Pros And Cons Of Kneeling For The National Anthem

The National Anthem Starts playing the players hit the ground kneeling one by one. At least 1% of the league’s players don’t lock arms, they get a hand on their shoulders in support. (Branch) If more than 1% of the football players start kneeling there will be controversy between the blacks, whites, armed forces, and most importantly the nation. NFL players should not be kneeling during the National Anthem because protesting against police brutality should not protesting the flag.
First of all, kneeling the National Anthem is an ineffective and, counterproductive way to promote a cause. Knelling for the National Anthem isn't going to change anything besides lowering the rates on TV and getting negative comments online. Football coach Dabu Swinney said "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." Patti Armstrong States that" you don’t get respect from showing disrespect." Philadelphia Eagles support the protest but disagree with the way he did so. Kneeling for the National Anthem is not a proper way to protest police brutality for colored ("Refusing"). These are some of the few reasons kneeling for the national anthem is an ineffective way of protesting.
In addition, kneeling is disrespectful to

the flag, armed forces, and the people who have served for our country. Men and woman that have served for the country have risked their lives, been injured in the line of duty giving us the freedom. Carole Isham, a great great great granddaughter of Francis Scott Key says “it blows my mind that somebody like Kaepernick would do what he does to dishonor the flag of this country (“Refusing”). Marc A. Thiessen said in the Denver Post “What these players don’t seem to understand is that Americans gave their lives so that they could have the freedom to play a kids game for a living.” The players held their disgraceful protest on National Gold Star Mother’s Day, the day our country honors mothers who have lost their children in war.” (Thiessen) In all kneeling is a disgraceful to the flag, and to the men and women that strive for our freedom.
Most importantly, kneeling for the National Anthem angers people and divides our nation. Kneeling for the National Anthem can cause division among their teammates, fans and even across the nation. The fans are burning player’s jerseys and not watching the game on TV or buying tickets to see them. The Santa Clara Police Union implied that they would be providing security at games after Kaepernick stated his reasons for protesting the National Anthem. One video on Facebook shows a fan burning Kaepernick’s jersey and said “He says he’s oppressed making $126 million. Well, Colin, Here’s my salute to you.” This shows how kneeling for the Anthem shows division in our nation.
Finally, many people believe that the National Anthem is a legal form of a peaceful protest, which is our first amendment, but protesting against each other will separate our nation and divides us against one another.

Protesting is our first amendment, but showing disrespect against the American Flag is not what Kaepernick is protesting about. He is protesting about police brutality against blacks. By doing this it is going to get him and others nothing, and kneeling is an ineffective way to protest. Kneeling for the National Anthem disappoints the people who have served for Keapernick” s freedom to protest. This is why kneeling for the national Anthem is not a good way to use your First

Amendment.
These players should not be kneeling for the National Anthem. Kneeling for the National Anthem is a counterproductive way to promote a cause, its disrespectful to the flag, armed forces, and shows division among our nation. Some Americans believe that kneeling for the National Anthem is a peaceful form of protest which is our first amendment but all it will do is separate our nation against one another. How would you feel if a player kneeled to your flag that you severed for?