The Question of Standing for the US National Anthem

In the United States, even people who have never had any interest in National Football League football tend to have opinions on football players standing for the playing of the National Anthem.

To explain the situation, the national anthem is representative of the United States of America in general and of the sacrifice of the US military to keep this nation free, as well as helping other nations all over the world. Out of respect of those sacrifices and deaths, as well as the love of the country and the freedom we all enjoy here, people stand for the playing of the anthem and the display of the colors (the flag). It is to show respect, the love of our country, and patriotism. Many people also hold their hands over their hearts, or if they are or were in the military, they offer a salute.

Since football is a national sport played for a national audience, the national anthem is played before each game and the colors are displayed.

Beginning with a former quarterback named Colin Kaepernick, football players began to kneel rather than standing for the anthem and display of colors. Colin claimed that his reason was that he was protesting oppression in the US.

This caused an uproar because Colin and the other kneeling football players make millions of dollars and the teams make millions of dollars more each year because of the fans; the very Americans they are protesting. It was a slap to the country and especially to the military. It showed a lack of respect, lack of love for the country, and lack of patriotism.

It was pointed out that football is a business. Few businesses will allow protests, hypocritical ones or otherwise, while the employee is “on the clock”, especially at the place of business. Few people were concerned about whether or not football players protest something, they simply felt that during the game was not the time or the place to protest.

As a result of the football protests, the NFL revenues last year dropped by over 30% and a number of major advertisers withdrew their contracts.

This year, a rule was put into place that any player on the field during the playing of the anthem and the display of the colors must stand. There is little doubt that some players will try to get around this by staying off the field until after the anthem has played and the colors are displayed. Of course, this makes the protests senseless, but that won’t stop players from doing it.

Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, has already stated that his players will be required to be on the field and to stand for the anthem and display. Any player who doesn’t do so will be fired.

Many people in other countries may not understand the big deal and why patriotism and respect are so important in the US. However, all of this leads to this poll.