NFL Releases Statement on National Anthem Controversy
Goodell addresses protests.
NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, released a statement to the 32 teams yesterday afternoon stating that all players “should” be standing for the National Anthem.
He wrote, “It is an important moment in our game. We want to honor our flag and our country, and our fans expect that of us. We also care deeply about our players and respect their opinions and concerns about critical social issues. The controversy over the Anthem is a barrier to having honest conversations and making real progress on the underlying issues. We need to move past this controversy, and we want to do that together with our players.” He also mentioned how football was a way of unifying people, and that the controversy over taking a knee or not was eroding away that unity.”
“The NFL is at its best when we ourselves are unified. In that spirit, let’s resolve that next week we will meet this challenge in a unified and positive way,” is how Goodell ended his letter.
Many people have criticized this statement because in America, we have freedom of religion and freedom of speech. By law, we cannot be made to stand for a flag or anthem. Patriotism is not a law that can be enforced. Also, the NFL was in hot water for taking money from the military for these same salutes in question and were made to give it back.
Millions don’t stand for the anthem or salute the flag for religious reasons. Why aren’t they called out? #anthemprotest pic.twitter.com/f4gKG20v4m
— BuffyHippie (@BuffyHippie) October 9, 2017
President Trump has been pushing for a statement of this nature, stating previously that “the sons of bitches who sit for the National Anthem should lose their job.”Many feel that Trump should stay out of sports.
Mike Pence has been beside Trump on this as well, as he left the Colts versus 49’ers game on Sunday after a few players took a knee during the National Anthem. Pence also was called out for posting an old photo from 2014 and staging the walkout as a paid protest. Mike Pence tweeted the same picture from a Colts game that he tweeted in 2014.
Mike Pence tweeted the same picture from a Colts game that he tweeted in 2014 https://t.co/V9UuJikRPy
LEFT: 11/23/14
RIGHT: 10/08/17 pic.twitter.com/CJIAU8lZVk— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) October 8, 2017
Whether or not the NFL can enforce this policy is unclear. America will certainly be watching this coming week to see how the players respond to the commissioner’s request.
Photo/ Instagram: Shutterstock
