Thoughts on the NFL National Anthem Controversy
Recently, the nation has been captivated by a controversy over NFL players kneeling during the national anthem in order to draw attention to racial inequality and police treatment of black men. It reached a climax after President Trump made inflammatory comments at a rally, calling on owners to fire players that kneel during the anthem. With the far reach of social media and the growing polarization of the nation, the issue has grown rapidly. Many Americans have been offended by these protests and have responded with anger, refusing to watch or attend NFL games, some even going so far as to burn their NFL memorabilia. A large portion of those expressing concern say that while the players have the right to free speech, they find it offensive because they see this as disrespectful to the sacrifices made by so many Americans in securing and defending our freedom. The response from those Americans defending the protesters has been to claim this as a question of free speech, protec...