The Nation Anthem Crisis
Jalen Hendrix
Jalen Hendrix
The last two years have been slow for Colin Kaepernick. If you have no idea why, then you must live under a rock. During the 2016 preseason games of the San Francisco 49’ers, Kaepernick caused outrage. He was one of the of the first NFL players to start the National Anthem boycott. Colin simply knelt while our countries’ famous song of “paean” was being performed, but in the following twelve hours Kaepernick became a tabloid target. Plenty of Americans were outraged, and even (then) republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, had something to say about it. “Maybe he should find a country that works better for him. Let him try, it won’t happen."
In the wake of the recent police shootings (which caused Kaepernick to protest), it seems that kneeling has become yet another way to express the feeling of betrayal the African-Americans have dealt with from this country. But Colin Kaepernick is not the only one, he was just the originator this new found “trend”. Other NFL players who joined the protests in the following weeks include: Eric Reed, Jeremy Lane, Brandon Marshall, Jelani Jenkins, Arian Foster, Kenny Still, and Michael Thomas, some even raising their fist or interlocking arms in silence.
While some applauded the acts, most of the country just cannot understand why these players are protesting in the first place. It’s something that now seems to be dividing our country all over again. What we’re witnessing now is exactly what was happening fifty years ago. The horrific crimes committed by police against innocent African-American young men and women.
All of the consistent blabbering and bad-mouthing might come to an end soon. Courtesy of a new rule that ensues that the National Anthem no longer be shown for future NFL seasons. Kiana Cateau , sophomore, says, “I don’t say the pledge in the morning, because I have no reason to”. She goes on to say “I don’t believe this country respects people of my culture.” Most people may not know this but the parts of the National Anthem that we sing is only the first verse. The song goes on to talk about slavery and citizenship of slaves at the time during the Civil War. But what about the people who like to show respect at home. Will they not be upset with the absence of this song. “They should really just focus on the person who is singing the song instead of the players”, says Ashley Mcburnett. Maybe she is right, or maybe it is best to just leave the song out of all sports casts completely.
This ban of the National Anthem seems to be the best solution to this problem. Lots of people maybe hurt by this. Though there also maybe people who feel that this will not solve the problem. Only time will tell what will happen in the near future .Maybe there is something else we could do, but for now this should do the trick.
In the wake of the recent police shootings (which caused Kaepernick to protest), it seems that kneeling has become yet another way to express the feeling of betrayal the African-Americans have dealt with from this country. But Colin Kaepernick is not the only one, he was just the originator this new found “trend”. Other NFL players who joined the protests in the following weeks include: Eric Reed, Jeremy Lane, Brandon Marshall, Jelani Jenkins, Arian Foster, Kenny Still, and Michael Thomas, some even raising their fist or interlocking arms in silence.
While some applauded the acts, most of the country just cannot understand why these players are protesting in the first place. It’s something that now seems to be dividing our country all over again. What we’re witnessing now is exactly what was happening fifty years ago. The horrific crimes committed by police against innocent African-American young men and women.
All of the consistent blabbering and bad-mouthing might come to an end soon. Courtesy of a new rule that ensues that the National Anthem no longer be shown for future NFL seasons. Kiana Cateau , sophomore, says, “I don’t say the pledge in the morning, because I have no reason to”. She goes on to say “I don’t believe this country respects people of my culture.” Most people may not know this but the parts of the National Anthem that we sing is only the first verse. The song goes on to talk about slavery and citizenship of slaves at the time during the Civil War. But what about the people who like to show respect at home. Will they not be upset with the absence of this song. “They should really just focus on the person who is singing the song instead of the players”, says Ashley Mcburnett. Maybe she is right, or maybe it is best to just leave the song out of all sports casts completely.
This ban of the National Anthem seems to be the best solution to this problem. Lots of people maybe hurt by this. Though there also maybe people who feel that this will not solve the problem. Only time will tell what will happen in the near future .Maybe there is something else we could do, but for now this should do the trick.