Kneel Before Angry Eyes and your Brothers Shall Prosper

Cristian Johnson, Staff Writer

Thousands of spectators surround you, all with cold angry eyes. Locked arm to arm with your brothers, you look up to the crowd through your helmet and listen to the fans that wear your team’s colors, your jersey number, boo you in disagreement and disappointment. As the flag waves it’s last wave, the band plays it’s last note, and the singer sings their last hoorah, you stand up and prepare for kickoff, trying to mute the continuous negativity.

This is what some NFL players and teams have to endure every week during the football season…

How is one supposed to exercise their 1st Amendment of “Free Speech” when anytime you take action against tradition, it is condemned? Why is it so “unlawful” to have a different way of appreciating the flag when it is stated by the supreme court that, “Freedom of Speech includes the right to engage in symbolic speech”? Now here’s the real kicker: if all these fans are so against their NFL team kneeling during the National anthem, why do they stay in the stadium? Why do they cheer when their team scores a touchdown, or intercepts the ball right after they spent a good amount of time booing them?

Many critics of this “kneeling” era say that they boo only because the NFL players and organizations are disrespecting the United States military. However, many have overlooked the fact that some of the military were, and still are, in support of players kneeling and standing up for what they believe in. In multiple social media posts and open letters, diverse branches of the U.S. military showed support for Colin Kaepernick, the first NFL player to kneel during the anthem, by using #VeteransforKaepernick as their slogan of support.

Yes, I do understand our U.S. military deserve more than just our respect as they risk their lives to grant us freedom and protection, but these NFL players, these American civilians aren’t trying to start an uprising against the U.S. military. They are simply trying to voice their opinion on the racial oppression which has no correlation to the U.S. military.

They are simply trying to voice their opinion on the racial oppression which has no correlation to the U.S. military.

Within the past few years there has been some devastating events that have caused division between Americans. The main focal point being the shooting of young black men and police soldiers. Some of the key characters of these shootings have been Trayvon Martin and Freddie Grey. Since then, professional football players have taken on the initiative to use their publicity to raise awareness. This is their message. This is why they are kneeling. This is in no way, shape, or form an act against the U.S. military.

Overall I believe that you can support the U.S. flag however you would like, whether that be standing or kneeling. The main point is that you are SUPPORTING the flag. Kneeling down during the national anthem does not mean that you are disrespecting the flag or the United States military. It simply means you are trying to raise awareness for something you believe in.