...Police brutality is an issue among cities and states, recently protested at football games. Football players have been kneeling down to the national anthem in order to protest against the issue. Police brutality is the use of excessive or unnecessary force by police when dealing with normal day people. “Excessive use of force” means to do something well beyond what would be necessary in order to handle a situation, for example many policemen have been reported, shooting an unarmed person in the back. Even though police brutality is an issue it is disrespectful to the many people who fought for our freedom. NFL players should not kneel during the national anthem to protest police brutality because the national anthem stands for our freedom that soldiers of the United States Army fought for....
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...In America today, there is a lot of controversy on just about everything, no matter how trivial it may be. One topic that has many public figures, including our current President Donald Trump, in debate is the fact that a few NFL players kneeling during the National Anthem as a peaceful way to protest. Some people believe this is a great disgrace to our country, while others think that is a great way to peacefully protest against police brutality. Regardless of what people think on the topic, one must first take a look at the history of the song they are protesting or fighting for. In times of great distress and turmoil greatness can arise, and in the hours The Star-Spangled Banner came into fruition was no exception. Francis Scott Key was...
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...oppresses black people, and people of color” (Mindock, 2017, p. 6). There were several other players that joined him in kneeling, but it did not really gain any real traction league-wide. A lot of viewers deemed it disrespectful to the country. The reason Colin Kaepernick was kneeling was not because he wanted to disrespect America, he was protesting because he is aware that “police brutality has become an incredibly polarizing and contentious issue in American life” (Mindock, 2017, p. 7)....
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...Protesting in America is one of the best things you can do when you don’t agree with something. It can be as little as protesting for or against puppy mills to as big as protesting against the president. NFL players such as Colin Kaepernick has decided to kneel during the national anthem to protest against police brutality. This form of protest is quite outstanding due to the fact it can reach millions of players watching the football game. This way of protesting is smart because it can start a conversation about the oppression against black people and people of color. Standing during the national anthem is a good way to show respect for your country, but when your country is divided and police brutality on people of color is rising, some football players found kneeling as a form of protest, which is a brilliant way to protest. It gives a voice to the people fighting oppression everyday and shows what is happening in America. Having a huge star like Colin Kaepernick protesting empowers people that doesn’t have that kind of fame to take a stand. “We wanted to draw attention to the fact that there’s things in this country that still need to change.” (Satchel Price, 20) People pushing for a change can only be the start and with a huge boost from the NFL players kneeling...
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...Heather Mac Donald’s “Hard Data, Hollow Protests” and Charles Blow’s “The Flag is Drenched with Our Blood” highlight the issues behind racial oppression and the threat of state violence. In this case, Mac Donald strictly argues that African Americans contribute to the increase in crime rate and justifies how police groups are not responsible for the death of all unarmed blacks. Although Mac Donald emphasizes how the smallest percentage of the population is responsible for 42% of police deaths, Blow’s article clearly indicates how African Americans are still victims of racial oppression. Specifically, I agree with Blow that NFL players should be able to peacefully protest police brutality because the statistics in Mac Donald’s article fails...
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...Some people think it’s disrespectful to not stand for the national anthem and some don't want to stand for something they believe in. Our president criticized players who kneeled for the national anthem. He thinks sport fans shouldn’t condone the players that don’t stand.He thinks the NFL should change their policy.One player says he won’t stand for something that represents a country that oppresses blacks. I believe that everyone living in the U.S. should stand for the National Anthem. If you don’t want to respect what stands for this country, then why are you here? If you have a problem with our National Anthem, get out! I can’t imagine why someone would refuse to stand for the National Anthem. For me I would think it would be embarrassing...
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...provoked arguments with the NFL staff and fans, all this commotion caused the United States president Donald Trump to speak up. Colin created a trend of taking a knee during the national anthem. He was taking part in the Black Lives Matter Movement. If you played sports when you were a kid taking a knee is to show sympathy and respect for an injured player. Colin and many other players are showing sympathy for the victims of police brutality. Colin grew up in a christian family and he believes strongly that everyone is created equal. Colin isn’t hurting anyone he just wants people to treat each other with respect. Colin had a huge impact on the move for equal rights because he caused other players in the NFL to take a knee or not even come out of the locker room till the national anthem is done. What pushed colin to get involved is that he kept seeing news articles and TV broadcasts about black people being harassed and killed by cops for unknown reasons. Colin played a huge role in the movement because many people look up to him because they are a fan of the 49ers or because of the...
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...Miller explains how many veterans spoke out on Kaepernicks' right to peaceful protest.Many troops and veterans stood by Kaepernicks reason to protest as they feel this country is going through an issue of police brutality, racial inequality, systematic racism. Miller uses great emotional appeal here, using pathos because she shows how the veterans and troops feel, the ones that actually fought for this country.Showing how they feel about Kaepernicks protest puts ease at other peoples minds that he means no disrespect to the people who fought hard for this country, because for the veterans to show their gratitude toward this concern that means that they must feel where he Kaepernick is coming from. I feel like Miller used pathos here, an emotional appeal because she brought in the people who would be emotionally affected by the protest. She used the emotions they had towards the protest by mentioning how the troops felt and what emotions they had before and...
