Analysis Of The National Anthem A Right Or A Disgrace

742 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Kneeling during the national anthem essay

National Anthem a Right or a Disgrace

Within the last year and a half, the United States has faced one of the biggest and most controversial subjects in its nation’s history as citizens deal with standing or kneeling while the National Anthem is being played. The current debate of this topic was originally inspired by former quarterback Colin Kaepernick and was claimed to be a protest against racial injustice and racial brutality. His act has lead to much discussion on whether or not kneeling during the National Anthem is ethical or a disrespectful act towards America. Although people feel that because black lives are viciously being oppressed and America is supposed to stand for freedom and justice for all it is justified to take a knee …show more content…

The Anthem represents all the many people who have died or risked their lives fighting for this country. The Anthem was written as a means to show honor and respect to the people who constantly give themselves up to defend the nation of America. Kneeling for the Anthem shows somewhat of an oxymoron because the people who participate are sitting down and showing disrespecting to the flag that gives you the ability and the freedom to speak out. The unfortunate reality is that on average men and women who fight to preserve the great country of America by risking their lives daily are being paid around $35,000 a year. These men and women’s salaries compared to NFL players’ salaries, such as Kaepernick who was being paid $11 Million a year to play football is not a fair matchup. NFL players kneeling because they feel oppressed, is not only inappropriate and unjust, but it is also an embarrassment to the NFL players participating and the United States of America. These players should be thankful for what the military and armed forces do. Kneeling conveys a lack of respect towards the men and women in the service. Disrespecting the flag and the armed forces by kneeling while the National Anthem is being played, is not appropriate for someone who is trying to express their viewpoint on race or anything other

Show More
Related

  • Colin Kaepernick And The Question Of Who Gets To Be Called A 'Patriot'

    1194 Words  | 3 Pages

    The issue of being unpatriotic during the National Anthem was raised by people when NFL quarterback, Colin Kaepernick decided to kneel during the national anthem before a preseason game. Later, Kaepernick addressed the media by saying this act was a stance against “police brutality on people of color”. By raising the

    Read More

  • Colin Kaepernick's Argument Essay

    448 Words  | 1 Pages

    Following recent cases of police brutality and racial oppression, many public figures are taking it upon themselves to stand against the issues. In this matter, Colin Kaepernick has been in the spotlight since his protest during a preseason game in August, where he took a knee during the National Anthem. In the articles “The Colin Kaepernick Effect; Another Athlete Stands Up For Social Issues” by LA Watts Times Sports Writer, Amanda Scurlock and “Colin Kaepernick’s Critics Called Him an Idiot. Who’s the Idiot Now?” by Slate Executive Director, Josh Levin, the authors talk about how Colin Kaepernick’s peaceful protest has had many positive and negative backlash. Kaepernick has received much support from not only his fans, but also people such

    Read More

  • The Rules In Ayn Rand's Anthem

    742 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Anthem there are so many rules and controls, yet there is one that truly rises above it all. And that word is “I”. There is no “I” only “We”, for the great “We” is what they follow. And they are one not individual, they are one. And poor Equality can’t seem to understand that the rules are rules, but in a way he’s making his own rules. And he is mistreated for his looks and appearance and dosen’t seem really one with his brothers. And he’s curious and most don’t even question life, and he notices the little things, “Yet as we stand at night in the great hall, removing our garments for sleep, we look upon our brothers and we wonder. The heads of our brothers are bowed. The eyes of our brothers are dull, and never do they look one another in the eyes. The shoulders of our brothers are hunched, and their muscles are drawn, as if their bodies were shrinking and wished to shrink out of sight. And a word steals into our mind, as we look upon our brothers, and that word is fear.”(Rand 46). He has a wanting to learn and build his knowledge, but the rules don’t permit his decisions.

    Read More

  • Colin Kaepernick Controversy

    1485 Words  | 3 Pages

    If you are a big football fan then you might have noticed at the beginning of the season,that a player for the San Francisco 49ers, did not stand for the national anthem. The player's name is Colin Kaepernick. To some it might not have been a big deal, but to others it was a major controversy. They couldn't understand why Kaepernick did not stand for the anthem. From an online article by Steve Wyche, Kaepernick explains why he didn't stand for the anthem. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick told NFL Media in an exclusive interview after the game. "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." () Kaepernick is referring to all the police shooting of African Americans that have been happening. Since Kaepernick started sitting out for the anthem others in the NFL and in other sports have also started to sit out for the anthem. The issue starts with the black

    Read More

  • Colin Kaepernick's Stand Against Racial Discrimination

    1018 Words  | 3 Pages

    On August 27, 2016, Steven Wyche, a media reporter for the National Football League, wrote a story about San Francisco Forty-Niners quarterback Colin Kaepernick and Kaepernick’s choice in acting on a movement to oppose racial discrimination of minorities. Wyche’s story was published through the NFL for the public eye to view. Kaepernick has been refusing stand for the national anthem. Not only does Wyche cover Kaepernick’s controversial actions, but Wyche takes a stand for Kaepernick himself.

    Read More

  • Anthem Essay

    553 Words  | 2 Pages

    Totalitarianism can be defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as the centralized control by an autocratic authority. The leaders of these societies are obsessed with complete control and will take whatever steps necessary to reach such a goal. In many totalitarian societies, children are separated from their families. This is enforced on the citizens because rulers want them to be loyal to the government only. Such living arrangements can be portrayed in Ayn Rand’s novel, Anthem. In Anthem, the narrator, Prometheus, lives in a community in which all of the children born that year live in the same house until they turn fifteen. Then they are assigned a job and live with the people that share that occupation. This keeps the people from having an emotional attachment to someone like they would have with a family.

