America has always been a country known for its patriotism. Centuries of engrained tradition have kept multitudes of civilians standing, removing their hats, and placing their hands on their hearts when in affiliation with symbolic entities that manifest American morals. These small acts of respect towards our country have always relayed a strong sense of patriotism and until recently have not been questioned otherwise as to why we perform in these ways. In 2016, San Fransisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick performed an unspoken protest when he did not rise for the singing of the national anthem. While this silent act shocked people across the nation, it brought to light the realization that in the fight for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, some feel that human value and decency have fallen from the list of priorities. The public release of Kaepernick's behavior triggered a movement that left citizens questioning the importance of respecting a simple song that's original intent was to promote American virtue. Other reputable figures such as Jay Z and Beyonce are encouraging this act as a form of objection and reveal that they "as people of color do not yet feel it acceptable to praise a country that does not fully accept them". With that being said, should individual values outweigh traditional indicators of patriotism? More specifically, should standing during the national anthem be required as a way to pay due respect towards our country?
24 Comments
Dillon
1/30/2021 12:28:02 pm
People should not be forced to stand for the National Anthem allowing them freedoms they are granted in our country, but kneeling must be seen as extremely disrespectful towards our great nation and especially those who bravely fight to protect it. No protest should ever take place during the National Anthem. If someone wishes to protest anything it needs to be done before or after the Anthem, but never while it is playing. There are other ways to protest that do not involve disrespecting a song that represents our country. Players such as Colin Kaepernick are disrespecting the men and women who fight for their right to be able to play professional sports and make millions of dollars. If they want to show disapproval of something going on in the country sitting out the first play of the game would be a much more respectful option than failing to stand for the National Anthem. In the end, there should be no criminal punishment for kneeling, but it must be viewed as horribly discourteous behavior.
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Caden
1/31/2021 05:32:14 pm
Missing the first play of a game would be a more respectable and significant protest over kneeling during an inappropriate time.
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Eli
1/31/2021 08:05:22 pm
How would missing the first play prove his point anymore? The best way for him to get his point across would be for him to speak his option instead od insult an entire country.
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Will
1/31/2021 08:07:35 pm
I agree that it should not be illegal, but should be viewed as disrespectful. There are far better options to express one’s opinion than to not stand during the National Anthem.
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Blazen
1/31/2021 08:37:36 pm
Missing the first off of the game would be a better solution. Unless you missed a really important part.
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Blazen
1/31/2021 04:14:45 pm
You should have to stand for the national anthem. The national anthem is just a song used to show respect to the country. If you’re playing a sport inside of the U.S., show respect and just stand for the anthem. There are people all over the world that are racist, a lot of them may be in the U.S., it is not a perfect country. Nonetheless you should still respect the nation because it is allowing you to live your every day life the way you would like to. All you have to do is simply stand and put your hand on your heart. If you cannot find the decency to do that, you might as well just leave the country altogether.
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Dillon
1/31/2021 04:36:34 pm
The nation should be respected whether or not people agree with everything about it. If that is not possible for someone, than like you say maybe it is the wrong country for them.
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Johnathon Simmons
1/31/2021 07:23:26 pm
Very well and succinctly said. It should be done as an act of acknowledgment of the liberties and privileges of being an American. In what way do you think people should voice their opinions rather than kneeling or sitting for the national anthem?
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Sam
1/31/2021 07:50:44 pm
Like you said, America is not a perfect country. This song has been around for a long time and obviously things have changed since this country was formed, but we must remember the morals and values that have provided people with the freedom that they hold while living here.
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Eli
1/31/2021 04:15:05 pm
The country of the united states of America is not perfect, because people are not perfect. The country itself is making dues on the gruesome mistakes it has made, while some of the people in it are not. The United States of America, the place that gives you the freedom of religion, press, to assemble, to petition, and of speech, you blame for what individuals have insulting done. The freedom of speech does give you the right to express your option, but why would you disrespect the exact freedom you are using?
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Dillon
1/31/2021 04:34:16 pm
You are right that people disrespect the freedoms that they have. People can, but they should not kneel.
