How Americans Are Reacting to Athletes Taking a Knee

By Natalie Wysokowski

December 11th, 2017 - Greenville, New York News

In recent news, many athletes have been voicing their opinions by silently taking a knee during the National Anthem. These actions have sparked a huge debate across the country and have caused a division of perspectives. While some believe taking a knee is merely an individual choosing to express their rights in a peaceful manner, others find the gesture extremely disrespectful towards their country.

But why are athletes taking a knee in the first place? It goes back to August 26th, 2016. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick spoke out against racial inequality and police brutality by dismissing the “The Star-Spangled Banner” and refused to join his teammates in stance.  People were outraged and many fans of the 49ers no longer supported the team. Others found his actions to be courageous and justified. Ever since Kaepernick took a knee, other professional and high school athletes have joined him to voice their solidarity.

Many nationalists don’t view this method as an appropriate form of protest. Their loyalty stands with their flag and the troops that defend their country. Some identify disrespecting the flag as a contradiction in terms because it is the same flag that has granted Americans the freedom to speak out. It is also a bad image for the rest of the teammates; the actions of one player begins to reflect on the entire team from the standpoint of their fans.

There are also many people who believe this method is effective because it brings the attention to more important issues the country is currently facing. If the actions of one individual can bring controversy across the nation, then perhaps it is time to see the bigger picture; after all, solidarity isn’t practiced for no reason. America reinforces the constitutional freedom of expression in the First Amendment. While it might be seen as disrespectful to those who sacrificed their lives for the liberties of  American citizens,  it can also be seen as a good use of those freedoms.