National Anthem Traditions

Did you know that the first time the National Anthem was played at a sporting event was in 1862 at a baseball game? The National Anthem’s most prominent first steps toward becoming a tradition dates to Game 1 of the 1918 World Series. Fans and players were swelling with World War 1 patriotism, both standing with direct attention on the flag to honor our country. One of the players from the Red Sox even gave a military salute which allowed the National Anthem to become a tradition for baseball games, especially. Even after this, the Anthem was still reserved for more important events that took place. It was played for special moments like opening day, holidays, and the World Series. Due to new technology and loudspeakers, the National Anthem

Society seems to be doing otherwise. Overall, at least 48 NFL players from 13 NFL teams have knelt, sat, or raised a fist during the national anthem on game day. Three teams have linked arms or held hands as a sign of unity amidst the racial discord. The protests aren’t just confined to the NFL, either. Fourteen WNBA players from three teams protested in the playoffs. Star soccer player Megan Rapinoe took a knee during the anthem during a NWSL game, and later when representing the U.S. national team. Gold medal swimmer Anthony Ervin raised a fist as the anthem played during a meet in Brazil. Eight NBA teams have joined arms in unity. Even national anthem singers are taking a knee. Perhaps most significantly, protests during the anthem have occurred in at least 52 high schools, 39 colleges, one middle school, and two youth leagues in 35 states across the country and three nations abroad (Gibbs). Refusing to show honor and gratitude towards our military members has become the common issue all over the United States involving citizens of all different ages, races, and professions. While some Americans believe it is a constitutional right to be a able to express one’s beliefs, others would strongly disagree. Buffalo Bills Coach Rex Ryan voiced his opinion on "The Star-Spangled Banner," suggesting that he highly

50 percent of the victims of fatal police shootings were white, while 26 percent were black (Bandler). Much of the American society would argue that percentages and statistics for black people versus white people fatalities are irrelevant because the majority of the American population is made up of the white race. That fact is true, but in 2009, statistics from the Bureau of Justice reveal that blacks were charged with 62 percent of robberies, 57 percent of murders, and 45 percent of assaults in the 75 largest counties in the country, despite only comprising roughly 15 percent of the population in these counties (Bandler). Granted that the majority of the population in the United States consists of white citizens does not change the fact that the African American race commits a large portion of the crimes in America. Recently in a Hillsdale speech, Heather Mac Donald tells people, "The black violent crime rate would actually predict that more than 26 percent of police victims would be black...Officer use of force will occur where the police interact most often with violent criminals, armed suspects, and those resisting arrest, and that is in black neighborhoods” (Bandler). This has nothing to do with racism, but all to do with where crimes happen the most often, and it