NFL should ban political statements: An Opinion
Travis Willmann, Sport Section Editor
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The views and opinions expressed on in this article are solely those of the original author. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of The Vision NGU or North Greenville University.
Since 2016, there have been a number of political protests, but none more widely known than the national anthem protests. In the last few days of the 2016 NFL season, Colin Kaepernick was the first to kneel for the national anthem, sparking outrage from many NFL fans. Since then, the national anthem protests have grown into a national debate on whether this should be allowed. But the real question still remains for those who see a problem with the national anthem protests, should any political statement be made during a game?
Political statements during a game are one thing, but disrespect for this country is another. Sports athletes should not be allowed to disrespect the American flag or the anthem. By disrespecting the flag and anthem, they are disrespecting those who died and fought for their right to play the game they have chosen to play.
They have the right to play the game of football because somebody took their place and went overseas to fight for their freedom. NFL players make millions of dollars while those who serve this country barely make enough to provide for their families.
It is not right for those who make millions to disrespect those who make so little and give so much. If anything, the NFL should pay tribute to those who have given their lives for the freedoms that we enjoy today.
This is not a political statement, this is an American statement. Political statements have a political agenda. Loving your country and respecting those who have fought for your freedom has nothing to do with politics. It has everything to do with being an American.
If a political statement needs to be addressed, then it should be made off the football field and on their own time. NFL players have their personal opinions and have the right to protest but independently. They also have the right to support whichever political party they want.
They are on the field to give the fans entertainment, nothing more. They are nothing but entertainers, not political activists. If they want to be a political activist, then they should do it on their own time and not on the football field.
Every form of political statement should be forbidden from all sports, especially the NFL. This only creates tension between the players and the fans. The fans eventually stop watching the sport and then the sport loses money.
This nation does not need any more tension, but unification. For this to happen we will need to put our political differences aside during sports and other activities. There is a place for politics, but on the field is not one of them.
Ronald Reagan said during his first Inaugural Address on Jan. 20, 1981, “If we look to the answer as to why for so many years we achieved so much, prospered as no other people on Earth, it was because here in this land we unleashed the energy and individual genius of man to a greater extent than has ever been done before. Freedom and the dignity of the individual have been more available and assured here than in any other place on Earth.”
