Persuasive Speech

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

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.

In the passed NFL Football games, the players have been kneeling during the National Anthem. NFL have permitted and will allow the disrespect to the American Flag without penetration. Roger Goodell, or the commissioner of the NFl has stated, “ The NFl has been discussing the problems that the players have presented about our society, and how to better that society.”

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.

As the American people gather around with their families on Sunday night to watch football, some are met with disgust towards those they once idolized because they are kneeling before the anthem and they believe this action to be disrespectful. Others are met with pride and a sense of togetherness watching the people they respect as football players protesting, in their own way, against the injustices happening nationwide. The people whose Sunday night traditions that are changed forever, the ones who are now being forced to pick a side is the

In the United States, there are constant protests occurring throughout towns, cities, and states, over the injustice unfolding across the nation, whether it’s regarding the Black Lives Matter Movement, equality for African Americans, or the ‘Take A Knee’ protest. These individuals protesting refuse to back down from what they believe in, and are fighting for “one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.” One main conflict that is encountered every Thursday, Sunday, and Monday, is the ‘Take A Knee’ protest that involves professional football players taking a knee during the National Anthem. Why are football players taking a knee during a time where all should be standing and respecting the National flag and anthem?

The American flag represents this so-called notion of equality and patriotism, even though it was used alongside with the pledge of allegiance to capitalize on the people’s love of the country. The current controversy is that protest at NFL games is not only disrespectful to the country, but is also a disrespect to our armed forces who fought for our constitutional rights, this paper is simply an observation piece that will discuss the various arguments surrounding the NFL protest and will explore people’s current feelings toward the silent protest.

It’s hard to believe how some people have forgotten all the amazing things the veterans have done for the country. Now instead of showing respect for the flag many NFL players have started to kneel for the flag instead. I understand that you may not believe in this America anymore but at least show the respect for the people who fought for that flag and are still fighting for that flag today. My dad was one of those many people who was willing to fight for this country but they wouldn’t allow him to go because he had health problems and wasn’t in the right condition to fight. I have two other relatives who actually went out and fought for this country and could have died fighting but the NFL players aren’t even acknowledging this.

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.

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.

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During the 2016 preseason of the National Football League (NFL), San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, quietly sat during a rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. It was this day when controversy sparked and gained nationwide attention, and the backfire begins. Kaepernick saw all the terrifying events happening all over the media; he felt “furious, hurt and hopeless” that many unarmed African Americans are being killed by the police. Kaepernick wanted to give attention to what was happening, so he voiced his beliefs by peacefully protesting. NFL players such as Kaepernick should use their celebrity to calmly protest by kneeling during the National Anthem to stand for what is right and fight the injustice in America.

Sexism, racism, discrimination, and inequality are all cultural issues that are being talked about across the world. Everyone has an opinion on at least one of these important concepts. However, there are some people in our community who take their concerns to another level and are highly reactive when they are discussed. In fact, their reactions have been so extreme that they have had a huge impact on our society’s attitudes, values, and beliefs. Neel Kolhatkar, a hilarious Aussie youtuber, has cleverly satirised these reactions in his clip called ‘Equality’.

Set the alarm for 8:37 precisely. That leaves just enough time to throw on some clothes before you run out the door to go to school. If you go to bed right now, you can sleep for four hours and fifteen minutes. Four hours and ten minutes. Four hours and two minutes. Stop looking at the clock before it guilts you into quitting for the night.

I noticed this years ago when I was little, I noticed kids at school treating the dark girl in the corner differently and talking about her behind her back. I noticed my parents holding my hand a little tighter when a black man would walk by. The protestors are marching down the street in support of their loved one, not for attention of skin color. There are three types of people involved in the act, the peaceful, the violent, and the judgmental. I support the protesting. I support the friends and family members for trying to make a difference for the loved one they lost. I encourage them to speak out in a peaceful way. I encourage them, because that’s what I would do.