National Anthem Kneeling

Decent Essays
In the past few weeks, protests have been going on at NFL games by kneeling at the playing of the National Anthem. Very patriotic citizens have complained about this, and have gone to the internet to complain about these protests, saying that the flag and the National Anthem are both being disrespected. What they don’t understand is that everyone has the right to protest, and kneeling at the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner is a peaceful protest. And another thing that they don’t understand is that people who are kneeling are kneeling at the thought of social injustice, such as police brutality towards black people and other people of color. Some people may think that even though people are protesting in these ways, they could protest

Related Documents

  • Decent Essays

    Football players in the NFL are kneeling during the national anthem protesting racial inequality. Which isn’t going to help the cause. Kneeling during the national anthem is disrespectful and isn’t going to solve the situation at hand. Kneeling is disrespectful to the flag, the country, and the soldiers who died for our country. For the teams coming on the field after the national anthem, that is not going to solve the cause either.…

    • 404 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Ethan Hackney Professor Aguailar ENGL V01A October 5, 2017 ENGL V01A Midterm NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s decision to kneel during the National Anthem to protest the mistreatment of African Americans has generated a good deal of controversy: some claim that the act of kneeling is a sign of disrespect and feel that Colin is not only insulting America, but also insulting the many soldiers who have died for this country, on the other hand many believe that Kaepernick’s kneel was not only a proper form of Non-violent protest, but actually a sign of reverence rather than disrespect. More NFL players have copied Kaepernick’s example in the last year, and emotions have run high on both sides of the issue, even generating a response from President…

    • 1356 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Those who oppose do not necessarily dispute the presence of injustice or racial discrimination and need of a peaceful protest, they just do not agree with the method of protest. Some argue that during these games, fans from all races and backgrounds gather in the stadiums to watch a match. So, such an action puts the whites and other non-African Americans at an awkward place. The discrimination creates more deep division and misunderstandings (Cohen). This, therefore, infringes on the right to gather and the fan's right to enjoy the sport.…

    • 140 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The playing of the National Anthem is over a century long tradition, that takes place prior to sporting events. In the United States, it is commonly expected of members in the audience to stand and remove their hats. Colin Kaepernick, second string quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, decided to break the tradition of standing during the singing of the national anthem during their first three preseason games, going unnoticed by media until the third. I will begin by explaining how Kaepernick is going against a national tradition that intends to support the United States. Then, I will show how Kaepernick’s protest is not changing the Black Lives Matter movement, and how it is causing more conflicts than it is resolving.…

    • 1273 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    So even though when you think of protesting, you think of loud and obnoxious people voicing their thoughts this peaceful protest has led just to that. Kneeling during the anthem has started a controversy…

    • 718 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    The National Anthem plays at a football game, and everyone in the stands is respecting the flag. The football players, however, are kneeling. People on social media respond with comments like “you don’t deserve to be in our country!” “traitor” and “you’re a disgrace” (Bunch, Skorton) “Two dozen NFL players continue to kneel during the National Anthem, showing total disrespect to our Flag & Country. No leadership in NFL!” said Donald Trump on Twitter, responding to the 22 players kneeling on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017.…

    • 145 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    In today's culture we have seen people disrespecting our country, our military, and our flag by taking a knee during the National Anthem; thinking about those situations make me embarrassed to be affiliated with such a group of Americans. Those men and women sacrifice their lives so we can live ours and that idea ,right there, is what makes our country so beautiful and so peaceful, so why not be on our feet with our hands over our hearts reciting our anthem to show them we are thankful for their bravery? That is the least we could do since they get shipped away from their loving families to risk their lives for our freedom, which sometimes we do not…

    • 1123 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    National Anthem Protests

    • 406 Words
    • 2 Pages

    National Anthem Protests As you go to sporting events, you hear the National Anthem being played before the athletes start their sporting event. The reason for this is to honor those who served and protect our country and for those who are still doing so. Recently, many NFL (National Football League) players have oppose to stand for the National Anthem. In 2016 Colin Kaepernick, who played football for the San Francisco 49er’s, started a protest trend to kneel for the National Anthem.…

    • 406 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    When the “Star-Spangled Banner” plays at an NFL game, pride for the U.S.A. usually overcomes the crowd and gets everyone on their feet. The raw excitement for the game, a quintessentially American pastime, gets everyone riled up and screaming as soon as the tune comes to a close. However, San Francisco 49s quarterback Colin Kaepernick has recently made headlines for refusing to stand during the National Anthem in an attempt to shed light on the current racial situation in the United States. Athletes, fans, politicians, and even NFL executives have been vocal about Kaepernick’s “Anti-American” and “disrespectful” decision. Many believe that by disrespecting the national symbol, he is in turn disrespecting the military men and women that have…

    • 709 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    The NFL players have every right to take a knee during the nation anthem because they are spreading awareness about the issue of police brutality.…

    • 565 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Across the country, Americans are in heavy debate about the idea of kneeling for the national anthem. Some feel that kneeling is a form of protest, however, others feel that kneeling is a blatant disregard for authority and an overall disrespect for their country. HEADER One of the most beautiful aspects of the United States is the fact that every citizen has undeniable freedom and rights. One of the most controversial issues that are currently taking place in the United States is the issue regarding NFL and the right to kneel during the national anthem.…

    • 630 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Tom Goldman has recently stated that “The anthem issue, with players kneeling, sitting, raising fists to protest racial injustice and social inequality.” I understand why they want to protest but what so many other people are mad about is how and when they are doing it. One of the couches of an NFL team stated,…

    • 485 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    What does being an American in the United States mean? To some it means serving their country, or supporting the ones who do. To others it means standing up for what they believe in. For others still it’s about freedom. For Colin Kaepernick it means expressing his feelings about being American by, not standing during the playing of the National Anthem.…

    • 945 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Sports Rhetorical Analysis

    • 1333 Words
    • 6 Pages

    ‘I think we should just have separate and distinct conversations. Because when you merge it into the flag and the anthem, it's lost” (The Associated Press). When discussing the concepts of the flag and anthem they should be separate from the player’s protest of racial discrimination. Those who just see a…

    • 1333 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In this way, I show my patriotism by voicing my own opinion without using any words. Similar to the actions of Colin Kaepernick, a renowned football player who kneels during the anthem, kneeling is a way to protest the current events, against them. The act of kneeling is a minor and unimportant action that has been blown out of proportion. Frankly, the act…

    • 860 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays