Both Douglas and Kaepernick stand to lose thousands of
dollars in endorsements and sponsors because of what some are calling their “unpatriotic”
actions. An often-repeated criticism of
Kaepernick has been that his actions are offensive to members of the US
military. Guidelines say all Americans should stand and face the flag during the
anthem - by not doing so, as the argument goes, Kaepernick was insulting people
prepared to die for it. Some former servicemen and women disagree, however, and
have been offering their support using the #VeteransForKaepernick hashtag. For their part, a spokesperson for the San Francisco 49ers
stated, “In respecting such American principles as freedom of religion and
freedom of expression, we recognize the right of an individual to choose and
participate, or not, in our celebration of the national anthem."
I never had to say the Pledge of Allegiance in school on
a regular basis. The national anthem was
played at sporting events, and I always stood like everyone else. So my question to you this week is two-fold: “Did
you have to regularly stand for the Pledge of Allegiance in school? Do you think athletes should be punished if
they decide they don’t want to participate?”
You must answer both questions for full credit. Answers are due no later than Wednesday,
September 7, 2016.Thursday, September 1, 2016
I Pledge Allegiance.....Or Not.
It was just a
few weeks ago in Rio that U.S. gymnast Gabby Douglas was vilified in the media
for failure to place her hand over her heart as the U.S. national anthem played
during her gold medal ceremony. Then,
this week, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand
for the playing of the anthem because as he said “I am not going to
stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and
people of color."
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Yes, you have to say the Pledge of Allegiance only when you're in elementary school. No, I think the athletes should be told by their coaches to participate in some athletic games.
ReplyDeleteYes, I had to say the Pledge of Allegiance every day in school, and I said it each time. I do feel that athletes should participate with the this, as without our freedom and showing the repect of the people that if us that freedom sports and everything we know could be very different. I feel if you don't repect the pledge then you don't repect the people that fight for the country.
ReplyDeleteI did stand for the pledge of allegiance until middle school. that was around the time I became an atheist. my reasoning for it was based on the fact that it isn't the original pledge of allegiance. in the original it doesn't reference to "under god" and I felt that made the US seem more religious in a sense. granted I did not sit down like the 49ers quarter back did I just didn't recite the pledge itself. those who fought and continue to fight for our country today so that we can protest peacefully and respectfully. the 49ers qb I feel should have not said what he said, I felt it was too harsh but regardless how he protested physically was ok. and if we don't have the right to sit down then what is the point of saying we are a free country??
ReplyDelete~Daniel Bliss
DeleteWhen i was younger and in middle school and elm school we had to stand and say the pledge, i don't think anyone should be punished. If someone doesn't want to say the pledge. I was not born an American and raised half American and half Canadian. I got to kinda picked how i wanted to be raised. I am happy to be in America but it still doesn't compare to being raised as a Canadian.
ReplyDeleteWe had to say the pledge in middle school but i did not stand for that, because i didn't agree with the "under god" reference. Then in high school they stopped playing the pledge. I'm kind of going back and forth between the whole Kaepernick situation, because while i do believe you can protest however you want in this country, and that was among the most peaceful protests...but i also feel like as a football player playing for your country you should respect the country you play for and if you don't then you have the total and complete right to leave if you want. You definitely don't have to stay here if you don't like it. especially when you have as much money as kaepernick probably does. I don't think that he should be punished per say, because they fine football players enough now, but i think that he shouldn't really get any positive attention but he shouldn't get negative either? I'm not sure. I think it's his right and freedom to protest so he shouldn't be punished.k
ReplyDeleteYes, we had to recite the pledge of allegiance in elementary. I think that out of respect for our country, reciting the pledge should be considered, especially if you're doing service. However, I don't think anyone should be forced to do anything rather be fined as a consequence for their actions if they, knowingly, knew that reciting the pledge is whats entailed in doing service for our country. Personally I feel it's all about unity and being on one accord.
ReplyDeleteYes, I had to always say the pledge of allegiance through out grade school and high school. If athletes don't want to say the pledge of allegiance I don't think they should be punished at all.
ReplyDelete-Jared Shaw
I just have been here for couple years, so my experience is totally difference. I did had to stand and say pledge of allegiance every monday morning. In my oppinion, athletes should not be forced to do something that they dont like because we are living in a "freedom" country.
ReplyDeleteEvery morning right as school began every one in the class had to stand and face the flag in the corner of the room and say the Pledge of Allegiance the whole school did so over the P.A. system. On the topic of standing for the national anthem one should not be punished but I believe that it is very disrespectful not to stand the men and woman in service put their lives in danger for a person's rights that includes not standing for the Pledge of Allegiance or national anthem so I see not standing as disrespectful but it is their right
ReplyDeleteIn school I always had to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, though my school was not so strict as to force us to say it or anything. There were some students that sat down for it on a daily basis, though the teachers never said anything to them. I believe it is a matter of personal choice and those who refuse to participate should not be punished for it. While athletes are commonly admired and therefore put on the spot, they are still their own person with their own beliefs that they will freely express. This practice is granted to American citizens as a basic right. However people interpret others' actions should not lead to an intense critique of one's character by the entire country, as with the case of Kaepernick.
