College Democrat
The First Amendment of the Constitution grants the rights to free expression and speech. This gives one the ability to peacefully assemble, protest and speak critically of the government. This means that the right to not stand for the national anthem is protected under the First Amendment.
This debate sparks from former NFL player Colin Kaepernick's decision to kneel for the national anthem before his games. He cited police brutality, oppression of people of color and the presidential candidates at the time as reasoning to why he decided to kneel. Many people attacked him for this as they believed he was disrespecting the military. Kaepernick responded by saying those who are dying overseas are dying in vain, as the U.S. is not holding up its end of the bargain.
The idea that one is disrespecting the troops by not standing for the national anthem is false. A national anthem, according to the Oxford Dictionary, is “a solemn patriotic song officially adopted by a country as an expression of national identity." “The Star Spangled Banner” is a poem, written by Francis Scott Key after he witnessed our flag still standing following a British bombardment of Fort McHenry. It is about our history and struggle for freedom, not the troops.
What Kaepernick was trying to do was bring attention to important issues, which he did. I don't believe there is much that's more patriotic than wanting to improve one's country, whether you join the military or start a social justice movement.
This country is not perfect. We do have a police brutality problem in this country that needs attention, as well as many other issues. The best part about this country is that we have the right to protest and speak out against things like this that need to be fixed.
If you believe one should have to stand for the national anthem, then you have that right. But know that stance does not represent the value of freedom in this country.
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Should we be required to stand for the national anthem?
College Republican
With the start of fall on Sept. 23 comes plenty of apple pie and Sunday night football games during which the national anthem will be played. There has been controversy over “The Star-Spangled Banner” from the 1968 Olympics to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s (NAACP) call to replace the national anthem in 2017. Lately, there has been debate over whether you should stand, sit or like former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, kneel during the anthem.
While I am a big supporter of peaceful protest, during the national anthem may not be the best time for it. Refusing to stand for the national anthem can be seen as a sign of disrespect to the members of the Armed Forces, men and women who work hard every day to keep our nation safe. There are many members of our armed forces who have sacrificed their physical and mental health to keep the country safe, and many Americans have lost fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters. Standing not only supports our lost heroes but the people they left behind.
To many, the national anthem is more than a song — it unites us as proud Americans. While we all are very different, that is something we all share in common. We are proud Americans who enjoy freedom, opportunity and a diverse melting pot of ideas and people. Through music, we are able to reflect on how far our nation has come and where we will go as a nation together.
People should be required to stand for the national anthem. As divided as we are in today’s political climate, we should all respect the sacrifices others have made for the country. There are many other ways to protest peacefully, like formal speeches, letters of opposition, signed public statements, group petitions, marches, etc. I strongly believe it should be required to stand for the national anthem, not only for our country but for all those who no longer can.
