Seems there are multiple arguments going on here, but Trump, as might have been expected, just poured fuel on the fire.
At any other time, any other situation, surely kneeling for the national anthem would not be classed as disrespectful?
I agree Trump needs not add his two cents, but this all started last season and the NFL choose to not address the problem. We would had gotten to this point had Trump said nothing, or Hillary was elected.
As far as the kneeling part, how do you miss the irony of the players ( mostly black) kneeling before 70,000 fans that are mostly white. Historically kneeling has always been a sign of submission, not protest
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Hi Bob,
Soccer has been gaining popularity here in the States, and is a big deal right here in Orlando, If the NFL keeps it up then Football might have a whole new meaning for us the the USA
I used to think so to, and have placed hand over heart many times. But as I start to reason, research, and actually THINK, do people not realize its more tradition than an oath? Are we stuck in tradition? The “Pledge of allegiance” is our oath to the flag and our nation. Not some chopped over premodern song that we only select the parts we prefer. Its more conventionality than practical. They started doing this in the 1930s to get more engagement during baseball games, and our robotic public took on to it like chocolate milk …Any way you show your love for this country during our anthem is fine with me, as long as you’re subjectively respectful.
Thanks tock.
It does seem to me that respect is owed absolutely to a national anthem, meaning there is no room for political or personal gestures / expressions. Kneeling, saluting, hand on heart, standing still upright, these are all expressions of respect. I don’t see any gain in anyone criticising people for doing one and not another during the anthem. Whether Colin Kaepernick meant it that way or not. Fist in the air however is not on.
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Now if only the current players were to see a pay cut because of their actions they might rethink their conduct. problem is by the time this lost revenue starts to trickle down to the players many will have completed their playing days, it is new players, the ones still in high school that will pay the price for today’s player actions
@tommor, @tock Actually there are federal regulations governing what is proper conduct during the playing of the national anthem.
36 U.S. Code § 301 - National anthem | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute - 36 US Code Section 301
(a)Designation.—
The composition consisting of the words and music known as the Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem.
(b)Conduct During Playing.—During a rendition of the national anthem—
(1) when the flag is displayed—
(A) individuals in uniform should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note;
(B) members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute in the manner provided for individuals in uniform; and
© all other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart; and
(2) when the flag is not displayed, all present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed.
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That’s pretty clear then.
But it doesn’t mention singing the anthem’s words. Surely this is wholly respectable, even if not prescribed? And kneeling may not adhere to the detail but certainly respects the spirit of respect for the anthem which the code seeks to confirm?
Maybe NFL players’contracts say something relevant?
In order to obey the law, you must obey the letter of the law. The spirit of the law argument doesn’t hold a lot of weight. In this case, anyone who kneels, holds up a fist, links arms, or does anything other than perform the anthem or stand with hand over heart is breaking the law.
If the law is amended to allow for those other gestures than those other gestures would be fine. But it clearly states in black and white what appropriate conduct is so there is no debate. Rules are rules. They are not guidelines.
Just ask Bill Lipschutz about rules…
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New York Daily News
Saints: It’s ‘unfortunate’ vet rejects honor over anthem protests
A Navy veteran is taking a stand against those taking a knee.
John Wells, a retired U.S. Navy commander, turned down an offer from the Saints to be honored prior to last Sunday’s game against the Bears because he can’t “in good conscience” enter an NFL stadium due to the ongoing national anthem protests.
“Although I am touched and honored to be selected for such an award, the ongoing controversy with NFL players’ disrespect for the national flag forces me to decline to participate in the presentation,” Wells wrote, according to a release, per reports. “I am unable, in good conscience, to enter an NFL stadium while this discourtesy prevails. Since this award is tainted with the dishonorable actions of the NFL and its players, I cannot accept it.”
Wells, who is the executive director of Military Veterans Advocacy, was slated to receive the Peoples Health Champion Award, an honor awarded at Saints home games to recognize “the exceptional achievements of Louisiana residents age 65 and older.”
Wells described the national anthem protests as “a slap in the face” to military veterans.
“Men and women have fought and died for the flag that the players are disrespecting,” Wells wrote.
The Saints called Well’s decision “unfortunate and disappointing” in a lengthy statement released Thursday.