ReplyDelete~Jessica Palmer
“Did you have to regularly stand for the Pledge of Allegiance in school? Do you think athletes should be punished if they decide they don’t want to participate?”
ReplyDeleteYes, we stood for the pledge. It was stressed to us that we had a choice but everyone always stood. I don't think they should be punished by their association because they do have the right to freedom of speech, etc. as an American citizen, but how can you sit there and not stand for the national anthem when the reason you are in the postion you are is partially because of your talent and partially because of the the emphasis this country places on sports. Colin is getting paid MILLIONS of dollars a year but wants to complain about oppression? Most of the people in the NFL are black and getting paid A LOT of money. Even being on the practice team, you get paid an average of $66,000 a year. And what are either of those people doing to help the oppression? What has he done to make it better? I have not seen him make any contributions. I don't see either of the athletes vising low poverty black areas or contributing money to anything useful... He was raised by WHITE PARENTS who adopted him and gave him a wonderful education and those people are the reason he is who he is today. Also, he gets PAID BY A WHITE OWNER of his team and white fans fill the stands and buy his merchandise to watch him play. Yes, poverty rates in blacks, the percentage of blacks on food stamps, etc is higher than whites but you know what, we've had a black president for the last 8 years. Maybe he's the one who has failed them because all he has done is put a WEDGE between the black and white communities once again causing all of these uproars. When will the people in this world start to take some responsibility for their OWN ACTIONS?
I never had to stand for the pledge of allegiance when I was In Haiti obviously because its not America and we don't believe in most American ideals and especially don't believe in the Pledge of allegiance. I do not think Athletes should be punished if they decide they don’t want to participate, if they are not hurting anyone or making a scene out of it then I do not see the problem.
ReplyDelete-Killy
Yeah we always had to stand, however our school usually at the Pledge on Mondays, at least later in high school. As for Athletes, I don't know, it kind of feels redudant, yet respectable if they do stand for the Pledge. So I guess Stand, because, why not?
ReplyDeleteYeah we always had to stand, however our school usually at the Pledge on Mondays, at least later in high school. As for Athletes, I don't know, it kind of feels redudant, yet respectable if they do stand for the Pledge. So I guess Stand, because, why not?
ReplyDeleteI had to stand for the pledge but I don't believe someone should be puniahed for not participating since it doesnt really affect anyone else.
ReplyDeleteWe "had" to stand for the pledge in school, but in high school, most teachers didn't care. Stand or don't stand, you do you.. My panties aren't going to get twisted if someone doesn't stand.
ReplyDeleteI always had to stand and say the pledge of Allegiance in grade school. I don't think athletes should be punished as it is there right to choose
ReplyDelete-Corey Music
the pledge was played every morning for us at school yes, but only once did I have a teacher ever scream and throw a kid out of her class because they refused to stand. I never did but for the sake of not getting thrown out of class I did for this woman. Also no I do not think people should be punished for not standing for the pledge. like the guy said we have the freedom of expression, we can choose our selves whether or not to express our patriotism or lack of and punishing them for not doing so it unconstitutional in itself.
ReplyDeleteIt is our freedom of expression to stand or not stand, and we shouldn't have to be forced to do something we dont want to do. Unless of course you rape, murder and above. And famous athletes and celebrities get away with it and still have their job! Thats something I am more outraged about. You mean to tell me any common person gets in trouble thrown in jail and is a convicted felon and cant get a job because of their background, and they pretty much have to start from the bottom and work their way up. Consequences to ones choice of actions. I think that should go for athletes and celebrities too. How do they get to have their jobs and careers back? Makes no sense to me to be uproared about someone not standing because it is their belief and they are allowed to exercise their belief if it does not commit a crime against the law.
ReplyDeleteIt is our freedom of expression to stand or not stand, and we shouldn't have to be forced to do something we dont want to do. Unless of course you rape, murder and above. And famous athletes and celebrities get away with it and still have their job! Thats something I am more outraged about. You mean to tell me any common person gets in trouble thrown in jail and is a convicted felon and cant get a job because of their background, and they pretty much have to start from the bottom and work their way up. Consequences to ones choice of actions. I think that should go for athletes and celebrities too. How do they get to have their jobs and careers back? Makes no sense to me to be uproared about someone not standing because it is their belief and they are allowed to exercise their belief if it does not commit a crime against the law.
ReplyDelete