Kaernick National Anthem Analysis

Since World War 1 in the United States, professional sports players and fans began singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the start of any professional baseball games. However, before that, the national anthem--or rather a refusal to stand for it, sing the words, or face the flag during the song's performance--has been used to protest the perceived failures of the United States government.

Beginning of 2016 NFL preseason, Colin Kaepernick, quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, decided to take a seat during the National Anthem, claiming that his actions were a protest against racial oppression and inequality. His acts during the first preseason game went unnoticed until the third preseason game. Kaepernick was celebrated by some and viciously maligned by others. Many Americans disapproved of his actions and were very upset because in America sitting down during the National Anthem; the song of the nation, is disrespectful to our military and our Nation. Later in the last preseason game, Kaepernick was kneeling instead of sitting; he decided to respects the military because he thought sitting was too disrespectful to the military. A little too late bubbe!

Critics called him unintelligent, spoiled, ill-informed, and anti-American, while others, including a

majority of African Americans, were either understanding of or supported his silent protest. As the NFL season continues, so does Kaepernick's protest. Hundreds of other football players and some players in other sports eventually joined in the national anthem protests over the course of the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Kaepernick opted out of his contract with the 49ers to become a free agent at the end of the 2016 season, but went unsigned for all of 2017, leading to charges that he is now blackball because of his anthem protests.
Sine 1889, the National Anthem has been our official national song. The anthem symbolizes traditions, history, and struggles that have preserved our country for hundreds of years. The National Anthem brought us together to win the Battle of Baltimore in 1812. In August 2016, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick made his decision to sit down and to knee during the national anthem to call attention to police violence and injustice in black America. His act of protest followed several high-profile fatal police shootings of black men this summer — including the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile in July. Several famous athletes and celebrates wanted to help out or do something about all of the violence and injustice happening, but disrespecting the nation is not the right way to go. Football players are hired to play football; that is their job. We know people believe — and some agree — that they were hired to play, and if they want to stand up for themselves, they can get another job. Alternatively, they could use the money they earn to raise awareness in another way.
Kaepernick's protest has not only spread across the NFL but even to local high school sporting events.

Instead of being proud of this country standing with their hands resting over their hearts, several athletes of color are either sitting down or taking a knee and raising a clenched protest of police brutality and racial inequities. Others were joining the protests to show solidarity with their teammates, who risk public backlash and are peacefully exercising their freedom of speech. Kaepernick's protest influenced by the Black Lives Matter movement, which, has called for radical changes to improve the futures of African-Americans and to end the epidemic of state-sanctioned violence in their

communities.
Thousands of individuals do want to help out and do something of all of that violence and injustices going on but hurting and discriminating the flag is not the right way to do it. We the nation stand with our hands over our hearts to symbolizes for all of those individuals who are out fighting for our nation so that we can be safe, and then these types of people come along and say the f-word to this country. That is how individuals see whole " taking the knee" movement. It is one thing to talk about how the country should be; it is another thing to take action in front of millions of people on TV, to get the message out. Some people say they want to watch a good game, not a protest.
Football players say that they are expressing themselves through the First Amendment’s protection of the freedom of speech. However, they are not saying anything; they are taking action by disrespecting the nation. Yes, they have the right to protest — but they are still making fun and disrespecting others feelings, like the veterans who fought for nations freedom. Some veterans say the protests are disrespecting them and all their hard work. Thousands of lives lost every year, we need to show respect and say thank to everything they have done. Veterans fought for the flag; the flag is a symbol of our country of freedom. Yes, the flag itself does not protect our freedom: The Constitution and the Bill of Rights are what protect our freedom. However, who fought so hard for us to be able to make, the constitution and the Bill of Rights.
If the player wanted to make a change, they should have asked this military first. Say "this might be offensive to you, but will you stand with us and help us bring justice back?" They should have joined together with veterans and held a rally to show that their protest is not against the military, it is about police killing and hurting innocent black people, it is about racism in our country, not disrespecting the nation.