation-- the United States of America. The national anthem represents many things. One of them is the fortitude of our country’s flag. In the anthem it declares that the United States of America is “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” The flag represents the very core and essence of our nation as the only land on the continent that offers its citizens the freedoms it has at the price paid for ultimately by the brave. It is in no way oppressive nor racist. It is the theme song for every American. The intended audience of this paper is an appeal to all Americans. The quarterback of the 49ers football team, Colin Kaepernick, first began a protest to draw attention to a series of incidents against African Americans by remaining seated during the national anthem, “the Star Spangled Banner.” After the great stir Kaepernick caused in the media during September 2016, Kaepernick switched up his protest by taking a knee as a nod or gesture of showing more respect to current and former military after receiving an in-depth letter from Nate Boyer a former NFL player and US military veteran. Boyer served our country as a Green Beret. Over a decade ago, Boyer witnessed genocide while working in Sudan. He met numerous African men who were smitten with America and longed to have the

Football players protesting during the National Anthem lately have football fans red hot. Colin Kaepernick and many other professional football players are protesting what they feel are social inequalities and wrongdoings by getting down on a knee while the National Anthem plays. While everyone else is standing up to show respect. One particular fan named Nate3914 tweeted... Kaepernick, “If you don't love the country get out of it. You should never play another down in the NFL, move to Canada.” However, Anquan Boldin, his former teammate, says that he supports Kaepernick's decision to kneel down during the anthem. He said, “The great thing about America is you can protest and what the quarterback is doing is just another type of that.” This is a popular and controversial example, that Kaepernick has the right to express himself as a free citizen of the United States. Taking away his right to protest violates his constitutional rights. Colin Kaepernick's protest during the national anthem has fans in protests of outrage, but he defends

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

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

I take great pride in the fact that I am blessed to live in the greatest country on earth who has been a beacon of freedom for the rest of the world.  That said my opinion is inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.  The only opinion(s) that ultimately matter on this topic is the 32 owners in the NFL, and they unanimously voted to confirm this new policy. It has been called out that these owners are suppressing free speech and it is unconstitutional.  While the first amendment is the bedrock of our society, the owners are completely within their rights. You see when they go to work there are company personal conduct guidelines, same as every American working today. These policies dictate what we can and cannot do, where we can do them, and when.  Ultimately if the boss (owners) says not to kneel during the anthem, you don’t kneel. If the boss is ok or embraces it, then the worker (player) is well within his right to exercise his free speech.  That is not the case the in the NFL

I believe players should not protest during the national anthem because the national anthem gives thanks to those who have risked/lost their lives in war. Also, it shows respect to the country and the sacrifices the soldiers have made to give freedom to the people. Players who want to protest about racial issues or police brutality can protest it in a more respectful way than kneeling during the national anthem. Even though the NFL continues to support its players’ disrespect towards the United States, other sports franchises such as NASCAR refuse to tolerate this behavior and some owners according to Ellen Horrow, a sports editor for USA Today, have said “they would terminate employees who knelt during the anthem.”(Horrow). Overall, I agree with the actions of some NASCAR team owners and believe that NFL protesters should express their beliefs in a more respectful manner and every american should be required to stand and honor the flag during the national

Since the early 1900s, the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” is an opportunity for citizens to honor their country and reflect on the great liberties that they are afforded. It sounds simple but the anthem has become complicated. This is America 2016, a time where police officers are getting away with murder and a businessman is elected as our president. When the quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers Colin Kaepernick decided to not stand for the playing of the national anthem in the pre-season game of the NFL, he was the first athlete to vividly illustrate his outrage over the police brutality stirring within the American population. His actions have led to a wave of athlete protests who are joining to exercise their constitutional rights and help fight against an issue bigger than sports. However, there are many citizens attacking the silent protests with violent threats and are calling the participants disrespectful. While the controversy has centered on the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” it has been overlooked that the problem is really with the entire country and the cultural divisions that exist in today’s society. Although many patriotic fans are criticizing and denouncing his actions, Kaepernick and many other protesters are making a difference by standing against the oppression of minorities and social injustices that are gripping our nation.

This Paper will go over kneeling for protest in the NFL with views from both liberals and conservatives. On August fourteenth and twentieth, in 2016 a man named Colin Kaepernick became the first person to protest during the pledge of allegiance during a football game, however, he mostly went unnoticed while he sat. On August twenty-sixth, 2016, Colin Kaepernick's sitting during the national anthem attracted a lot of attention and his team, the San Francisco 49ers released a statement saying Colin Kaepernick was sitting during the anthem. Colin Kaepernick said he was protesting not because of the military, but because he wanted to bring more attention to the suffering of colored people and issues with police violence. On September first, 2016

On August 14, 2016 Kaepernick decided not to stand for the national anthem before the game and went unnoticed. Social media bashed him, but he didn’t take it to heart he spoke to social media and stated "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color." The next week he did it again this time with a teammate, the hate on him continued but he wouldn’t stop. Later he was joined by athletes around the world. Megan Rapinoe, Arian Foster, Kenny Stills to name a few all joined the movement that is known as “black lives matter”. Holding your hand over your heart during the national anthem is considered a civic duty of every single American. Kaepernick and the rest of the athletes that joined him showed a great amount of courage, they disobeyed for the greater cause and impacted society in a good way.

Before every National Football League game, the national anthem reverberates throughout the huge stadiums. Spectators rise from their seats, remain quiet, and when the tune finishes, they get raucous. However, Colin Kaepernick, a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, shattered this ritual two months ago. Before their season opener, Kaepernick elected to remain seated for the national anthem. Importantly, it took three successive weeks of this silent protest for anyone to notice. However, when audiences did notice, every form of media exploded with a myriad of headlines and opinions on the situation. With the nation impatiently waiting for answers, Kaepernick asserted that standing for the anthem implied that he was proud of the country,