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...Before the game starts, Colin Kaepernick uses his fame to spread awareness of police brutality on black people. However when the game was about to start, unwise Colin Kaepernick kneels during the national anthem, because he states, “‘I’am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color ”’(Cindy 6). Colin Kaepernick portrays a counter intuitive decision by integrating racial matters of police brutality during a public entertainment event. What Colin didn’t realize was that his ideals get ahead of him and allows him to express it on a public NFl game where people just want to have a good time enjoying football. By discomforting the game, Colin’s choice of not standing for the National Anthem because of black oppression, attracts negative fame by society outcrying the amount of controversy Colin states. In fact, the public has been so heated off of Colin’s response, that, “Angry fans were burning their Kaepernick jerseys”(Cindy 2). If Colin were to figure out that he should view his opinion on a more well mannered setting, he...
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...During the 2017 NFL season there has been an outbreak of players across the league who during which the national anthem is being played before games are choosing to take a knee, holding up fist, and even going as far as staying in the locker room and not attending the playing of the anthem at all. While I believe that players have the right to express their beliefs as long as it is in a peaceful manner, I do not support these players using their platform as a NFL football player to in my belief, disrespect the flag and the United States military. This display of protesting in the NFL was started by then quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, Collin Kaepernick during the 2016 season. He stated that his reasoning for kneeling during the anthem was in protest of police brutality and black lives matter coalition. The national anthem is a symbol of freedom and love for the United States Of America and by not standing while it is being played before games is a sign of disrespect for our great country. The reasoning stated by most players is that the United Sates is a racist nation and that there is to much social injustice in America. While I agree that there is still racism throughout America I also...
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...people who study history and feel passionate about it or any life lost to the wars, can feel disrespected. The first brave soldiers who fought for the anthem and the flag had chosen to give their lives for generations after to enjoy their freedom and be able to cherish the land. The kneeling first began as a calm protest with Colin Kaepernick ,against police brutality focusing on racial injustice. Kneeling during the anthem isn’t a new phenomenon. In the past years people have protested during the anthem. The protests during the anthem started in the year 1968 with two black men raising a fist in the air after receiving their gold and bronze awards, which was also a black power salute. After Kaepernick protested no one signed him for this season. As other football players had seen him not get signed many then decided to change the meaning behind the protest. Now majority of football players is proceeding to kneel in protest against Kaepernick not being signed. The NFL is now experiencing low views because either fans want all the protesters fired or want Kaepernick back. The long lasting effect is heavy on the NFL because they aren't receiving as much money as they use to, also there are many people who only tune in to see how many people actually filled the stadium. After a year Trump grew tired of seeing football players kneel during the anthem. He then made several posts on Twitter, expressing his anger. Although it didn't end there. Trump was in an interview discussing...
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...Members of the NFL community discussed developments in the 2013 season, injury data and research advances at an annual news conference. 228 diagnosed concussions during the 2013 preseason and regular-season practices and games combined, down from 261 in 2012. In relation ESPN says the rate of concussions among NFL players fell 25 percent this season, according to the league, even as injury reporting and trips to the injured reserve list rose overall. Data provided to The Associated Press by the NFL ahead of its annual pre-Super Bowl health and safety news conference Thursday shows there were 111 concussions in games during the 2014 regular season, down from 148 in 2013, and 173 in 2012, a 36 percent drop over that three-year span.(Garriott,...
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...It is often said that when you kneel during the national anthem, it shows disrespect. The disrespect is seen because the flag stands for the people who have fought and are fighting for our freedom. In discussions of the kneel, one controversial issue has been that kneeling during the anthem is to protest. My own view is that the players should not be able to do it because it shows disrespect to the people who have died and are fighting for our country. Therefore, our flag represents our freedom and the right to declare our liberties. The flag should be respected by the people and the players. However, the kneel argues for racial injustice and police brutality. The players kneeling is not intentionally showing disrespect, but they are taking a stand to protest for a common thing that nobody else sees. Everybody has a right to what they protest, and the public and social media mesmerized it into something that it was not. Although I agree with the kneel that it is for a political protest, I cannot accept the kneel during a football game. The flag is for people to stand and join to give respect to the soldiers who fight for our right to live in our country. Our flag is more than just polyester, and cotton put together, it stands for something much more....
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...In the next article, Colin Kaepernick didn’t stand up during the national anthem because of police brutality and the police killings. Although standing during the National Anthem is not a law, it is respectful to our country. Kaepernick decided not to stand during the National Anthem because it was his silent way of protesting. Colin Kaepernick didn’t stand up for the national anthem because he was protesting against police brutality and the killings. Kaepernick willingly immersed himself into controversy by refusing to stand for the National Anthem in protest of the wrong doings of African Americans and other minorities. The example supports my main point because Kaepernick knew that it was respectful to stand up for the National Anthem, but he chose not to. Colin Kaepernick knew that there were going to be consequences for sitting during the National Anthem. Kaepernick fans burned his jersey and NFL executives told sports websites that they viewed Kaepernick as a traitor and would never sign him to their teams. This example supports a main point because Colin still decided not to stand up during the National Anthem, knowing he was taking a big risk. All of the above connects to the theme because Colin Kaepernick didn’t stand up during the National Anthem due to police brutality, and many people saw him as a traitor and disrespectful to...
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...One of the largest reasons for his protests, and the Black Lives Matter movement, is police brutality against blacks. There have been some police shootings against unarmed blacks that have gathered a lot of attention and inspired their own protests, and even more protests when the officer involved is (typically) put on paid administrative leave without any further repercussions. These actions have led to distrust towards police nationwide, which could possibly make the problem even worse. Some opponents argue the violence blacks face from police is due to the high rate of black-on-black violence. However, this could be due to the high poverty and incarceration rates of black...
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