The Truth of Disresepct

The tradition of singing the national anthem at sporting events started amid the 1918 baseball World Series. During the seventh-inning stretch of the first game between the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs, the band started to play The Star-Spangled Banner (it was not the official national song around then). Players turned to confront the centerfield flagpole, and fans, who were at that point on their feet, started to stand at attention. Before the ending of the anthem, nearly the whole stadium was singing and the tune finished to a chorale of loud applause. At the time, World War I was nearing an end. Singing The Star-Spangled Banner that day was a planned presentation of comradery and patriotism in America. Harry Frazee, the owner of the Red Sox at the time, began every proceeding game by having the band play the anthem. The playing of The Star-Spangled Banner before games turned out to be such a hit, that after the war finished, the melody kept on being played at ball games. Be that as it may, it was basically saved for eminent events like holidays, opening day, and the World Series. Amid World War II, the melody turned out to be significantly more famous, as it was a path for substantial groups to demonstrate their patriotism.

Moreover, advances in technology implied that the melody could be played over speaker frameworks as opposed to requiring a band, making it less demanding to incorporate into games. When the war had finished, The Star-Spangled Banner had moved from an only baseball custom, to a rapidly spreading tradition which was added into other sporting events. Over the past few years, sports athletes have been peacefully protesting against the star-spangled banner to encourage change in society. Much controversy has been sparked in context with this issue regarding NFL players and the taking a knee movement, therefore, the inquiry remains: Is taking a knee ill bred and unpatriotic, or is taking a knee simply protesting injustice? Two years ago, Colin Kaepernick (the previous quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers) chose to dissent racial oppression. Amid the playing of the national anthem before a game, Kaepernick chose to take a knee. His reasons? Kaepernick has made a name for himself through his many efforts in trying to raise awareness and better America. In August 2016, Kaepernick stated, "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color." Notwithstanding, he additionally put his money behind his route of action. Throughout the season, Kaepernick promised to give $1 million to associations that work to address subjection in areas of color.

Funding through Kaepernick's establishment has been distributed to associations in Texas, for example, Texas Advocates for Justice, which endeavors to end the criminalization of our communities of color and to devastate the history of racism in the criminal justice system. After a year, as an ever increasing number of athletes are taking a knee, the discussion and debate about it proceeds. NFL players, mentors and fans have been on the two sides of the discussion. It's astounding that regardless of Kaepernick's enunciated objective and desire to utilize his fame to advance and bring awareness to social change, he has been attacked. The players are standing up or kneeling down to convey attention to the issue of how African-Americans are treated in this nation. Some police are not treating colored individuals with respect and there's a long history to this. This is still a prominent issue in our country, to well known athletes and celebrities, as well. Like as of late when James Blake was bound, pummeled to a Manhattan road, and held for 15 minutes by a white policeman who thought he was a criminal. It was mixed up character, and the primary cop didn't apologize. Along these lines, this is about the network of colored players, and they ought to get the opportunity to challenge it.

Colored individuals and other individuals who aren't of color are able to protest and speak up since this is about our entire nation. Football players are conveying everything that needs to be conveyed through the First Amendment's insurance of the right to speak freely. They're stating something with their bodies, regardless of whether they're kneeling or raising a fist in defiance. Many, including football fans and President Trump, have confused his message. As indicated by the Library of Congress, Section 8 of the United States Code gives us an understanding of the respectful and disrespectful notions toward the flag. There are many statements regarding disrespect, for example, one is that the banner shall not be used for advertising purposes. In our lifetime, I guarantee we can all recount an instance where a disrespectful event like this took place. Yet, there is no explanation or statement that kneeling is disrespectful. A previous teammate of Kaepernick's, Eric Reid, wrote in an ongoing commentary that they ""chose to kneel because it's a respectful gesture, but that is still being misconstrued as disrespectful to the country, flag and military personnel. For instance, President Trump announced at a rally, "NFL owners should fire players for taking a knee during the national anthem, because that's a total disrespect of our heritage."

