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| Pro 1
When one believes the United States is not living up to its ideals of freedom, liberty, and justice for all, refusing to stand for the national anthem is appropriate and justified. Colin Kaepernick said, “I’m not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color… To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.” [1] Many other athletes have since refused to stand for the national anthem for similar reasons. [7] Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall, who also has knelt during the national anthem, said, “the message is I’m against social injustice… I’m not against the military or police or America at all.” [2] |
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Con 1
Refusing to stand for the national anthem shows disrespect for the flag and members of the armed forces. The national anthem pays respect to the people who have risked their lives, been injured, or died defending the United States. Carole Isham, a great-great-great-granddaughter of the writer of the national anthem (Francis Scott Key) stated that “it just blows my mind that somebody like (Kaepernick) would do what he does to dishonor the flag of this country and the national anthem when we have young men and women overseas fighting for this county, people that have died for this country.” [13] Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints quarterback, supported Kaepernick’s message but disagreed with the delivery: “[I]t’s an oxymoron that you’re sitting down, disrespecting that flag that has given you the freedom to speak out.” [18] |
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Pro 2
When a national figure such as an NFL player refuses to stand for the national anthem, it shocks people into paying attention and generates conversation. Many people were shocked and offended when Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for “The Star-Spangled Banner,” [12] and the resulting debate has continued as additional players joined the protest. [6] NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell originally disagreed with those actions, but later praised what he called a movement from protest to progress: “I truly respect our players wanting to speak out and change the community… We want them to use that voice.”[16] Social media has given a voice to strong opinions on both sides, including members of the armed forces who express support Kaepernick’s right to protest by posting under the hashtag #VeteransForKaepernick. [5] |
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Con 2
Not standing for the national anthem is an ineffective and counterproductive way to promote a cause. Clemson University football coach Dabo Swinney said in a press conference: “I don’t think it’s good to be a distraction to your team. I don’t think it’s good to use your team as the platform.”[4] President Obama expressed concern that not standing for the national anthem can get in the way of the message: “As a general matter, when it comes to the flag the national anthem and the meaning that holds for our men and women in uniform and those who’ve fought for us — that is a tough thing for them to get past to then hear what his [Kaepernick’s] deeper concerns are.”[3] Malcolm Jenkins, safety for the Philadelphia Eagles, supported Kaepernick’s message but said, “My grandfather served [in the military]. And this is a country that I love. So, me not standing for the national anthem isn’t really going to get me the results that I want.” [19] |
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Pro 3
Not standing for the national anthem is a legal form of peaceful protest, which is a First Amendment right. President Obama said Kaepernick was “exercising his constitutional right to make a statement. I think there’s a long history of sports figures doing so.” [3]The San Francisco 49ers said in a statement, “In respecting such American principles as freedom of religion and freedom of expression, we recognize the right of an individual to choose and participate, or not, in our celebration of the national anthem.”[1] A letter signed by 35 US veterans stated that “Far from disrespecting our troops, there is no finer form of appreciation for our sacrifice than for Americans to enthusiastically exercise their freedom of speech.” [12] |
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Con 3
Refusing to stand for the national anthem angers many and sows division in our country. Kaepernick and others who have refused to stand for the national anthem have caused division among their teams, their fans, and across the country. The Santa Clara police union hinted they would boycott providing security at games after Kaepernick revealed his reasons for protesting the national anthem and wore socks depicting pigs in police uniforms. [14][15] Fans have been burning Kaepernick’s jersey to show their distaste for his actions. One video of a jersey on fire posted on Facebook was captioned, “He says he’s oppressed making $126 million. Well, Colin, here’s my salute to you.” [17] |
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| The 2017 NFL pre-season began with black players from the Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders, and Philadelphia Eagles kneeling or sitting during the anthem with support of white teammates. [20] [21] On Aug. 21, 2017, twelve Cleveland Browns players knelt in a prayer circle during the national anthem with at least four other players standing with hands on the kneeling players’ shoulders in solidarity, the largest group of players to take a knee during the anthem to date. Jabrill Peppers, a rookie safety, said of the protest, “There’s a lot of racial and social injustices in the world that are going on right now. We just decided to take a knee and pray for the people who have been affected and just pray for the world in general… We were not trying to disrespect the flag or be a distraction to the team, but as men we thought we had the right to stand up for what we believed in, and we demonstrated that.” [21] Seth DeValve, a tight end for the Browns and the first white NFL player to kneel for the anthem, stated, “The United States is the greatest country in the world. And it is because it provides opportunities to its citizens that no other country does. The issue is that it doesn’t provide equal opportunity to everybody, and I wanted to support my African-American teammates today who wanted to take a knee. We wanted to draw attention to the fact that there’s things in this country that still need to change.” [20]
Some Cleveland Browns fans expressed their dissatisfaction on the team’s Facebook page. One commenter posted, “Pray before or pray after. Taking a knee during the National Anthem these days screams disrespect for our Flag, Our Country and our troops. My son and the entire armed forces deserve better than that.” [22] |
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YOU SHOULD STAND FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.
