Original commentary #1
It's not like Americans needed something else to be divided over these days, but the angry debate over what is acceptable and unacceptable for NFL players to do during the National Anthem has evoked powerful emotions nationwide. It all boils down to the U.S. Constitution and the First Amendment. Like with so many issues that cause Americans to turn on each other, it seems impossible to change anyone's minds about the NFL players' protests. But we could encourage everyone to consider some things as they dig their trenches deeper in the latest battle for the so-called soul of our nation.
The U.S. Government's foundation has always been based on the U.S. Consitution. In this document, the First Amendment gives Americans the right to express themselves that could result in incarceration and even execution in other countries. America gives people the freedom to praise or ridicule our government's leaders, fly whatever flag we want outside of our houses, and practice any religion that suits us. This is what makes America great.
The reactions to the recent protests in the NFL shows that our discourse can be downright hurtful to hear and painful to watch. Americans are threatening to boycott the NFL, outraged by the fact that players won't stand for the National Anthem. Some Americans are so upset about what they're seeing at recent NFL games that they've decided to burn NFL jerseys. Burnings are being captured on video and posted on the internet.
Is there some sort of compromise here that would allow the NFL players to get their point across without making millions of Americans feel these athletes are guilty of treason? What if the players stood for the anthem but didn't put their hands over their hearts? What if they stayed in their locker rooms during the anthem, as some teams already have? What if they wore some sort of armband to show their solidarity?
Any protest these players wage would have been met with the reaction they're currently getting from many Americans who take offense to anything they view as disrespectful toward our nation. The only consolation for those Americans who are deeply offended by all the kneeling in the NFL games is that they have an absolute right under the First Amendment to legally voice that rage to the public.
If you want to cancel your season tickets, never watch another NFL game again, voice your anger on social media sites, or give President Trump kudos for his demand that the league forbid kneeling during the anthem- you have the right as an American to do all that stuff just as much as the NFL players have the right to kneel.
The First Amendment guarantees our right to voice our opinions, but a side effect is that we see and hear from others sometimes makes us uncomfortable or even massively ticked off.
Seeing a high paid athlete taking a knee is tough for many of us to deal with, but those players are essentially expressing the first amendment and saying that racism is a major problem in America today. That's a message many of us could agree with, even if millions of us find the football player's methods extremely offensive.
Americans must not lose sight of the fact that what makes America great is you can be angry and you don't have to be shy about it. The First Amendment might seem like a curse at times, but it's a blessing that defines who we are as Americans. It makes America different than any other country in the world and we can thank our founding fathers for that.
Comments
On November the 3rd of this year, Sarah Banks wrote her first Original Commentary about NFL players protesting by kneeling during the National Anthem. Ms. Banks wrote a thoughtful, well researched and well written piece regarding this controversy that has engulfed our nation this fall. Ms. Banks was exactly right when she wrote, "it all boils down to the U.S. Constitution and the First Amendment". As is frequently the case in heated controversies such as this, emotion and rhetoric has overtaken logic. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution gives citizens of this great country the freedom to speak their mind, to disagree, to protest. More so, the First Amendment protects these people and their right to disagree. Numerous decorated retired and active military members from all branches have given their support to the NFL players protesting, saying that they are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country so these players have the right to protest. What could be more American than that. Unfortunately reactions from many in this country seem to be ignoring the First Amendment completely. Ms. Banks was spot on when she said, "the First Amendment guarantees our right to voice our opinions, but a side effect is that we see and hear from others sometimes makes us uncomfortable". The First Amendment guarantees our rights to say things that are unpopular. It guarantees our rights to protest. NFL players are simply exercising this right. In a league that is made up overwhelmingly of African-American players but Caucasian owners; the players are saying what many who do not have their public platform are also saying, racism is still a major issue in 2017 America.
Ms. Banks was more eloquent than I could ever hope to be when she said, "the First Amendment might seem like a curse at times, but it's a blessing that defines who we are as Americans. It makes America different than any other country in the world and we can thank our founding fathers for that". The First Amendment is anything but a curse. It is one of the greatest gifts that our founding fathers gave us. The First Amendment is one of the things that makes this country so unique and so special. Our freedom of speech is ensured by our Constitution. That speech may be offensive but it is nevertheless protected. You don't have to like it, you don't even have to listen to it but you must respect people's right to say it. Ms. Banks understands that the First Amendment is a big part of what makes our country great.