Taking a knee during the playing of the National Anthem started with NFL’s Colin Kaepernick. He did this as a form of protest of the National Anthem, the American flag, and the shootings of black men by police. Other followed suit after him but now a whole lot of athletes are not taking part in the National Anthem because of President Donald Trump’s remarks on kneeling during the anthem and on Stephen Curry’s invitation to the White House being rescinded. President Trump said that players who protest the National Anthem should be fired or suspended and was quoted saying NFL owners should fire any “son of a bitch who disrespects our flag”.
Here is my stance on this issue; I was pissed over Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the National Anthem in protest of police brutality. He is entitled to his feelings and should be able to say whatever he wants, hence his right of free speech. He was disrespectful though. He wore sneakers depicting cops as pigs and has been very vocal about how he thinks the police get away with murder. This is an entirely different issue but it is one I will address as well. This whole “police are racist and murderers” argument, is so stupid. Police don’t shoot people because they are black. They shoot people because they feel threatened for themselves or someone else. There’s a reason why the officers involved in “the shootings of black men” have been cleared of all charges. They didn’t do anything wrong. It’s not a matter of race; it’s a matter of safety.
As for kneeling during the National Anthem to protest police brutality or social injustice in general, I think it is the wrong way to protest it and the wrong time to do so. Should athletes who feel there is injustice for people have the right to protest about it? Absolutely. Should they protest during the National Anthem? I don’t feel like they should. It’s disrespectful. I grew up standing up during the National Anthem and still do so if I am at a sports game. I stand to pay tribute and show respect for our country and the men and women who serve it. The point of standing is to do just that and to show you are proud to be an American.
Is there injustice in our country? Absolutely. Everyone is supposed to have the same rights but they don’t. Black people don’t have the same rights as white people. Women don’t have the same rights as men. LBGTQ people don’t have the same rights as straight people. It is wrong and it should be protested but not by kneeling during the National Anthem. I have seen some teams standing arm and arm during the Anthem and I think that is a respectful form of protest. They aren’t kneeling or sitting or in the locker room. They are out there during the Anthem standing unified together. An entire Steelers team sitting in the locker room while one team member stands out on the field during the National Anthem is not showing unity. The Steelers showed the opposite of unity by leaving Alejandro Villanueva, a former Army Ranger, standing alone.
I do not think the right time or place to protest anything is out on the football field, baseball field, basketball court, or any other arena during the playing of the National Anthem. It’s flat out disrespectful and shouldn’t be allowed. Do I think every athlete who has kneeled or is choosing to kneel now should be fired for their actions? No. Do I think they should be told it is not the time or the place to be protesting and either have to sit the game out or be fined? Yes. Something should be done to show these athletes they are not going about things the right way.
If they want to protest, they should protest. They can go out with signs like so many other people are doing and peacefully protest. They can rant on Twitter and social media. There are appropriate times and places to protest and inappropriate times and places to protest. During the playing of the National Anthem at a sports arena is an inappropriate time and place.
I understand athletes are pissed off with the President and the injustices in our country, but they need to go about it a different way.