Excellent point, Katie. What did you think of the “pros” and “cons” list? Were you see the perspective from the other side?
I AGREE WITH KATIE!
Did you guys read the article? What did you think about the other side of the argument? Any point/counter-points?
This is bull shit people need to stand for the national anthem and respect our country.
I agree with you George.
My dad is a big fan of football and he was pissed when he saw them kneeling during the national anthem because he was an Army Ranger.
yeah my great great great great great great great great grandfather fought against the native americans in the beginning of this great country im pissed people wouldnt stand for the flag of this nice country i know my great great great great great great great great grandfather
would be totally pisssssssssssssed like really pissed off
Don’t jump on me negatively but… how come your able to burn the American flag, but not silently kneel during it
Let’s consider for a moment all the people who have fought for this country. Let’s consider the people who have literally given their lives for this country. Now. let’s consider what the National Anthem stands for. It stands for freedom and victory. I, for one, find it humorous in a sarcastic kind of way that anyone would think it’s acceptable and justified to refuse to stand for the National Anthem, disrespecting the country and people who fought to give you the right to do that. It’s time to get a grip on your morals.
Also, Sean, your points were valid on both sides. This article will greatly fabricate my research paper
The flag represents all the people whether they served in the military or in public service or just living a simple productive life paying their taxes and raising their families. The flag represents our way of life the truth and beliefs we hold, the freedom we have, the justice that should be, and that we continually strive for and demand from law enforcement, our representatives, and the citizenry to be upheld equally for all, however, we see police brutality and racial injustice that has to be dealt with seriously. If the Germans won WWII under that dictator and evil regime, you would see at a soccer game everyone standing giving a salute, maybe, even Americans. At the World Olympics when Americans win gold, “what anthem is played?” If it is another country, “what anthem is played?” Do you (Americans) salute it? Americans have fought in many wars, some justified and many others very questionable. Thank G-d for Liberty and Justice, and free choice to stand or kneel.
It is not disrespectful to kneel during the national anthem.
Autumn Price — you are wrong! But then I would guess that you are a kneeler yourself.
Unfortunately there are many persons who are takers and not givers.
Takers want all that this country stands for without giving anything tangible except for contempt and ungraciousness.
To me a parallel would be: a person who is capable of working spitting in the face of the givers who worked and put their hard earned dollars into the food stamp fund for the takers.
I have many more derogatory thoughts about takers but they would be wasted on the likes of you.
I spent my 2 years in the 82nd Airborne Div building up the “Love America’s greatness” fund and do not appreciate takers spitting in my eye.
Pox on you Autumn Price!!!
I feel it is not disrespectful to kneel during the national anthem. He was peacefully protesting which is his First Amendment Right. He did this cause people were not paying attention to what was happening. He literally said himself, but I’m summarizing, that he wasn’t standing because of how African Americans were being treated. How would you feel if the main people you loved were killed by the very people who are supposed to protect you and keep you safe? He not kneeling to be disrespectful he kneeling to make a difference. Liberty and Justice for all is actually for people that the government feels is right not african americans
Kaepernick and any other people who want to take a knee can
You guys, it is technically his right to kneel I know they say “he’s disrespecting our veterans.”
But he’s not intentionally trying to piss you off.
He may be disrespecting veterans but police officers are disrespecting blacks. All he was doing was bringing attention to police brutality and nothing else. It’s not something you should be getting angry at him with…