It’s been nearly forty-six years since the entertainer Jimi Hendrix rocked the nation with his Woodstock performance of The Star-Spangled Banner, a performance that served has both a political muse and thoughtful engagement with current events. Many at the time and even to this day still question the true meaning of the rendition, but the one constant on either side of the debate is that his version was powerful and sparked a nationwide conversation. Throughout the years few have replicated that level of response in relation to the national anthem, it wasn’t until August of 2016 at a National Football League (NFL) preseason game that quarterback Colin Kaepernick decided to take a seat during the national anthem and would soon spark an ongoing outcry from the public across the nation. The movement was based on fighting racial discrimination and brutality from various police departments across the country, it was about sticking to moral principles that should be shared by all in this country. Many believed his stance was completely unacceptable and anti-American while others stated it was the perfect catalyst to come together in favor of the protest and show their support for freedom of speech and the principles they’re based on.
While history has shown various ways in which the national anthem has been played and been delivered, never has someone not performing the anthem taken a stance such as this. Colin continued his kneeling gesture during that entire preseason, and
Argumentative Essay Josh Hitchcock English 6 Mrs. Tubergan and Mrs. Rhodes 18 December 2017 “ If they kneel they’re fired” says President Trump on NFL players kneeling during the National Anthem. Lately NFL players have been protesting a protest called “ black lives matter “ ( another recent protest ). They’ve done so by kneeling during the National Anthem for justice. All NFL players should stand for the National Anthem no matter what is going on in the world. We are all U.S. citizens and we must show appreciation for this country and other people have very strong feelings in both directions on this.
It is part of the human condition to have a tendency of going through drastic measures to obtain an ideology that has been accepted as a “natural fact.” Through Anthem, Ayn Rand warned of the dangers of blindly and unquestionably following an ideology; the dangers to society that loyalty to a belief system pose are strict limitations on personal comforts, lack of individualism, and the formation of an irrational government.
In this week’s article “The Anthem”, The author, Joe Ponanski, goes deeply into the background of the national anthem to show the importance of the Star Spangled Banner as it unites us as a country. The actions of athletes as they play the anthem have meaning. Inappropriate actions during the anthem can convey a kind of disrespectful demeanor toward the country and our troops, whether this is the intent of the athletes action or not. Colin Kaepernick was making a personal proclamation. He was drawing attention to a very serious predicament, racial discrimination in the US. After the game he 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,". Those who don’t agree with
This week’s article, “In the ‘land of the free,’ are you free to sit out the national anthem?” by Jaweed Kaleem, discussed the controversy of quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s choice to sit during the national anthem. Not only did the football star “remain seated while teammates stood with hands over their hearts,” but he also “kneeled when the patriotic music started” during Salute to the Military night at a preseason game. Kaepernick's reasoning behind his actions were that he wants to speak up for “those who don't have a voice,” like the black men who were shot by police. His protest has stirred up controversy across the nation. Many people are against Kaepernick’s actions. Politician Donald Trump felt his actions were out of line and
Colin Kaepernick, a San Francisco 49er quarterback but also a daring black man that has decided to speak for the voices that can’t, has made his voice heard by kneeling during America’s beloved ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’. Jaweed Kaleem writes in the article “In the ‘land of the free,’ are you free to sit out the national anthem?” about the controversial topic in which he showcases the two sides of how it deems to be disrespectful to sit out the national anthem vs how Kaepernick has the freedom of expression to sit out what he believes does not benefit him.
The quote, “The secrets of the earth are not for all men to see, but for those who will seek them.” means that you cannot see what you do not look for. The secrets of this earth does not come to our hands whenever we want it. We must seek for the secrets of the earth ourselves. Only the people who work to find the secrets will have a chance to acquire it.
The National Anthem is our country’s theme song and it is very highly respected throughout our great country. The Anthem talks about freedom, liberty, and justice for all and about how there are great men and women who risk their lives every day so our country can be free. So, when the Anthem is played at professional football games everyone stands and holds their hand over their heart and respects our flag and our Anthem because that is the least we can do to help support and show our respects to our soldiers and our great country. As many people can see, a lot of things are changing, and these changes started when Colin Kaepernick (Former Quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, now a free agent) decided to take a knee instead of standing during the National Anthem in the 2016-17 season. Colin says he did this not to disrespect the soldiers and war veterans but, to bring awareness of the issues going on in our country. Colin said that he felt that our country is not free and justice is not done fairly. He believes there is too much Police brutality “there are people being murdered unjustly and not being held accountable”-Kaepernick. Also, he believes African Americans are treated and looked at differently and it has been that way in the past and it still hasn’t changed. Once Colin kneeled and said all the things he needed to get off his chest the world shook. African American people and professional athletes all over the world agreed with what he did. I’m not saying white people didn’t agree, but it was more African Americans that felt the same way Colin did and
“Taking a knee during the National Anthem these days screams disrespect for our flag, our country, our troops” is what a fan posted as Colin Kaepernick kneeled during the National Anthem. On Aug 26, 2016 Colin Kaepernick protested by not standing in the National Anthem this is important because people have been arguing if it is a way to show silent protest. First of all,not standing for the National Anthem is a an appropriate form of silent protest because it is a First Amendment right. According to [Doc A] “President Obama said Kaepernick was exercising his constitutional right to make a statement.
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
The Anthem Protests, and Some Football Game We face a situation in the sports world, specifically the NFL, where the games themselves are no longer the most important events happening. No longer are the touchdowns the headline grabbers this season; the controversy surrounding the national anthem has swept the nation and left it divided. The problem has become so out of control that the President of the United States of America has even left his thoughts on the topic. The NFL must fix the problem on their hands. The league is headed towards a civil war as well as total division.
Citizens of Anthem, you have been living in a bland society for too long. I have been reading about your society while living in an individualistic society. I your leaders have been fooling you all these years. You are not all equal like your leaders make you believe.
As one reads Ayn Rand’s significant quotes from the story of anthem, there is always a main theme that is trying to escape, just as Prometheus escaped in her story. All three of the listed quotes work as a trio to sing that We; as society, works to defeat individuality. The quotes emphasize that we cannot survive without individualism and being alone brings out our unique personalities. It is true that all the quotes work as one, but at the same time they have their own individualism. Each quote holds a purpose of its own and the author wants to express the quote to each persons understanding.
In a country like the United States, a person is surrounded by choices. Choices he or she can make themselves. They can choose what to say, what to wear, and who to love. In a world like Anthem all of your choice and freedom is taken away. Everything you wish to do, you may not be able to. You never know who your parents are or who your real family is. You are born thinking government control is the best policy and best way. You can get killed and punished for something you think is right. You are raised thinking what is bad is the correct way. A world like Anthem, is a world many hope never actually becomes a reality.
For many years, putting the American flag on bathing suits, bandannas, covers, phone cases, and sometimes on shirts with inappropriate designs are not represented as disrespecting the flag, but taking a simple knee is. John Stafford Smith wrote the national anthem at the end of the national anthem and throughout the web say’s that a person must be quit and stand with their right hand across their chest. In the NFL rule book does not state nothing about the national anthem( Fitzapatrick). Kneeling during the national anthem has created a big dispute between fans, reporters, and even the President of the United States. Should a man be penalizing for peacefully protesting what people thinks disrespect the veterans.
As a daily routine many schools have their students start by standing up, facing the American flag, and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. This is something that most students have memorized since kindergarten and in some cases even preschool. The students recite the pledge every morning and most of them don’t know what it means or aren’t really sure why they have to say it. If students don’t know what the purpose or the history behind something is, they generally don’t take the matter seriously, which with The Pledge being a serious matter, students need to know the history in order to show respect. The Pledge of Allegiance should be said every morning by students at schools in the USA and they should be aware of its meaning.