The Importance Of Personal Freedoms

“O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?” John Stafford Smith said in 1814. This has become America’s top way to show respect to the country. Can you imagine people being disrespectful during this important moment? Well, whether you believe it or not, the very act has been happening over and over on America’s top sporting fields. Players playing in the NFL have been kneeling during the national anthem, creating riots in the crowds. Many, many people died for America’s song, but yet people keep on kneeling no matter what people say, even the President! So, how bad is the kneeling issue? Well, we have to look at why they are doing this disrespectful act in front of thousands of people. And don’t worry, if you don’t have a side on this issue, this essay will help you make a decision. By listening to what fans, players, and NFL management are saying, we can finally take a side on this important issue.

One might ask the importance of civil liberties after so many years. The answer is that we are all touched by these liberties every day. Even though civil liberties were embedded into the Bill of Rights in the late 1800’s, we today, as Americans, still have the right to be protected against any abusive power used by the government (Bianco & Canon, 2015, p. 106). Although Americans are protected fully today, it took over a century for all civil liberties to be implemented. With several civil liberties in place, which is most important? Which liberty protects us as Americans, most significantly? I believe all of our civil liberties are equally as beneficial and lead to the safety of every citizen in the United

In the news the NFL, Donald Trump, and the veterans are at crossroads with the American anthem and what it stands for. The NFL players decide to take a knee during the National Anthem which caused a big uproar across the United States. Our president has spoken out about the issue and made a harsh opinion on what the coaches should do with the players. Others such as, the police or men and women who were overseas protecting the United States find it disrespectful that NFL players taking a knee. Within the amendments, the first amendment is being used by the NFL players. The NFL players are using their rights to speak out against the National Anthem,

If society was to take a look back time in the history of the United States, during World War II, it was stated, “The Supreme Court struck down such a demand for a flag salute during the Pledge of Allegiance” in which the supreme court reason was “the ruling gave strength to individual freedom of mind in preference to officially disciplined uniformity for which history indicates a disappointing and disastrous end” (Sachs and Zatz 1-2). By Supreme Court ruling this way, it gave the people the right to be individuals and be able to have the freedom of speech or to protest against the ways that society is doing wrong by its people. As stated in the First Amendment of the Constitution, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievance” (First 1). So, as citizens of the United States, the sports players have rights to protest and exercising their freedom of

Whether you are an avid pro football fan or a casual weekend watcher by now we have all heard about the NFL’s protesting players. These high profile football players are generating media attention by kneeling during the National Anthem to protest police brutality. As Americans, we all benefit from the freedom to exercise our Constitutional rights, which are ensured and protected by our military’s service men and women. This single act of both defiance and solidarity has had a negative and a positive ripple effect on our nation.

The power or right to act, speak or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. A word created by man to escape the bonds of tyranny to express the idea of what it means to persist one's own ambitions. Freedom. Freedom is not the absence of confinement but the will to achieve freedom when imprisoned. After carefully concluding the reading done over this semester one is able to clearly understand the confinement these early Americans felt and their decision to achieve a form of freedom. Freedom has always existed but it is the history of this nation that will define what actions freedom takes.

The first amendment explains the american’s personal freedoms. Among them are freedom of speech, of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble. Because of these rights, the football players should be able to protest by kneeling. On one of the lines of The National Anthem, it says“O’er the land of free”, which clearly states as Americans can do whatever they wish. Without the action of hurting or putting someone life in danger.

Therefore, Americans recount to this in a very personal matter. When the players of the NFL kneel during the anthem, not only do they feel disrespected, but they feel their loved ones that they have lost are being disrespected. With this being such a personal issue for many American citizens, it is a very essential subject to be addressed. Therefore, the NFL should be preventing the players kneeling, and not just encumbrancing it. The NFL is not addressing the issue the way it should be. This has angered the hearts of many Americans back home who watch the disrespect on National

Recently, the National Football League has been under fire for its players kneeling through the national anthem. The league has received complaints, accusations and insults from fans, news and sports broadcasts, and our president himself. As a response to the negative attention, Eric Reid wrote an article where he explained that he went directly to a U.S Army Special forces veteran, Nate Boyer, and asked advice on the most respectful way to protest police brutality. They came to the conclusion that kneeling was a more respectful and peaceful form of protest. The NFL player’s “Take a Knee” protest is being misinterpreted as disrespect of the flag, the soldiers, and the anthem.

Due to racial injustices and a great loss of African American lives at the hands of police officers, various athletes have decided to peacefully protest by kneeling during the National Anthem before sporting events. However, some commentators have argued that this method of protest is offensive or disrespectful, and very unpatriotic. This form of protest has been a popular topic of conversation and nearly splits the country into two...for, and against. However, every U.S. citizen is granted a right to the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution, which includes freedom of speech and protest.

The controversial issue of protesting the National Anthem has plagued the United States since the year of 2016. Disputes have occurred over whether or not the athletes should be able to display their opinion to the public even if the demonstration offends our armed forces. Many say the protests are useless because the kneeling is diverting the public eye from the original issue; the “anti-protest” collection also agrees that the kneeling is not unconstitutional, and it should be restricted by the owners of the teams. Though all of the arguments can be assumed to be correct, one might could argue that these athletes were given this high platform so that they could be allowed to use their freedom of speech to express their views about inequality, injustice, police brutality, etc. and to show equality through the unification of their teams.

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?

How do you feel about our freedoms as Americans? I believe that our freedom is constantly being taken away little at a time. I feel this way because in the U.S. today so many actions occur that just keep wearing away at our freedoms.

Freedom is the singular concept that the United States has embraced as a nation since July 4, 1776. The United States would not have the freedom that its citizens have today without the sacrifice of the thousands of lives that have died, and the sacrifice of the millions that fight every single day to keep our country safe and independent. A military force, backed by over 1.4 million people, is defending a nation, in which over 310 million people reside.

In the United States we follow the rules of what is called the “Constitution”. The constitution protects the rights of citizens living in the U.S. Does it really protect ALL rights? No, sadly it does not. The Constitution was created on September 17, 1787, by white men to benefit white men. Our current political climate in the United States infringes civil liberties and takes us back to the 1940s.