The National Anthem

                                                                                                                                                        Crumrine1

Joshua Crumrine                                                                       

Professor Raposa        

ENC1101

10/19/2017

                                                          National Anthem                                                                                 .                                

      Do you think that all NFL players should be required to stand for the National Anthem? I do.

Standing during our National Anthem is a symbol of respect for our country, respect for our

troops, and come together in unity as citizens of the United States. All of this is an important

way to show our troops how much we appreciate them and everyone that is involved in the

military. So this is why I think all athletes in the NFL should be required to stand for the

national anthem.

       The National Anthem is a song of the United States which signifies us as a strong independent country who can make it through anything. The National Anthem was written by Francis Scott Key, who during the British war looked up over Fort Henry and saw that our flag, the symbol of our country “was a flag so large that the British would have no difficulty seeing it from a distance.”(Dempsey, p3)  There is honestly no reason why any sports player should be sitting or kneeling during the National Anthem it’s really just a sign of disrespect, because we are all together as one whole and it is a symbol of respect for our country and we shouldn’t be going against that. Donald Trump went on a rampage and said, “Any NFL players that refuse to stand during the National Anthem should get fired or suspended as they are showing signs of disrespect to the country and the banner.”(Graham, p2)  The president repeated this over and over to NFL owners and to all the fans all over the world to stop attending the games until

                                                                                                                                              Crumrine2

Owners take action. Trump then stated, “If NFL fans refuse to go to the games until players stop disrespecting our Flag and Country you will see change happen fast.”(Belson, p4)  Trump then tweeted “NFL ratings and attendance are WAY DOWN. Boring games yes but many stay away because they love our country.”(Belson , p2)  It just blows me away that people actually think that it is okay to do this. If it was me out there I would have to stand because I would feel so guilty and bad if I didn’t. This is our country we are talking about here. The NFL commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement saying, “Like many of our fans we believe that everyone should stand during the National Anthem… we want to honor our flag and our country and all of our fans expect that from us. We need to move past this controversy, and we want to do that together with our players.”(Cummings,p2)   Since all of this nonsense has happened, owners and coaches around the leagues have threatened to bench players. To me that’s the best way to handle things it’s just not right to disrespect our country like that no matter what the circumstances are, all these soldiers are around the world risking their lives for our freedom and no matter what the president does or says we should support the flag as a country. Disrespecting the flag shouldn’t even come into play we are pretty much behind Trump on everything so I think we should make the right choice and to do what’s right and in that case it is to stand for the National Anthem. Roger Goodell went on to say that “The current dispute over the National Anthem is threatening to erode the unifying power of our game, and is now dividing us, and our players, from many fans across the country.”( Cummings ,4) He is saying that a lot of fans around the world have said that they will no

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longer be attending the games if this protesting continues. Goodell then stated “There will be a discussion of these issues at the owners meeting, we will be working to be bringing people together.”(Reyes ,3)  Donald Trump released a statement after Roger Goodell announced the owners meeting saying, “It is about time that Roger Goodell of the NFL is finally demanding that all players stand for our great National Anthem- RESPECT OUR COUNTRY.”(Belson, p3)  Me personally I support Trump on this and everyone else should to, I get what is going on is not right and the comments Trump has made has started all this but these players are handling the situation the wrong way. Kneeling for the National Anthem is not solving anything at all, it’s just showing disrespect to our country which is uncalled for.                                      

        Honoring the men and women of our United States Military is done by standing during the National Anthem.  Kneeling or sitting during our National Anthem isn’t hurting anyone but the soldiers because these troops are out all over the world in many different and dangerous places risking their lives for the United States and for our Freedom and this protest which is going on is just devastating this country and everyone that lives in it. Without these men and women in the armed forces, there would be no freedom of religion, no freedom of press, or expression which is the excuse some athletes use not to stand. In other countries if you do not respect your flag or your country you will most likely be killed, tortured or even not be allowed to play your sport.   White house officials played defense for Trump saying “He thinks this is about respect for the military and so many people who put their lives at risk and what the country stands for… players have the right to free speech off the field , but on the field this is about respect for lots