    Read More

  • Kneeling In Protest During The National Anthem Essay

    513 Words  | 2 Pages

    compassion they might need in their reason for protesting? NFL players kneeling during our National Anthem is showing how Americans have the ability to exercise their right to have a voice and that should give no reason to allow such a disrespect towards it like what has been seen throughout our country

    Read More

  • Disrespectful To Kneel

    540 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is disrespectful to kneel during the national anthem because it disrespects the military and veterans, and could be done in a more professional way. I feel that kneeling shows how unappreciative those NFL players are. They get to go play the most popular sport in America for millions of dollars. There should be some consequences from taking this action. This protest could be done in a more professional way.

    Read More

  • National Anthem Kneeling

    595 Words  | 2 Pages

    This protest began on August 26, 2016 when Colin Kaepernick, a former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, first took a seat on the sideline bench at a preseason game during the National Anthem. Later he transitioned to kneeling alongside his standing teammates. The reason behind Kaepernick’s protest was to draw attention to racial injustice and police brutality in the United States against African Americans. After the public noticed Kaepernick’s revolt, a national discussion sparked. Many people think that kneeling during the National Anthem was not the most respectful approach Kaepernick could’ve taken. The certain group of people that

    Read More

  • Kaepernick's Kneel: Patriotism and Social Equality

    1138 Words  | 3 Pages

    Henry Gass states, “The prospect of athletes speaking up has always been fraught” (2). Carl Stoffers states, “Many accused [Kaepernick] of thumbing his nose at America by not joining in a patriotic ritual that’s long been a fixture at sporting events” (8). Include the fact that the NFL which Kaepernick plays “[is] a league that promotes itself as a war game and brands itself with the flag” (Jenkins). Doubters are quick to label him unpatriotic because the place and time he protested might be wrong. The NFL show respect to military officials, Roger Goodell says, “The NFL believes very strongly in patriotism” (Jenkins). The military and American football has the same symbolic values. Carl Stoffers writes Starn says “[American is] the most sports-obsessed society in the history of the world, and we’re also a nation that’s obsessed with patriotism and pride in identity” (9). The national Anthem and the flag are symbols that American people believe make someone patriotic. Professor Blackistone writes, “[Kaepernick] dare to protest in the athletic arena, where [Americans] wrap sporting events in a prophylactic of patriotism used to demand political conformity and suppress discourse” (gtd. in

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On National Anthem

    574 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Star Spangled Banner is a sacred song in the United States of America. It not only is a symbol of the fight that soldiers have had to go through, but also a representation of freedom. When the National Anthem plays out of respect for our country, and those who fought for it, everyone is supposed to stand and remove their hats. Currently in the National Football League (NFL) there is a handful of players, mainly African Americans, that have been taking a knee or raising a fist during the play of our National Anthem. This I believe, is a great sign of disrespect for our country and our veterans. This I believe, is very immature and unnecessary. This I believe, should be put to a stop by the NFL and the players should be ashamed of himself for doing this. I am aware that the players have the right to do this, but there are many reasons why this should not be taking place.

    Read More

  • Nfl Knee Controversy Research Paper

    421 Words  | 1 Pages

    I do believe it’s a racial issue because it all started because of “ Black Lives Matter” and why are they taking a knee? It could be various reasons, reasons that might not even pertain to race, could they be doing it for the publicity? Maybe but I would say 9/10 times its a racial issue. Half the people taking a knee are black and are most likely fighting for equality or BLM, Trump says it’s not a racial issue but it is and anyone who has eyes can see it. Who’s mad about them taking a knee? Mostly if not all “white” people, they make it a bigger deal than it actually is.

    Read More

  • Dallas Cowboys Essay

    596 Words  | 2 Pages

    So, now that we have you all caught up, let's dig into the question at hand. Do NFL players have the right to protest the National Anthem while they are on the clock? Players are saying it is freedom of speech. While everyday Americans are saying it is a double standard and they could not do that without being fired from their jobs.

    Read More

  • Anthem Essay

    558 Words  | 2 Pages

    The novella Anthem by Ayn Rand explains the world in which there is no such word as “I.” Nobody knew about themselves. People decided on what they did, what jobs they worked, and where they live. They never even knew how they looked. “We” was their main word. They used “The Great We” as there god to worship. They had their pledge to say every morning when they woke up. They did the same things every single day. Get up, go to work and come to back to their beds. That’s all they did every day. Prometheus comes to understand that there’s more out this big world. It isn’t just about “The Great We.” There is more to it. There’s the Unspeakable word, the life beyond the city, and more to him than he ever knew.

    Read More

  • Take A Knee Movement Essay

    415 Words  | 1 Pages

    They are not being disrespectful by talking or making jokes. They are just quietly sitting there, but letting it be known in their actions they are against police brutally. I applaud Mr. Kaepernick, because he stood for something. He lost his job, and his steady income, but he has never changed his point of view. As a social worker, if I am faced with a person who might be torn on what to do I can provide insight. I will let it be known to never disrespect someone. If you choose to take a knee or stand for the National Anthem, that is your choice. As human beings, we need to learn to respect each other. As a social worker, my role in addressing the issue is to see points from every angle. I must understand why some people might see this movement as disrespectful, and why others do not. My brother, James, is currently in the United States Airforce. I appreciate his service and I believe he is doing something noble. He loves being in the Airforce and serving his country. My step father, is an Army Veteran. He is also a White male, who is heartbroken each time he reads the stories of minorities dying by the hands of police

    Read More

More about Analysis Of The National Anthem A Right Or A Disgrace

Open Document