National Anthem Research Paper

Improved Essays
In an act of protest, some American citizens have chosen to kneel during the national anthem. The media has been consumed by this controversy. NFL players on the biggest platform, national television, have chosen to partake in the protests. No American should protest the flag and the national anthem because, the anthem and flag are the one thing that all Americans share, it sets a bad example for youth, and it disrespects our troops and veterans. By protesting the flag and anthem, Americans throw away the few things that bring this country together. The united states is already so divided with racism and other issues that fill the public ear. Although it seems as though every American citizen has pride in their country. With that said, Americans settle on the fact that they live in the greatest country in the world despite all the internal issues. Also, by dividing the country, we are opening our weak spot to whoever is …show more content…
When protesting the anthem or flag participants are protesting the people who fought to give them the right to freedom of speech guaranteed by the first amendment. Before an NFL game between the pittsburgh Steelers and the Denver Broncos, the steelers choose not to take the field during the anthem. Former United States army ranger, Alejandro Villanueva, stood in the tunnel alone, hand over heart. His teammates let him stand and respect the country alone. This shows how much respect his own teammates have for him and his service. Villanueva says that all players from the opposing team as well as members of his own team made sure to thank him for his service. If these players actually do respect his service and contribution to the welfare of the country, they should stand and respect the song and flag that Villanueva fought

Related Documents

  • Decent Essays

    Standing Up Who knew you could stand up for what you believe in by sitting down? Colin Kaepernick, the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, was doing exactly that when he sat down during the playing of the national anthem before a pro-football game; I agree and approve of what he did. He was protesting the different treatment of colored people and also the cops. After reading the article, ¨In the `Land of the Free,` Are You Free to Sit Out the National Anthem?¨ by Jaweed Kaleem, I learned that Colin Kaepernick is not the only one taking a stand.…

    • 256 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Is standing for the National-Anthem right or wrong? Well last Sunday over 102 different football players , from different teams in the NFL knelt or sat down for National-Anthem. Many are doing this because they feel like colors are getting treated badly in the United States. President Trump gave a speech about it and said, “ The players should be fired for kneeling.” No matter if it's right or wrong there doing it for a reason, and the reason is to get equality for American Africans.…

    • 330 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    These athletes have received a lot of unwarranted backlash for an action that has been considered a sign of reverence since ancient times, when Jesus Christ knelt as a mark of his faithfulness. To take this clear message of protest and construe it into a disrespect to the United States is completely illogical, and more than likely has to do with partisan politics than anything else, even getting a brash response from President Trump. Despite my desire to stay in the middle, and my frequent inability to even know what is happening, if I ever figure out, I have no quarrel with taking a knee for any…

    • 1356 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Did that really happen? NFL players are disrespecting the American Flag. That action is not right; just because President Trump made a wrong decision that doesn't mean that now NFL players can make their own rules. The NFL players deserve to be punished for their actions. If NFL players are allowed to sit or kneel down during the National Anthem, then why can't we do the same?…

    • 625 Words
    • 3 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
  • 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
  • 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

    1st Amendment Limitations

    • 548 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In September, 2017, the NFL National Anthem protest began to become very publicized. Some argue that these players should have to stand to show respect for the United States and all the people that have served to protect the U.S. However, doing this would violate their 1st amendment right of expression, while they should show respect, they also have the right to…

    • 548 Words
    • 3 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
  • Great Essays

    News of professional football players such as Colin Kaepernick and other athletes refusing to stand for the national anthem flood the headlines of American media today. These high profile individuals do not care, maybe even refuse to acknowledge, that their forgetfulness of their great American heritage and their disrespect for the symbol of our freedom, the American flag, has a very harmful impact on others. These high profile individuals’ overt actions towards the symbol of our freedom, the American flag, not only show their forgetfulness of our great heritage, but are also blinding others like high school athletes to do the same. To me, and the majority of Americans, particularly those who put themselves in harm’s way, their families and those who have lost loved ones doing so, this is very…

    • 1303 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Decent Essays

    National Anthem Racism

    • 323 Words
    • 2 Pages

    I believe that the main issue of weather it is right for NFL players to kneel during the National Anthem is majorly a racist issue. The proof behind this reasoning is that Collin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers quarterback stated that he was , "not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color." Personally I disagree with his opinion. Holding your hand over your heart is a tradition that has been carried on for many years that honors what our country stands for, which is not oppressing colors of race. Although there are many opinions on that statement, America has many different races, cultures, and ethnicity throughout our nation.…

    • 323 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    National Anthem

    • 1154 Words
    • 5 Pages

    (Levine, Jasmine) Even though he has that right to not stand, it is still not a very respectful thing to do. If someone wants to bring about changes in America, disrespecting the flag and all it stands for is not the way to achieve this goal. As Jasmine Levine said if we don’t stand together, we don’t stand for anything. It is our standing together during all wars that…

    • 1154 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays