Continuing with the thoughts expressed in my last blog, recently the Cleveland Browns got into some hot water for kneeling during the National Anthem prior to the start of a preseason game. (As an aside, they only did that the one game. The most recent game, as of this writing, they all stood.)
There was a lot of social media angst over whether or not these guys were right in their actions. Some say that they were exercising their First Amendment rights and protesting President Trump’s lack of anger over the white supremacists’ and Nazis’ protest in Charlottesville. Others say that guys who make millions of dollars playing a game do not have the right to disrespect the flag.
As far as my opinion goes, my last blog pretty much summed it up. The First Amendment acknowledges your right to PEACEFULLY assemble. What those players were doing was just that.
There is no law stating that you have to stand and respect the flag during the National Anthem. There is no law. However, there IS custom.
First off, you are not standing BECAUSE of the National Anthem. You are standing because of the flag (which in itself is just a piece of cloth - it is what that piece of cloth represents that you are showing respect). Any patriotic song will do. And second, there is no law demanding that you stop and place your hand over your heart when you see the flag. Can you just imagine people stopping EVERY time they saw the flag?
What they did do was make a public protest in a non-violent manner. And THAT is absolutely their right under the First Amendment.
Now, if the NFL or the team's owners want to make an issue of it, they can. After all, the First Amendment only tells us what the government cannot do: “Congress shall make no law . . . “ There is nothing that stops a non-governmental institution from implementing ANY restrictions upon free speech.
And finally, I see nothing wrong with a sport that “takes a knee” at the end of their games taking one at the beginning.
That’s football for you.
© Emittravel 2017
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