Furthermore, Vice President Mike Pence attended an NFl game and tweeted, While everyone is entitled to their own opinions, I don't think it's too much to ask NFL players to respect the Flag and our National Anthem. To me, it appears that we are attempting to maintain systems of injustice. Is it an excessive amount to ask our lawmakers and community leaders to go to bat for equality and racial oppression? It is apparent that having a favored status, such as owning a NFL group, takes into account the prevailing group to manage the message behind the significance of taking a knee. With the end goal for us to push ahead as a general public, we should all unmistakably see what is going on in this nation's society, acknowledge the truth that injustice exists, and work to enhance the lives of everybody. It will be troublesome to push for better when the general public can't face reality and realize that Kaepernick's actions were not a form of disrespect toward the flag. In the expressions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., ""The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."" Kaepernick has embodied this statement. Presently, his career has been put to a hold by his readiness to stand or take a knee for equity in this nation. I challenge the individuals who keep comparing taking a knee with disrespecting the banner and nation to acknowledge his true message and cooperate to enhance injustice in America.

Colin Kaepernick's decision to sit or kneel in silent protest during the national anthem has sparked much drama regarding paying the proper respect to the military soldiers who have served and fought for the freedom of our nation. While some call it a slap in the face to the military, many veterans see otherwise. Benjamin Starks, a veteran of both the Navy and Army reserve, told Business Insider, He is exercising his constitutional right, and I'm glad that he's doing it. Kaepernick isn't protesting against the military, but the innocent black lives that have been taken from us for no apparent reason. Since taking a knee is not a form of disrespect, military veterans support Kaepernick and his beliefs. Players have the right to challenge and despite everything, they're offending a few people, similar to the veterans who battled for their opportunity. Veterans have battled for the flag, yet the banner is only an image of our nation of opportunity and freedom. What's more? The flag doesn't secure our right to freedom and opportunity: the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are what ensure our freedom. Much the same as veterans battled for opportunity with poise and pride, players are battling for a similar thing, likewise with nobility and pride.

It's people like Donald Trump who further add to the nonsense in this country. During a rally in Alabama, Trump said, Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now, out he's fired!' Veterans have continued to voice their support against the President as well as the people protesting Kaepernick. They have stood up in support in the same manner at which Kaepernick protested injustice and police brutality. A Green Beret who is the son of a World War II veteran and father of an Army officer who served in Afghanistan said, I can tell you, speaking for three generations of my family, it is PRECISELY for men like Kaepernick, and his right to peacefully protest injustice, that we were willing to serve, said Michael Sands. Want to respect the American flag? Then respect the ideals for which it stands. Bullying language and calling peaceful protesters 'sons of bitches' who should be fired aren't among them. It's people like these who understand and acknowledge the fact that Kaepernick has unnecessary hate.

A young man's fierce passing on account of the police is found to be justified in an official courtroom because of his "suspicious" appearance: a dark hoodie and his hands in his pocket. An elderly lady is lethally shot in her home for her connection to a speculated criminal. A hitched man with two little children is gagged to death after a minor activity stop by an officer who later guaranteed that his unarmed injured individual was using a firearm. These individuals all have a couple of shared characteristics: the shade of their skin, their assumed blame at first sight, and their definitive unjustified demise controlled by the law force. These are normal events. The individuals of color who have been either injured or killed by an officer have been supported through Kaepernick's taking a knee movement.

Kaepernick, along with his teammates and players, have rose to the occasion that the flag isn't standing for what it is supposed to represent. Because of the astoundingly unbalanced rate of African-Americans injured or killed by the police, and the hidden widespread racial profiling, police brutality towards blacks in America must be given attention immediately. Police brutality is misuse of power or a given force by any given police officer. Examples of this range from physical combat to verbal abuse. In spite of mainstream thinking, numerous types of police brutality incorporate false arrests, verbal abuse, and racial profiling. In many cases regarding these encounters, police brutality has been deemed lethal. Citizens of the United States need to open their eyes and realize the injustices in the American system. In conclusion, Kaepernick and the players supporting him aren't hurting the flag, they're standing for what they believe in: and that is perfectly acceptable. Given the platform and names these players have earned for themselves, they feel the need to rise and express what is right. The athletes have risen to the occasion as they know everyone is watching.

Cite this page