Kneeling during games used to be seen as a sign of respect: if a player was injured, then the players on the field would kneel in a solemn way. Now, a player kneeling during a football game is generally considered a political statement or viewed as an insult.
The concept of kneeling during the national anthem prior to NFL games was introduced by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, as a way to peacefully protest the injustice faced by racial minorities. He said, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” In August 2016, Kaepernick’s actions began to gain traction. Consequently, he has since been released from the team and faced widespread criticism.
However, many other players have since emulated Kaepernick’s kneeling as a way to support him and his views. The movement has spread to include players from the Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders, and other teams. Of all the kneeling players, Kaepernick, the first to protest and thus termed a “bad seed,” has been the only one formally reprimanded. 
Unsurprisingly, President Trump tweeted about his emotions regarding the NFL players’ decision to kneel, writing “The NFL has decided that it will not force players to stand for the playing of our National Anthem” allowing them to “disrespect our great nation.” He continued by saying that the NFL should fire players that decide not to stand up for the national anthem and that the players who remain seated are “ruining the game.”
Vice President Mike Pence agrees. Pence attended an NFL game in Indianapolis, when the Indianapolis Colts faced off against the San Francisco 49ers. During the national anthem, around a dozen players on the 49ers decided to take a knee, following the example of their fellow teammate, Colin Kaepernick. After the players took a knee, Vice President Pence decided to leave the game. When asked why, he responded by stating, “I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our flag, or our national anthem.”
With even the president weighing in, it seems as if the majority of the population is taking sides. While many oppose this method of protest, others understand the need to draw attention to the reason behind it: the oppression of African-American people. However, even supporters sometimes feel as if the purpose behind the kneeling is getting lost in translation as more NFL players decide to take a knee.
Students at MLHS can also be found on both sides of the issue. One student said, “kneeling will continue …regardless of what Donald Trump says because the point of this protest is not to protest the national anthem. It is to raise awareness about police brutality.”
History teacher, Mr. Cosgrove notes that the protests are complicating a beloved national pastime: “I didn’t want to see the players kneeling while I was watching football because I discuss politics very frequently. It is ingrained in my life and when I’m is watching football, I like to relax. I don’t want to think about politics.”
One team raising an interesting controversy is the Dallas Cowboys. The Dallas Cowboys are one of six teams that have not taken a knee during the national anthem. They have either taken a knee before the national anthem or some players have raised their fist at the end of the national anthem. Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, has said that any player that disrespects the flag will not play in any games. This statement came after Vice President Mike Pence left the 49ers-Colts game after a dozen 49ers players took a knee during the national anthem.
Regardless of the ongoing debates, the powerful movement sparked by players kneeling during the national anthem has grabbed the public’s attention and brought awareness to the cause of discrimination and police brutality, while also raising important issues about civility, respect, and the place of sports in our nation.
0
0
Average Rating