The Pros And Cons Of NFL Protests

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.

“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

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,

Situations such as the Michael Brown one, Freddie gray one and Tamir rice are all reasons NFL players such as Colin Kaepernick have been kneeling. The Alton Sterling incident is on camera which is heartbreaking to even think about. Police kill black African-Americans and then try to stand behind self-defense and the law. That isn`t right that families especially moms have to bury their son and live with not never ever seeing their son again. A lot of people say it`s disrespecting the flag which is wrong. African- Americans go through things other races could never. I am in pro of players kneeling because of the injustice inequality and the lack of respect we simply just don`t get. Kneeling brought attention to all of the issues that America is going through also. Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks didn`t do things like they did for the world to be at the place it is now. One of the first amendments is freedom of speech and to peacefully assemble. People like white

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.

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.

The past few weeks the NFL and the flag have not stood together very well. Should the players, that are paid millions, be able to kneel during the anthem? Is Uncle Sam alright with this matter? The players think they’re solving a problem, but in reality they are causing more problems and dividing this Nation. I agree with 75 percent of America on this one, and think that NFL players should not be allowed to kneel during the National Anthem.

Have you seen NFL players kneeling during the National Anthem? Well I have. And it’s not very cool. NFL players shouldn’t protestrest by kneeling during the National Anthem. Because they’re disrespecting our country, the players kneeling is causing viewers to boycott the NFL, and the players are a distraction to the other players.

Kneeling for the national anthem is a legal form of protesting, which is a First Amendment right. Our forty-fourth president, Barack Obama stated that “Colin Kaepernick was exercising his constitutional right to make a statement. I think there’s a long history of sports figures doing so.” The First Amendment right helps the national anthem protest because it supports players to exercise their constitutional right. Not only NFL players kneel in protest, but people outside of football or any sports still kneel in protest. They are not on football fields or kneeling during the anthem. For example, Stevie Wonders has kneeled on his own time, on a stage and not during the anthem.

American’s should be for NFL Players Having Every Right To Kneel For The National Anthem because the first amendment is freedom of speech & anyone can exercise their right to do so without hurting anyone. The flag represents symbol of freedom, liberty and human rights. Wanting players to stand for the anthem just takes away their right and defeats

Many National Football League players started kneeling during the National Anthem to protest the injustices against African Americans, police brutality, respect, unity, and equal opportunity. They are protesting with untrue statements, such as police brutality. In 2016, 233 African Americans were shot by police, but the vast majority were armed and dangerous. Only 16 African American male victims of police shootings were unarmed. In 2015, a police officer was 18.5 times more likely to be killed by a black male than an unarmed black male was to be killed by a police officer. Many African American National Football League players believe they are being treated unequally. Kneeling during the National Anthem is disrespectful to the flag, the soldiers, and the people of the United States.

This being done mainly by football athletes, who are meaning to take a stand against, ‘’ police treatment of minorities.’’ (Stapleton) This, although, may be a noble cause, but is taken into action at an inappropriate time. The national anthem is sang for a multitude of reasons, and one being to show the strength and unity of our nation. Kneeling, on the other hand, goes against both of these ideas, and disrespects those who have fought for us. Kneeling shows a lack of care for the country that has bothered enough to fight a war amongst itself for the equality of those who