The Star-Spangled Banner

The NFL protests started back in 2016 with Colin Kaepernick. He quietly started sitting during the anthem, and eventually kneeling, to protest police brutality. He said that “he would not stand to show pride for a flag that oppresses black people.” Other players soon joined the movement, and fans criticized them because they said that they were disrespecting the United States. The protests really blew up this year after President Donald Trump said that NFL players that are kneeling should be fired

Red: hardiness and valor that this country has maintained. White: representing purity and innocence. Blue: vigilance, perseverance, and justice. 50 bright white stars, representing the 50 states of America, the 13 stripes, representing the 13 colonies that struggled to gain independence from Great Britain. All of these symbols mean something, they are symbols that Americans can take pride in, because every symbol and color on the American flag was earned. The flag represents the millions of soldiers

Should NFL players kneel during the national anthem? The recent controversy over the national anthem began in 2016, when the NFL quarterback Kaepernick sat, and then switched to his knee, knowing the tradition is to stand. This has triggered, and angered numerous of fans, players, politics, and many others around the country. Although some view players should stand during the national anthem, as others are saying they should have the freedom and right to kneel, sit, or stand, it is clear

Living in a country where there is no police brutality, racial injustice, and inequality is what most Americans hope for. Protesting for justice and equality is something athletes have done for decades. Famous athletes such as Muhammad Ali and Jackie Robinson have protested in the past because of injustice. Despite the civil rights movement, people are still being discriminated and judged based on their race. If a NFL player believes the United States is not living up to its ideals of freedom, liberty

It’s two in the morning and your phone starts ringing. The rings seem to get louder and louder with every breath you take. Once your courage has formed and the phone has been answered, your heart suddenly stops. The news of your loved one’s death is almost too unbearable; breathing seems unnecessary now. Sadly, this is the type of horrific news that many families must hear when their loved one sacrifices their life for their country. Recently, there has been much controversy regarding national anthem

The flag and the national anthem represent boundless different ideals within the American people. What I can imagine it means for many Americans however, I don’t approve of whatsoever. Sports players using their public platform to initiate change, should not have to worry about the possibility of being fired when “taking a knee” during the national anthem. I’ll argue passionately that these players are being great Americans by honoring the flag and what it stands for more than anyone else, as they

Another event that eroded support in the war and US Government occured during a protest at Kent State University. During a protest on May 4, 1970, twenty-nine National Guardsmen gathered at the university to oversee a Vietnam War protest. In the midst of the protest, the National Guardsmen fired into the crowd of protesters killing four people in the process (Gordon Page 35). This event sparked an enormous uprising from the public and “the event triggered a nationwide student strike that forced

One of the most pivotal and revolutionary literary works in the American classroom has stemmed from the 20th century and continues to influence the youth in modern times—Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. Though the infamous novel exemplifies within it themes of race relations and justice, the overall elements that depict Southern society during this era are core factors in labeling this novel as “controversial.” Controversial enough that in his article, “If To Kill a Mockingbird’ makes you squirm

Football; America’s sport, the game that gathers everyone around the TV during Thanksgiving. This game that consists of 22 players on the field, trying to score touchdowns, has caused citizens across the nation to be distraught by the actions some of the players have taken during the National Anthem. The National Anthem is thought to be a time where citizens can unite and take pride in being a part of the United States and all it stands for but as of late it has changed to a time where players feel

The average American teen is somewhat disrespectful to their parents on a daily basis. Whether it be to their faces or behind their back, we all do it. On Independence Day, people are disrespectful to the American flag. This is according to the flag code which states that nothing should have the American flag imprinted on it. This includes t-shirts, plates, napkins, and the list continues. Americans, in general, are disrespectful on a daily basis. It is part of our nature, but how can we criticize