Stand For The National Anthem

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.

“Taking a knee during the National Anthem these days screams disrespect for our flag,our country and troops.” People are seeing the message that the players are trying to send as disrespectful for our country and troops.”My son and the entire armed forces deserve better than that.” In response,people who are against the kneeling for the National Anthem are going to try to protest in a peaceful manner by not watching the NFL games and not going to the games.The big issue is that the National Anthem has nothing to do with the inequality in our country nor is it raced based.The National Anthem stands for more than what some people are making it out to be. The players are unaware of the true meaning of the National Anthem.

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

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

Americans have been standing for the National Anthem since 1891. This tradition started in the military, before The Star Spangled Banner became the National Anthem. Players in the NFL weren’t always required to stand on the sideline for the Anthem; it became a regular occurrence for players and teams to stand in 2009. Recently, many teams and players in the NFL have disrespected the flag and the unity within the country that is portrayed in the song. They do this by kneeling, sitting, and not coming out of the locker room during the playing of the National Anthem. All American citizens should always stand for the National Anthem, in respect for the flag and for the men and women who fought for the freedom we have.

Is kneeling during the National Anthem disrespectful to America. People have been asking this question for a year and a half right now. The National Anthem is a moment of time where we all become one, looking at the possibilities of the future. We honor the many people who served and who are serving in the armed forces and the public forces with great respect. They are the light of which blocks out the darkness, so it won't affect the United States of America. The United States of America is a beautiful place with many cultures and beliefs. We learn from each other new things that we can use to benefit our life's. The many instances of kneeling in the NFL have brought a large consequence to the financial side of the NFL and other associated businesses. In the NFL, viewership has dropped over 10 percent in the 2017 season so far. The NFL is a 13-billion-dollar business. The effects of the protest have led to almost a 2-billion-dollar loss in revenue. Kneeling in the NFL has created controversy and arguments that we cannot ignore forever.

July 4, 1776 was the day America became its own country. 231,000 Americans fought for America’s independence in the American Revolution. The National Anthem was written in 1814, after the soldiers kept the flag standing during the bombs being dropped in the War of 1812. Every war or battle in American history has been for America’s freedom. Many people think that wearing hats during the National Anthem is rude and disrespectful to the soldiers who have fought or died for America’s freedom, but what about kneeling? Kneeling during the National Anthem is rude and disrespectful to the soldiers that have fought for America. The NFL players began kneeling last year during the National Anthem as a protest to police brutality against different races. President Trump spoke out against the kneeling and was accused of suppressing the NFL players natural right. President Trump is not suppressing the NFL players rights because no one has been fired and he has just as much a freedom of speech as any other man in the United States.

Guns firing, soldiers yelling, we battle fiercely at Fort McHenry. Day breaks, and stars and stripes wave in the air. The American Flag stands for freedom, hope, equality, opportunity, and democracy. The flag represents the American Dream. We may not always realize it, but our flag also represents hope for a brighter and better tomorrow. Standing for the Pledge of Allegiance, my classmates and I don’t always think about what we’re saying or what we’re doing. Sometimes we just don’t recognize what the flag, the pledge, or even America means to people. The thing is, I feel so fortunate to live in a country like the United States; I just don’t know how fortunate I am sometimes. Some people, people who are not as fortunate as I am, dream of coming

Over the last few years police brutality and social injustice have been very prevalent in the media. In 2016, a protest for social injustice and police brutality directed towards African Americans was started by NFL player Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick began to kneel during the national anthem to bring attention to social issues. Since then Kaepernick has received praise from the black community and even more backlash, including from the president. Other NFL players began to support Kaepernick and kneel along with him. Kaepernick was later fired for his actions. I am going to discuss whether or not NFL players should be allowed to kneel during the national anthem while they are playing.

All that kneeling for the anthem does is create a platform which divides fans of players like Colin Kaepernick. Even the police officers refuse to protect and boycott the protests surrounding Kaepernick and all that has done is support the separation of government and people in addition to no good coming from

Why should we stand for the national anthem? Americans should stand for the U.S flag and the national anthem to take a few minutes to remember how it all began, as I mentioned earlier in this essay. We stand, not simply to appease ourselves or make political statements but to honor those ultimately and selflessly sacrifice their life for our freedom. When you fail to stand for the flag and the national anthem you dishonor those who did everything they could to make American a better place for all. Those who fought for civil rights, those who volunteer their own time to help others, those who stood up for those not strong enough to do so. While I am pointing out its more than just the military you should stand for you should stand for all Americans

NFL players kneeling is a very confrontational subject involving veterans and our national flag. Many think when a player kneels it is showing disrespect for our country and to all the men and women who have served, risking there lives for our safety and security. Some believe they kneel in protest for how some ethnicities are being treated and there rights. Lastly some do it in protest of our president thinking it will some how affect the past election in hopes to get him out of the White House. My personal opinion on this subject is that I believe they should stand for the national anthem because without this country they wouldn’t have the same great life they are living right now. Technically we all have free speech and are allowed to protest

2,266,883 Americans are currently in the United States armed forces and they are risking their lives every day for the safety of our great country. They risk their lives every single day so we can be free and feel safe. The American Flag and National Anthem serves as a symbol for our troops and their sacrifice and the least we can do to thank them, is to respect the flag and stand for the National Anthem. Recently, athletes have been protesting and kneeling during the National Anthem and even turning away from the flag. People who kneel for the National Anthem are disrespecting not only our troops, but our country.

The National Anthem of the United States has always been respected by the American people. Standing during the National Anthem is done to show respect to the United States and to the servicemen and women who have fought for the people's freedom. There is controversy today in the National Football League with players kneeling during the National Anthem in protest. It is disrespectful to kneel for the National Anthem because it honors our soldiers, discriminates our society with racism, and makes our society look bad.