The Importance Of Protest In The United States

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.

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.

This protest all started when one man said these words.’’ I’m not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that appressed 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.(Calin Kaepernick). This protest is caused uproar among the people and the football players. Here are three simple reasons why it’s wrong, and should be stopped. One reason why is that by refusing to stand for the national anthem shows disrespect for the flag and members of the armed forces. Also some reasons the national anthem is so important is because it pays respect to the people that risk their lives, and to the people that fight for what they think is right. The second reason is not standing for the national anthem is an ineffective and counterproductive way to promote a cause. All this does is cause people to get mad this is not helping any cause what so ever just as just as Clemson university said in a press conference saying ‘’I don’t think it’s good to be a distraction to your team and also he doesn’t think it’s a good thing to use your team as a platform. The third and final reason is refusing to stand for the national anthem angers many and sows division in our country. This is just a waste of time and should be stopped.

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,

A big problem protesters like Colin Kaepernick and others are facing is that since they don’t participate in the National Anthem people think that they don’t like our country and are unpatriotic. For example Donald Trump and his aides took the situation into their own hands when calling out the protesters by saying, “protests are unpatriotic and disrespectful to the flag and those who have fought to protect the United States”(Tatum). After these comments players fire back by saying they’re exercising free speech by not participating in the National Anthem while standing with their hands over their hearts. Protesting is a

Have you ever watched a football game and wondered why some of the athletes were kneeling during the national anthem. Well if you didn't know they are kneeling to protest racism and injustice in this country. They are getting a mix of support and persecution at the same time which shows the country is at a complete divide. In this case persecution is just not the right way handle the situation.This country was set up and built upon a core value such as freedom of speech so why take that away now. Athletes have the same right to freedom of speech as an other normal paid person so they should be able to use it. Athletes should be allowed to peacefully protest the national anthem because the first amendment says so and guarantees free speech to all americans no matter who they are football players included, They have a voice on a national stage a should be able to utilize it, and just because their salary is higher than most people their opinion still.

Banning players from kneeling during the national anthem, and firing those who do, is wrong. The fact that players aren’t allowed to peacefully and silently protest, violates their rights as American citizens. For hundreds of years protests have been used by people from all races and background to bring awareness to issues, whether it’s in support of or against; social injustice, employment issues, environmental issues, you name it, there has been at least 1 protest about it.

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.

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

The NFL should have restrictions on protesting during game time. These players are enrolled by the NFL so the NFL can and should punish these players. They have the right to suspend and fine these players for disrespecting america. They can protest on their own time outside NFL jurisdiction. Trump said some more words on The Washington Post “they are disrespecting our country, our flag, our national anthem.

NFL players should be able to express their feelings, but not in the way where they disrespect the flag and the National Anthem. “While I don’t question someone’s First Amendment right to express their views, I do question the wisdom of the venue these athletes have chosen and more importantly, their target. By protesting the national anthem,

I believe players should not protest during the national anthem because the national anthem gives thanks to those who have risked/lost their lives in war. Also, it shows respect to the country and the sacrifices the soldiers have made to give freedom to the people. Players who want to protest about racial issues or police brutality can protest it in a more respectful way than kneeling during the national anthem. Even though the NFL continues to support its players’ disrespect towards the United States, other sports franchises such as NASCAR refuse to tolerate this behavior and some owners according to Ellen Horrow, a sports editor for USA Today, have said “they would terminate employees who knelt during the anthem.”(Horrow). Overall, I agree with the actions of some NASCAR team owners and believe that NFL protesters should express their beliefs in a more respectful manner and every american should be required to stand and honor the flag during the national

In conclusion, NFL players have a reason for protesting or kneeling during the national anthem. These protests have a meaning to the NFL players, and they are trying to bring attention to these wrong doings that are happening in their everyday life. There were many other reasons of why NFL players are protesting, but these were a couple of significant

Picture this, a NFL player getting on the field and warming-up. Then, as the game gets closer to starting the field clears so they could get the flag on the field to do the national anthem. This is when tragic happens. This is when some NFL players kneel during the national anthem. Many people think that protesting the national anthem by kneeling is a bad thing. However, it’s what the players feel like doing even though it is a little disrespectful. Many players kneeled on one day and that was when president Trump made a comment about football.