“Respectfully and honorably, we chose Mr. Wells for the Peoples Health Champion Award purposefully for this game to bring to light the exact issues that he and his organization represent - the health and well being of our military, veterans and their families,” the Saints said in a statement.
“Unfortunately, he has chosen very publicly not to accept this honor and refused the opportunity to promote the very cause for which he was being honored and distract from awareness we hoped to build throughout our community. We respect his decision, he has that right, and we thank him for his service to our country and his past efforts on behalf of the military and veterans.”
The Saints later point out every player has stood for the national anthem since the franchise was founded in 1967 – outside of Week 3 this season where “a few of our players did sit.”
Since then, the Saints have kneeled prior to the anthem in a show of unity against racism and social injustice before rising and standing for the anthem.
Despite the fact the team kneels before the anthem, and not during it, fans have continuously booed the team for their actions, something Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro addressed Thursday.
“Our crowd boos us before the anthem, therefore it’s not about the flag, it’s about the fact we are bringing awareness to a cause that makes people uncomfortable," Vaccaro wrote in a string of tweets.
When a fan said people are mad because they believe the Saints will eventually sit during the anthem again since they did so earlier in the season, Vaccaro responded, “We already said what we were gonna do so get the picture or don’t come.”
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Vin Scully: ‘I will never watch another NFL game’
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/vin-scully-i-will-never-watch-another-nfl-game/ar-AAut7kN?li=BBnb7Kz
America turns football players into celebrity millionaires — and this is how they show their contempt for our country, our flag, and our national anthem.
Former San Francisco Forty-Niners quarterback Colin Kaepernick, flanked by two teammates.
Pittsburgh Kneelers QB Ben Roethlisberger disrespects the flag and the national anthem.
As I said in a previous post — F the NFL.
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Honestly I still don’t get what they are protesting for…perhaps so that Trump can use his favourite quote “You’re fired!” 
I thought this was running down, but no they just keep at it. I also have noticed the team with the worst records have the most players on their knees, Picture below is the 1-9 Fortyniners
For the first time ever,
Roger Goodell and I
agree on something:
NFL players are UNFIT
to be on the field
during the playing of
The National Anthem
I think Roger Goodell is unfit to serve as commissioner, yet they will keep him and continue to pay him millions as TV ratings slide and the average fan is disenfranchized
Now that the networks are no longer showing the National Anthem, will they continue that policy for the Superbowl,
Clearly, this circus will continue into next season, the networks have already stopped showing the National Anthem, is the military still paying for flyovers that will only be seen by the fans in the stadium. How long before the tradition of playing the national anthem before sporting events, Ends.
Well, another football season has begun, and the National Anthem controversy is still with us.
That’s because Roger Goodell hasn’t had the sense or the balls to deal with it effectively.
So, a cadre of malcontents, who want to protest perceived injustices in society at large, are still free to trash our Flag and our Anthem on the football field.
Here’s one of them. This was just last night.
Marshawn Lynch does not set an example worth following.
This is my message to NFL players who choose to kneel or squat
instead of standing respectfully for our Flag and our National Anthem.
This is the United States of America.
We are all Americans, and this is our country.
If you don’t think this is your country, then
get the hell out, and go wherever you think you belong.
Tom Brady is a leader worth following.
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If these guys were protesting US escalation of wars around the world, or US ( CIA) interference in every election in every country, or even US Federal Reserves policy that is making billionaires richer as the middle class declines, then I might be able to get behind them, but they seem to be just protesting for the sake of protesting. I mean you protest a war in hopes of ending that war, but what are these guys hoping to end. Some might say police violence, okay, how do you end that, I don’t see any solutions unless the police just stop policing, and will the criminals stop being violent is the police stop their violence, some how I doubt that
When these protest started 3 seasons ago, all we heard from the so called left is how it was a question of free speech and these players had a right to be heard ( or seen) and the NFL would be wrong stopping them.
Fast forward today, and we see Apple, Google, and Facebook banning content from their sights, and the so called left says the 1st Amendment covering free speech only applies to the government and these private companies ( more on the private company lie in a later post) have every right to ban anyone who violates their rules.
Wait, is not the NFL a private company, there for the 1st Amendment would not apply to them either, and the NFL would be in their right to fire any player who violates the leagues on the field conduct rules.
Okay, so called left, lets see you wiggle out of this one