The flag represents freedom and justice and those who are being oppressed feel as though these certain rights are being taken away and that is why it is okay for someone to kneel during the National Anthem. While many people believe that kneeling during the National Anthem is wrong and is disrespectful to the country’s ideals, what many Americans do not realize is that if they look past their beliefs and try
Many NFL players have started taking a knee during the National Anthem before their games as a way of protesting. Some teams haven’t even come out onto the field during the anthem. These protests were started and lead by former pro quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The players are protesting mostly because of social and racial issues, they aren’t proud of a country that doesn’t treat people of color fairly.
There is no law that states one is required to stand for the National anthem. However, the U.S. code is a unwritten law that states that the point when the anthem is being played, people should face the flag and put their right hand over the heart . However, the U.S. code is not an legal authorization. Therefore, the sports figures who do not stand for the flag are not disobeying the law. Athletes can be encouraged to stand for the anthem but not required to do so.
Athletes sometimes silently protest to make changes to what they believe is wrong. The Washington Post published an article called,’The athlete as agent of change’ which discusses stories about athletes kneeling or facing away from the flag during the national anthem. For example,”... Toni Smith, the then 21-year old senior guard on the Manhattan College women’s basketball team who expressed her opposition to the Iraq War in 2003 by turning her back on the flag.” Toni Smith expresses her belief that she does not want the United States to go to war with Iraq because she thinks it is wrong.
”People should stand for the national anthem for everything because its disrespectful to our veterans, people in the army, and police force; also it’s Americas thing to stand during the National Anthem to show that they are proud. Why do football players kneel during the National Anthem is the question all of America is trying to answer. The football players say they are
The National Anthem goes on every single time before a game begins. Each time it is being sung everyone usually stands up to show respect for America. While, news said that a few athletic players that have been sitting down, while the National Anthem goes on. This keeps happening more and more slowly because those athletics don’t believe that America lives up to that potential in the song as it once represented. As well as the incidents that happened with the police of excessive force being used against people unassertively.
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.
Colin Kaepernick, the quarterback of the San-Francisco 49ers, chose not to stand for the National Anthem at a recent National Football League game. Instead, he decided to express his unhappiness with the way African Americans are being treated by police, by kneeling to the ground. This was his form of protest and attempt to convey his message about how he felt. Kaepernick does have the right to not stand for the National Anthem, however, it is disrespectful. People fight for our freedom, so why disrespect those men and women and an NFL game was not the right time or place to hold his protest.
Ever wonder how one of the most famous sporting events began? Well, I am going to tell you how the First World Championship began. It began when two rival football companies, AFL and NFL fought to win the name as the best. Then, the AFL and NFL league had a football game to see who would be the best. Eventually, they signed a contract saying that they would merge together to become one and they would use NFL names and all of NFL and AFL teams.
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.
Are you not allowed to emphasise any part of the Anthem and sing the anthem how it is? Are you allowed to do what you want? Ever since the infamous kneel by San Francisco 49ers Colin Kaepernick during the first preseason game of the 2016-2017 season these questions have been going through a lot of American’s head of how should you treat the National Anthem. In the Newsela article “Sports events have a way of sparking
In August 2016, was Kaepernick’s first time sitting on the bench during the National Anthem. He stated, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” Kaepernick has every right to exercise his right to freedom of speech, and express his views on the challenges the nation is facing as far as racism, violence, and poverty. Colin Kaepernick made around $11.9 million in the year of 2016.
Steven Sternberg Mrs. Burns English 1 CP 1 March, 2018 The Flag Protest “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color” (Kaepernick, Colin). The flag protest has been a protest existing for a long time but, recently sparked lots of controversy. Although kneeling during the national anthem may seem disrespectful are often seen as a disrespect to the flag and troops, a inefficient way to promote a cause, and anger many people in shows division in the country, it can show that the ideals of freedom is justified, it generates conversation and awareness about topic, and is a legal form of peaceful protest.
During the first three preseason games of the 2016 NFL season, Colin Kaepernick formerly quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers sat through the national anthem in protest of police brutality towards African American individuals. When asked about it, Kaepernick said, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of colour.” News outlets immediately attacked
The game is closing down, your team is down by 2 points. Ten seconds are left in the game. Your team gets to throw the ball in from out of bounds. The pass is good, your player runs down the sideline... Pulls up to shoot. At the same time a whistle echoes through the bleachers, as fans cheer and boo. Mean time the shot goes in. Could this be the win? That's when you see the refs call, the player had stepped out of bounce, turning the ball over to the other team.