Sports Persuasive Essay
The sports world has experienced controversy lately with high school and professional athletes choosing to kneel instead of standing during the national anthem. Colin Kaepernick is the athlete that started this; many people have taken a knee because of his views on injustice, police brutality, and black rights. The decision to kneel during the national anthem is an extremely debated topic.
“The Star Spangled Banner,” dating back to 1814, is still used today usually prior to kickoff or tipoff. This American tradition started in 1862 and since then has been played at most games. The anthem about our flag represents men and women who have fought and who are fighting for our country today.
Colin Kaepernick, an NFL player, started this “trend” …show more content…
Twenty five percent of Americans said that they plan to boycott NFL games because of this situation (CNN). Some fans of the 49ers have gone to the extreme of burning Kaepernick jerseys because they don’t want him to be “apart” of the team(CNN). Everyone in the United States is entitled to his/her own opinion and freedom of speech according to the First Amendment. People take this to their advantage to show what they believe in, including the athletes that have started this trend.
Freedom of speech may not always be a positive. Hate speech is something that people say towards another person referring to their skin color, sexuality, or religion. Colin Kaepernick believes that this issue affects blacks more than whites. Eighty two percent of blacks say that the athletes are doing the right thing by kneeling (CNN). He wants this issue to be made known to everyone so that the verbal abuse towards others can be changed. Just because a person has a different colored skin doesn’t mean he/she should be treated differently.
Therefore, kneeling for the national anthem has became an extremely hot issue in the sports world; there still isn’t a
“The Star Spangled Banner,” dating back to 1814, is still used today usually prior to kickoff or tipoff. This American tradition started in 1862 and since then has been played at most games. The anthem about our flag represents men and women who have fought and who are fighting for our country today.
Colin Kaepernick, an NFL player, started this “trend” …show more content…
Twenty five percent of Americans said that they plan to boycott NFL games because of this situation (CNN). Some fans of the 49ers have gone to the extreme of burning Kaepernick jerseys because they don’t want him to be “apart” of the team(CNN). Everyone in the United States is entitled to his/her own opinion and freedom of speech according to the First Amendment. People take this to their advantage to show what they believe in, including the athletes that have started this trend.
Freedom of speech may not always be a positive. Hate speech is something that people say towards another person referring to their skin color, sexuality, or religion. Colin Kaepernick believes that this issue affects blacks more than whites. Eighty two percent of blacks say that the athletes are doing the right thing by kneeling (CNN). He wants this issue to be made known to everyone so that the verbal abuse towards others can be changed. Just because a person has a different colored skin doesn’t mean he/she should be treated differently.
Therefore, kneeling for the national anthem has became an extremely hot issue in the sports world; there still isn’t a