I would like to quickly address the issue with players kneeling during the national anthem at National Football League(NFL) games. For my international readers, you may not have heard that there is a major debate about NFL athletes kneeling during the pregame rendition of the USA national anthem. Just to be clear, this is not a "constitutional" rendition or performance of the national anthem. It is profitably performed before an NFL game. Our current president Trump has clearly misled most people especially his base to believe that NFL players are kneeling because they choose to disrespect the flag instead of protesting police brutality.
This misinformation has led to comments like these below. To keep this as brief as possible, I will only pick the top 3 comments (paraphrased) that I've received in the past weeks from critics of the players protesting police brutality. Again, like I've always said, not all cops are bad but we cannot deny the significant difference when it comes to the treatment of people of color, which is something some cops have openly admitted to.
This misinformation has led to comments like these below. To keep this as brief as possible, I will only pick the top 3 comments (paraphrased) that I've received in the past weeks from critics of the players protesting police brutality. Again, like I've always said, not all cops are bad but we cannot deny the significant difference when it comes to the treatment of people of color, which is something some cops have openly admitted to.
Comment 1::: It's disrespectful to kneel for the anthem. The least "they" can do is stand for the flag.
- Me::: I didn't realize kneeling is a form of disrespect. How could Jesus Christ of Nazareth fall on his knees to pray; disrespectful? I guess it's time for us Christians to stop singing the song "Light the Fire" because part of the lyrics states: "I stand to praise you but I fall on my knees..." This is supposed to mean that we are so in awe that standing just wasn't enough to show our respect and adoration to the heavenly father; so we fell on our knees. The situation maybe different but the applications clearly shows that "kneeling" is NOT and will never be seen as a form of disrespect except by those who like to create false narratives. These athletes are just using another form of "respect" to create awareness and we as a society should stop looking for ways to twist things simply because majority of them are colored people.
Comment 2::: My Dad, brother, sister, mom, son, daughter etc... fought and died for the freedom that "they" enjoy.
- Me::: I'm truly thankful for their service and the service of all our military plus their families. I'd also like to remind you all that the ancestors of "they" aka black athletes, died building a country that is now worth fighting for. "They" a.k.a black athletes also have families and relatives who gave their lives fighting for the freedom to seek justice without being penalized for it. Yes, black folks are in the military too, just saying.
Comment 3::: These NFL players should be grateful that "they" get paid millions of dollars to hit each other like animals.
- Me::: After reading most of these related comments, I had no doubt that the word "they" is being used to describe the black athletes because some of you made it clear to me exactly who you are referring to. I agree that they should be grateful just like we all should. Being grateful should not make you a puppet against the truth. I guess this same people with these kinds of comments will tell the slaves of old to be very thankful for getting a plate of food after being beaten and forced to pick cotton all day long. I guess people of color will always be inferior humans that will never be worth anything that they get paid for their services. How about everyone be thankful regardless of race or gender? The last time I checked, these players are not receiving free checks. If all "they" do is hit each other like animals and no skills, dedication or sacrifices required, why not try taking their place? When people like the president said "they" should go back to Africa, I don't think "their" ancestors will be very happy to know that people like Trump will be the only ones left in the US to enjoy the fruit of these ancestors' labor. I think the descendants of most slave owners have benefited enough from all the sweat and blood of the slaves that were used to build wealth. Is it a crime for colored people to be allowed to work whatever job they choose and benefit from the sweat of their own labor or is this too much to ask?
