It's finally fall, and that means it's football season. We should be looking forward to Football Sunday, tailgate parties with friends, and just time enjoying one of our nation’s biggest gaming events of the season. This unfortunately isn't the case for most people this fall.
This football season
there is no doubt that this protest is causing a divide between fans, teams, and
coaches. When the National Anthem is being played it's generally customary to
stand in respect of the flag and to show respect to soldiers that have (or
are currently) serving our country. Since the fall of 2016 players in the
NFL have been taking a knee during the National Anthem in protest to black
oppression in the United States. The problem is the flag is not the reason for
black oppression. Yes, the reason they are taking a knee is to show that America has injustice but this is not what most people see.
In the United States
this has been a hot button topic for much longer than most people realize.
However, the National Anthem and flag salute are not the problem but is being used for the protest platform. Black oppression is a
very real issue that needs to be addressed, but is kneeling during our National
Anthem the way to fix it? No, because it accomplishes nothing aside from
dividing our country more than it already is.
The media is a large contributing factor to these issues. They report only the bad that is happening within the affected communities, and never report the help that some are receiving. It still isn't enough to fix the problems that the black community is facing, but it would at least give some light to what kind of support they receive.
If the NFL players want to make a difference and raise awareness, a solution to this is to help these communities that struggle with this problem. Most aren't taking any action further than just taking a knee during a game, and that in turn helps no one and is only causing more controversy among the nation. Yes, some players such as Kaepernick do donate to these struggling areas, but this is never something talked about within the news. Protesting is a way to help raise awareness for the issue, but would going out and physically trying to help these areas be a better way to do so? Action speaks louder than words. Going out to try and fix these issues is what needs to be done, not just taking a knee before the game.
The Pittsburgh Steelers this past Sunday tried to do abstain from this
issue, but in turn the exact opposite happened. Alejandro Villanueva was the
only teammate to walk onto the field to salute the flag and anthem that he has
personally fought for. Unfortunately, this shows the clear issue this protest
is causing within the team.
Ben Roethlisberger
stated in an interview that the team is trying to stay unified and felt standing
in the tunnel together was the best choice. He would have liked to stand on the field for the anthem,
while others would have kneeled. They were doing what they thought was best, but
in turn upset a large portion of their fan base. They weren't trying to be
disrespectful to the men and women who serve our country, the first responders,
and police but to try and stand together as a team. And this goes for all the NFL teams, but they also need to see it from the point of view from families that have or have lost someone serving our country. It means more than just a few words can say. Stand for the few moments that the anthem is played, and use your protest in a way that will bring about change; not just abstaining from the anthem in protest.
People have every
right to protest when they want, and to make their voices heard. The problem is
this way is not bringing about a solution, but more damage to an already torn
nation. Going out and helping those that need it, bringing these affected
communities together is the way to bring about change. Not by kneeling during
our nations Anthem. Action should to be taken, but by doing it this way
nothing will be accomplished. Something needs to be done, this is obvious, but going out and helping those in need is a much better action than to kneel during our Anthem.