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Caden
1/31/2021 05:35:08 pm
It's ironic that they are protesting freedom during the time to thank their country for freedom.
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Sam
1/31/2021 07:53:46 pm
People can be extremely naïve to the freedoms they are given if they are raised in that environment their entire lives. I think this is why so many people try to find the wrong in a simple song that helps express this freedom we are given.
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Blazen
1/31/2021 08:36:08 pm
Exactly. People aren’t perfect and our country is also far from perfect.
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Aidan
2/1/2021 03:51:12 pm
Yes exactly people aren’t perfect and our country is also far from perfect. Look at that I used the same word twice in one sentence. Smh.
Mackay Williams
1/31/2021 04:58:40 pm
Standing for the national anthem is an act of respect for those who are fighting, have fought, and died to protect the freedom of our country. The national anthem is a song that unites us as Americans. For those who wish to sit as the honored song plays, look foolish in the eyes of a soldier. For they have been granted individual freedoms as they live in this country. Kneeling during the anthem is not how one should protest against racial inequality. Failing to realize, the anthem is more than just that. This being said, it is often found that young students do not fully understand why they stand for the pledge within their schools. Our society is loosing the knowledge of why, and how our country has came to be. Freedoms are being taken advantage of without paying respect towards those who fight for them. We cannot force people to stand for that would take away their initial freedom. Yet, standing for the anthem should be an action every American strives to do as they live in this country.
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Eli
1/31/2021 08:06:34 pm
They look foolish in front of everyone there is a time and a place for protest and doing it during the national anthem is not one of them.
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Caden Caywood
1/31/2021 05:31:20 pm
Everyone deserves the right to protest and demonstrate their disapproval of something, but during the national anthem it is neither the time or the place to try and accomplish this. Before a national sports event many people tune in to watch their favorite athletes and teams compete. When they see players kneeling during the anthem most begin to feel disgusted with the entire sport as a whole. Nobody should be forced to stand for this, but all should realize the importance of standing during our country’s national anthem. Protests can be staged at many other times during a celebrity’s life, but the national anthem must remain a time to show our respect for those who died for our country.
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Johnathon Simmons
1/31/2021 07:26:42 pm
Mandating people to stand during the national anthem sounds like a dictatorship. I agree with you that people shouldn’t be forced to stand but need to recognize it’s importance. So much has happened for these athletes to make the millions of dollars they make.
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Aidan
2/1/2021 03:49:54 pm
Well said Elijah, I agree fully.
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Johnathon Simmons
1/31/2021 07:21:24 pm
The National Anthem represents more than just our great nation. The National Anthem represents the opportunity, the guarantees, and the values that living in this nation provides. As a citizen of this country, I recognize that it is the right of the people to protest and voice opinions but those mentioned in the prompt are among the wealthiest and most advantaged but see themselves as the victim even though they are far advantaged over most everyone. To me, this makes no logical sense. As someone who values logic, I would also like to see the statistics on the disadvantages of being nonwhite in this country. I don't mean how many people think being white gives you an advantage over others but statistics on actual scenarios that it does. On my last point, one who can't look for the good that is around them has obviously been spoiled by the goods that they have. Showing respect to the national anthem and flag is a way of acknowledging the privileges that billions all over the world do not have.
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Will
1/31/2021 08:04:04 pm
I agree, that many who have it the best often find the most reasons to morn or feel bad about themselves. However, I feel we must recognize the opinions and personal stories of those who are not as privileged, before we can judge.
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Will
1/31/2021 08:00:16 pm
“Standing for the national anthem should be required, for it is morally wrong to publicly disrespect one’s own country.” This is the common response to this question, however in our community how could we know otherwise than to stand for flag. It is only when we experience social injustice that our perception changes. Being an all white class from a rural town in Idaho, we can’t fully comprehend the mistreatment that people undergo, causing them to not stand for the national anthem. Therefore we cannot require or judge everybody that does not stand for the flag.
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Aidan Adams
2/1/2021 03:49:02 pm
Yes and could you come up with a more boring question? Do any of you think outside the box? We’ve been answering these same questions since last year and I’m sick of it. Be original.
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