Holly Pryle Emily Chappell English 121 22 March 2018 Kneeling for the Anthem Every American child is raised with the knowledge that they were born in a country that by law gives them freedom of self-expression and the right to protest. However, this right does not mean that people must agree with you and in many cases, groups wind up at odds over differing opinions. Over the past few years America has seen many examples of this, most notably football players protesting injustice by kneeling during the anthem.
Respect our flag and our country!” The President is shocked when he witnesses people contempt those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom in this country and is not afraid to denounce it. The athletes are protesting their very own right to protest at all.
A controversial topic currently circulating throughout the media and society, is professional athletes kneeling during the National Anthem. In my opinion, this is a completely useless, unnecessary action done just for attention. The theory behind the action is supposed to represent unity. Unity is not achieved by causing controversy, but it’s achieved by coming together and supporting each other when times get tough.
They also say that it angers many people and shows division in our country. The kneeling for the national anthem has brought many controversy. Many say that the action has nothing to do with the military or ones in service, but with the inequality and revocation of our rights. “I’m not going to stand up to show pride in
“I’m not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people,” stated former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Are NFL players such as Colin Kaepernick rudely disrespecting the country they live in by kneeling during the national anthem or are they simply protesting injustices? Some people firmly believe kneeling and protesting during the national anthem is the players right, while others insist that it is disrespectful to America. NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s actions of kneeling during the national anthem to protest social injustice have resulted in a intense chain of events. Hundreds of sports players are kneeling along with Kaepernick.
The article, The Perilous Fight, by Sean Gregory, discusses the recent protests that have been occurring at sporting events. The article focuses on Colin Kaepernick’s decision to sit when the national anthem was being played at the football games and how this act of protest has begun to spread throughout the entire country. This form of protest is no longer just in NFL games, but also in college football, volleyball games, high school football, and children’s leagues. Many responses were very critical calling the protesters disrespectful and unpatriotic towards the military for kneeling during the national anthem. Despite all the harsh critiques, I fully support and agree with the protestors for trying to raise awareness for the many injustices
Over the course of the past few weeks, multiple NFL players and teams have been kneeling, sitting, or raising their fists during “The Star Spangled Banner”. The players that have been participating in this state that it’s a movement to protest the racial injustice in America. In response to this movement, many people have stated that it is disrespectful towards the American Flag and the troops that are currently fighting and have fought in the past. Also, Donald Trump has stated that it is important for players to stand during the anthem, even going as far to say that those who do not stand should be fired. However, teams, like the Saints, have decided to kneel prior to national anthem and stand during the anthem.
I believe that the owners of professional sports teams should not require their players to stand for the National Anthem, but rather that NFL players should be allowed to take a knee or unite arms because this medium of protest is safer than others. These protests are bound to happen either way because of the social forum integrated into the U.S. that encourages the diffusion of these certain mindsets. Recently, there was a protest in Saint Louis regarding the acquittal of Jason Stockley who shot unarmed Anthony Lamar Smith. In the protest, objects, including bricks and broken clay pots, were thrown and resulted in the injury of police officers. Both of these protests plead the same argument, yet the way they are protested lead to totally different
Athletes and other individuals should be able to kneel for the national anthem to bring attention to the social injustice that exists in our country today. There is a clear problem that exists in many parts of the United States of America, and many are uncomfortable talking about it. African Americans and other minorities have been unfairly targeted and discriminated against throughout this country’s history, and this difficulty can still be found in the present. One way athletes and others have been protesting police brutality that has erupted a nationwide controversy is kneeling while the national anthem is being played. Kneeling during the national anthem is a peaceful form of protest that is effective as it brings attention to the problem.
In the far future, Samson came to the San Diego Wild Animal Park from the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. One of the elephants that were born here was Phakamile. She became Samson’s mate. Soon, she became pregnant. San Diego Wild Animal Park was overjoyed of the new calf that was to be born. Samson and Phakamile were very happy. They couldn’t wait to meet their new calf. The first nineteen months of Phakamile’s pregnancy were normal and she was healthy. It wasn’t until her twentieth month that her health began to deteriorate. Phakamile was deathly ill. Emanti was very worried for his sister. She had a terrible disease called anthrax. She was going to die, and so was her calf.
Last year, Colin Kaepernick, an American football player did not stand up for the flag of America in the beginning of a game. "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," he protested. In The Misfits, a book we’re reading currently in English class, a character named Addie had a similar protest with Colin Kaepernick, where she decided to not stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. I support Colin and Addie’s protest, because the police shootings are becoming a huge problem each year, and many different people are gradually supporting Colin. I support Colin Kaepernick because the police shootings are getting worse each year.
Fans and other athletes have also joined as one, to protest with Kaepernick. One of the many athletes, was soccer player Megan Rapinoe. She has also taken a knee during the National Anthem. Kaepernick isn’t the first athlete to protest racial injustice. In 1968 olympic runners Tommie Smith and John Carlos, held up the “ Black Fist of Power ”.
For example Colin Kaepernick is a NFL player who didn 't stand up during the national Anthem." Kaepernick said he decided not to stand as a sign of protest. He feels that African-Americans are kept down or underrated, by the American government. people who support keapernick 's right to protest. He said his quarterback 's decision was "His right as a citizen."
Recently, NFL players have been taking a knee for the National Anthem, or staying in the locker room during the National Anthem. President Trump thinks that they are disrespecting our veterans who have fought for our flag and it “has nothing to do with race.” But according to the NFL players who are actually taking a knee, President Trump is wrong. The kneeling has a lot to do with race. Reporters asked Colin Kaepernick why he was kneeling, because he was the one who started this whole protest, or revolution against singing the Anthem at the games.
This paper will attempt to demonstrate the positive aspects of Colin Kaepernick’s protest during the national anthem. I understand that this is a controversial topic, and many people do not condone Kaepernick’s behavior. However, this paper will provide research as to how Colin Kaepernick’s behavior has brought positive changes throughout society. Colin Kaepernick, now a free agent, was a former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. In the 2016 NFL season, Kaepernick made a political statement by taking a knee during the national anthem.