The Importance Of Disrespect To The Flag

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.

First off, kneeling during the National Anthem is unpatriotic. This is the greatest country in the world. It gives everyone who comes here an opportunity in life, and the right to pursue a life of happiness. It is crazy to think Americas finest football players will still disrespect our Anthem. This problem has gotten so big that even our president has had strong words concerning the issue. President Trump has taken to twitter multiple times saying how unpatriotic it is. Also, how it should be illegal and players who are choosing to kneel should leave the NFL. With that being said, there are still NFL players who stand in support of the Anthem. Some coaches do not allow players to stand alone, like Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Instead these players they hide in the locker room during the Anthem. In my opinion,

As I am one of the many people offended by these players actions, it seems the people most offended are the ones serving or that have served our country. A letter was sent to the commissioner of the NFL, “They are essentially spitting in the faces and on the graves of real men, men who have actually done something for

This act of kneeling down should be considered as an act of patriotic criticism, rather than a betrayal of the nation. After all, patriotism does not mean that we should love and support everything that the government conducts, but rather we should criticize for the greater good of the government, so that it could improve. Government could only improve, if they can hear the voice from the people. Only after accepting the criticism can one improve. Therefore, the focus of such protest in the NFL should be why they protested, instead of the act of protesting. After all,

Many players and their coaches have been protesting police brutality by ‘taking-a-knee’ during the Pledge of Allegiance. The media has been sharing and it has now become a bigger deal since the president has addressed it by saying "Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a b---h off the field right now. Out. He's fired. He's fired!" This riled up many Trump supports, secially when later on he tweeted that it had nothing to do with race and that it was about respecting the country. This leads many people to believe that the NFL players are just disrespecting their country. The stereotype about African Americans, that they are often disrespectful, is also being used to ‘justify’ what a lot of the media has to say. But, the real reason many NFL players are protesting is because they think that they shouldn't have to stand if they don't have pride for their country, and they have the right to do so, according to their first amendment. They don't lose the right to protest when they go on the field like some of the media thinks so. Many people, often white believe they live in a just- world because they have never had to deal with the racism many African Americans are dealing with so they do not think it is a big deal and that they are protesting to be disrespectful. The illusory correlation can also

Sports, particularly football, has became a political debate in September. The author of the article, CNN Sophie Tatum, called “Athletes, activists spar on kneeling National Anthem protests”. She explained that President Donald Trump began to criticize players on his twitter account who would kneel during the national anthem to protest against police brutality. Sophie Tatum writes that Trump and his aides are arguing that the protests are unpatriotic and disrespectful to the flag. Trump also adds that it is disrespectful to the people who fought to protect our country. Although players argue that they are just exercising free speech. In the beginning of the article Sophie Tatum adds an interview, Spike Lee, who is speaking out for the players who take a knee. He defends the players that they are simply protesting against law enforcement and want to be heard on the issues at hand. Reading the title of the article before I read the rest and

Not standing up for the flag is disrespectful towards our amazing country in general. All rules aside, sitting during the Anthem is your choice. If you decide to kneel during the Anthem do you really love this country? Maybe these selfish players should go try to make millions of dollars in another country and get out of our beloved America. Our country has given them literally everything they’ll ever need yet they still want to disrespect her. These players are blaming the protest on several different things, and being oppressed is one of them. If you’ve ever watched the news or done any research, you’ll realize that there is not one person in this country oppressed by the government. Our government pays millions of dollars a year to the U.S. Military special forces to help other countries that are oppressed. Go talk to one of those guys, and they’ll tell you what a oppressed country looks like. We live in the best country in the world, hands down. Quit being spoiled, selfish, little rich boys and realize that while you’re here on this earth this is the best you can ask for.

It should be considered safer to allow a few protestors to burn or disrespect the flag, than to allow the government to repress our birth rights by banning desecration of the flag. Deemed offensive by many citizens, and a form of symbolic speech by others, the constitutionality of flag desecration has been in question since the late 1800s. Desecration of the United States flag is constitutional, as a form of symbolic speech and protected under the First Amendment, even though many citizens do find it offensive.

“An athlete silently protests during the national anthem. People respond with taunts of "traitor," "you're a disgrace" and "leave our country!" Are these angry tweets aimed at National Football League players kneeling during the national anthem?”said by writers Lonnie Bunch and David Skorton.Due to half of the 49ers team kneeling during the National Anthem 49ers fans are burning their jerseys due to the refusal of the players to stand during the National Anthem.Many fans are outraged and boycotting National football because of the fact that football players are disrespecting the flag by kneeling during the National Anthem.The reason players should stand for the National Anthem is because the United States Flag stands for the individuality and

It’s been hard to ignore the mixing of sports and politics lately. Some football players have been kneeling during the National Anthem instead of showing respect for the men and women in our armed forces. Although they’re trying to send a message to people all over the country, I think they are going about it all the wrong way. Football players should stand for the National Anthem no matter what.

On August 22nd, 1984 Gregory Lee Johnson was arrested on the grounds of desecrating the American flag in downtown Dallas, Texas. His trial was held roughly three months later, where Johnson was then convicted of the crime, sentenced to one year in prison, and forced to pay a fine (Goldstein 37). After a series of appeal attempts, the decision of Johnson’s case was finally reviewed by the Texas Court of Appeals in 1988 and was then overturned. The court of appeals said that Johnson’s actions were protected by his 1st amendment right to freedom of speech. Texas then took that ruling to the Supreme Court where they ruled again in Johnson’s favor saying that Texas’ law against flag desecration was unconstitutional and violated first amendment rights.

It would be unconstitutional for the NFL to ban players from taking a knee. Under the first amendment we are guaranteed freedom of speech, expression, assembly etc. The men and women who have fought for our country and those who currently are serving, fight everyday to protect those rights. Furthermore, an individual is not obligated to stand for the pledge of allegiance and/or national anthem. Taking a knee during the anthem may be considered disrespectful to some individuals but the stance is a harmless one. On the other hand, burning the American flag has been done several times in the past and presently. As much as some of us find burning the flag a wrongful act, it is not illegal. Regardless if you're for or against each scenario, it is

This is not a solid argument because the National Anthem is played in honor of our nation and the freedom of a diplomatic government; a player feels that his government is not holding up to its purpose then he has the right to not stand and honor it. It seems that the news only reports the problem of the racial discrimination and police brutality with no solution to fix these issues. Consequently, the players are using the same news to air their protest in which sheds light on thousands or millions of viewers about the problems in America for quite some time. Even Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints disagrees with the delivery of the message by stating, “It’s an oxymoron that you’re sitting down, disrespecting the flag that has given you the freedom to speak out” (Refusing 3). However, Drew Brees supports Kaepernick’s statement that he was protesting against the racial injustice. As stated by Colin Kaepernick, “I’m not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color… To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way” (Refusing 2). This is a great point that the flag provides them freedom, but what is the point of having the ability to protest if they do not use it.

NFL players were fired up before Sunday's games after President Donald Trump dug into them for disrespecting the country by taking a knee during the national anthem, with some going beyond kneeling by not even walking on the field.

A meeting of this issue has taken place there was 11 NFL officials and 13 NFL player that have protested against the flag. At the meeting the representatives did not encourage not to kneel but spoke about ways to help their protests.