Freedom to Kneel?

9/25/2017

This weekend has tested the ability of the sports industry - players, coaches, owners, and their other employees - to express their feelings about how their government, our government, supports or fails to support all members of our society. Your thoughts?

There are several articles web-wide about the events leading up to the recent debate. One article, below, is specifically about the NFL's re-release of an earlier video that seems to express their position as a league.
Here is an article about the NFL response.

Here is their video.

Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes/Associated Press

6 Comments

Pippin

9/28/2017 05:09:57 pm

By kneeling for the anthem, I believe that these public influencers are trying to get across a very important message to the rest of the country. Since all of these athletes are inspiring so many people, the act of kneeling for the national anthem represents something much greater. By kneeling, I believe that they are protesting the racism and sexism going on in our country. They are acknowledging that our country is not perfect and that it never will be until we stand up for what we believe in. They are saying that it is OK to not agree with whats going on in our country at the moment. Since our president has said many racist remarks, by the athletes kneeling, they represent that our country will not tolerate this. We need to protest whats wrong so it can become right. We need to stand up for the rights millions have died to gain. We need to show the government that we the people also have power. And that the people will fight back, in one way or another.

Jayln

10/10/2017 10:50:29 am

In my opinion, kneeling for the national anthem shows a large amount of respect for the people who have served on the world and for our country. Many people argue that kneeling is disrespectful to those who have served in the war, however, the American flag and the national anthem do not only represent the people who served. The American flag does represent the soldiers who have served and are serving, but it also represents the United States of America as a whole. It is appropriate to kneel during the anthem because it shows a tremendous amount of support and respect for the country. By getting down on one knee, these players are giving their support and respect to the flag, the people who serve, and their country.

Paul Leoni

10/10/2017 06:14:50 pm

This was a debate I gave during a Tuesday meeting of JSA:

Good Morning, everyone, I am Paul Leoni. Aeron Kibler once stated, “The dead soldier’s silence sings our national anthem” (A-Z Quotes). Throughout the history of the American homeland, the national anthem has honored our country, fallen soldiers, passed loved ones, and forgotten heroes. By putting our hands over our hearts and standing in the direction of the American flag, we, as a nation, have come together to respect our fellow patriots. However, in recent times, as a sign of protest against social injustice, many NFL players have kneeled during the Star Spangled Banner. Not only is this disrespectful to military personnel, but it has tested the boundaries of free speech.
Now there is a right and wrong place to voice your social beliefs. If a football player was in a town square protesting racism, or any other cause, it would be a safe and preferable environment to enact their first amendment right. However, when these players, who are paid employees of the NFL, kneel during a time as special as the national anthem, they are forcing their beliefs on the global community; it is not a proper time to voice their opinions. A private corporation such as the NFL, where the constitution does not technically apply, has the right to promote whatever beliefs they think are suitable. By turning a cold shoulder to the stars and stripes, football personnel are dishonoring America and crossing the line into an unjustifiable situation for protest.
In addition, by kneeling the National Anthem, NFL players are disrespecting those who have served our country. Steven Mnuchin, United States Secretary of the Treasury, notes, “Players have the right for free speech off the field. … This is about respect for lots of people, and I don’t understand why there’s rules that when the Dallas Cowboys wanted to put stickers on their helmets out of respect for people there, they couldn’t do it, but now the NFL is saying people should be able to decide what they want to do and disrespect the United States flag” (CNN). As Mnuchin stated, lack of participation during the Star Spangled Banner is discourteous to the men and women who have fought for the right and freedom to put our hands over our hearts. Thank you.

Andrew Davainis

2/27/2018 11:25:05 am

I personally think that kneeling durring the national anthem should be allowed but that it shows absolutely no respect to the nation. Kneeling for the anthem is allowed becuse it is stated in the 1st amendment, “the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” However, I believe that it is extremely disrespectful to all of the man and woman who devote their life to protecting this country. There are many people who give their live for this country and others who are willing to and they do this to let us maintain freedom and well-being. I think that it is disrespectful to those men and woman when these entitled professionals kneel for the anthem. I understand that that some of the professionals have issues with things going on in our country but there are other ways to protest to the government without disrespecting the men and woman who give their life to thus country. While they do have the right to protest like this, I think that it is extremely selfish and disrespectful.

Grace

5/10/2018 08:49:11 am

So as I was reading, I noticed that people are getting angry with the players because they were stating their opinions and showing their support for other people, but as soon as the president got involved in the conversation, everything was blown up and out of proportion. The players were doing what they thought was right and they started doing what they thought was right because they were protesting they right to kneel because in the begging, it was Colin Kapernick kneeling to show that other people from other countries needed apart of everything going on. He was upset that they weren't getting their voices heard and he wanted to be that voice. Then the players were upset and when the president said that everyone should be fired, they started to push the issue. But it isn't okay to kneel because it was aa sign of disrespect to our troops and to the people who died so these guys could play the game.

Ryann McDaniel

5/13/2018 06:11:00 pm

Although some might think kneeling is a horrible thing to do during the national anthem and that is is disrespectful to our country, I do not believe it is the worst thing possible. We have the first amendment for a reason. By kneeling, these players are standing up for what they believe in just as any other human being is able to do. They are saying that we aren't a perfect country and not everyone is always going to get along. In the end I think that even though it is the respectful thing to do and stand for the anthem, they should also be able to stand (kneel) for what the believe in.

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