Francis Scott Key's The Star-Spangled Banner

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.

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.

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

“Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave. O'er the land and of the free, and the home of the brave.” These words from our beloved national anthem, are words that this country chooses to live by. Ladies and gentlemen will remove their caps, and then all rise for the playing of the Star Spangled Banner. Most Americans have become comfortable about this right and pleasure that we have. To be able to show respect for the ones who aren’t here, and can’t even stand to do so. One professional American football player had another agenda for this time. He decided to kneel instead of stand like we have all become accustomed to. In my generation, we take our freedom and rights for granted. We do this, because we never had

Taking a knee during the National Anthem began 13 months ago with Colin Kaepernick. He started to protest just by sitting on the bench, then when he was asked why he is doing this he responded saying that he is doing this to show more respect for the military veterans. However, a few months later when Kaepernick’s protest became more known to society he said “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag or country that oppresses black people, and to

The ground is not constant in every part of the world. Grass, sand, dirt, rocks, and everything in between is always changing underneath our feet. The sky is always shifting when new shapes and colors pass above our heads as we carry out our lives. It is baffling to think that people surrounded in a world of change believe it is possible to stick to one way of living. The belief in following a tradition can come from multiple ideals. The United States has an abundance of these traditions, and sometimes it is hard to notice when you are within one. The Star Spangled Banner is a prime example of a long-standing tradition in the United States, where it is usually played before national sporting events. Americans believe that the national anthem represents the greatness of America, and some believe that it honors our fallen soldiers and military. It is traditional to stand with our hands on our hearts, facing the flag while the anthem plays. The recent phenomenon of NFL players kneeling at the national anthem is a call to attention for the victims affected by racial inequality and police brutality within our country. Interestingly, NFL players weren’t required to be on the field during the anthem until 2009. Regardless, this show of taking a knee seems to many as a menace to their tradition. Some people were thoroughly opposed to these protests, including our own country’s leader. The president of the United States calling these gestures a “total disrespect of our

Football players in the NFL are kneeling during the playing of the National Anthem to protest racial discrimination and police brutality; this can be stopped by reducing the football player’s pay, make kneeling during the National Anthem illegal, or try to end racial discrimination and police brutality in America. This protest was started by a quarterback from the San Francisco 49ers named Colin Kaepernick who said that he refused to honor a song or “show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” (McLaughlin and Simon) Even though this is a peaceful protest, it is still unjust and very disrespectful. Not only is it disrespectful to the American Flag, it is highly disrespectful to the American troops that fought for this country.

Many National Football League players started kneeling during the National Anthem to protest the injustices against African Americans, police brutality, respect, unity, and equal opportunity. They are protesting with untrue statements, such as police brutality. In 2016, 233 African Americans were shot by police, but the vast majority were armed and dangerous. Only 16 African American male victims of police shootings were unarmed. In 2015, a police officer was 18.5 times more likely to be killed by a black male than an unarmed black male was to be killed by a police officer. Many African American National Football League players believe they are being treated unequally. Kneeling during the National Anthem is disrespectful to the flag, the soldiers, and the people of the United States.

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.

The Star-Spangled Banner was written by Francis Scott Key on the day September 16, 1814 and the poem was set to the tune of "Anacreon in Heaven." The original name of the poem was “The defense of Fort McHenry” and the poem was first published in several Baltimore news papers when it was written.

Another reason that taking a knee during the anthem is okay is because it shocking people to pay attention. There is evidence that people have been aware from this, hearing it from news, articles, newspapers, or the internet. There reactions have been outrage and there has been support. Many have started to burn clothes of the NFL players who knelt while others have made threats. Then there are some who have followed the footsteps of these ones and it has allowed them to use their freedom of speech. This proves that people are noticing and taking action and being well aware of how are world is becoming.

“The Star Spangled Banner” was written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 as he was held prisoner on a British ship. Declared the national anthem in 1931 by Congress, the song holds a special place in most American hearts. Throughout all hardship and war, the national anthem is a constant reminder of the strength of the United States. Every artist who performs “The Star Spangled Banner” does so in a unique way. Professionals are able to power their audiences to feel an emotional connection to the song based on the event.

Kneeling symbolises race, religion, and the Black Lives Matter Movement for some people. Other people think it is very disrespectful to our country and our flag.

The national anthem is just not the time to protest. In the article, “O’re the ramparts we watched as athletes were kneeling” “ the national anthem is a time for patriotism, not politics” (Mathew). The national anthem is a time to thank all the people on the field or court. Everybody

Kneeling for the National Anthem is a sign of extreme disrespect towards our service members, our law enforcement officials, our veterans, the people who fight and commit the ultimate sacrifice in order to preserve our rights and way of life, rather than the Anthem/Flag. 13% of the American population commits 50% of the crime. According to the FBI Bureau of Labor Statistics, 67% of African American males believe that running from the police is the best way to avoid confrontation. Within these 13% of Americans, black males are among the highest populations which have interactions with police which end up becoming violent. This can be referenced in Colin Flaherty’s book, ‘Don’t Make the Black Kids Angry’: The Hoax Of Black Victimization and Those Who Enable It in which Flaherty covers black culture and the violence it insinuates and inspires within young Black Americans.