The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
NFL'S anthem policy has people talking
Trickle-down effect of movement has reached into metro Atlanta.
Sue Ann Morgan didn’t miss a minute of the royal wedding. “I got up at 5 o’clock and
watched the whole thing” on May 19, when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle became the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Royal
interest notwithstanding, Morgan notes that Americans enjoy certain unalienable rights.
“The First Amendment is the first one for a reason,” said Morgan, who’s troubled by the National Football League’s new policy mandating players on the field “stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem.” Players may remain in their locker rooms or otherwise out of sight until after the national anthem, a distinction that doesn’t give Morgan comfort.
“I will stand for the national anthem and put my hand on my heart, but I will also kneel and protest if I feel the need to. Patriotism is not blindly saluting the flag. We should always have our eyes open.”
The NFL policy comes nearly two years after former San Francisco 49ers player Colin Kaepernick, in protesting police brutality and other social injustices, started kneeling during “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Other players followed suit, and the movement’s trickle-down effect reached metro Atlanta. In February, former Attorney General
Sam Olens stepped down as president of Kennesaw State University after criticism of how he handled things when cheerleaders started kneeling before football games.
President Donald Trump called the NFL’s decision “the right thing” during a “Fox & Friends” interview. “You have to stand proudly for the national anthem or you shouldn’t be playing. You shouldn’t be there. Maybe you shouldn’t be in the country.”
Here in metro Atlanta, conservative pundit Phil Kent said players who want to protest should find other avenues.
“Americans of good will should support the new NFL policy banning any disrespect during the playing of the national anthem at games,” he said. “There are other vehicles with which to protest policies and standing for the anthem should be something that unites all Americans.”
He’ll get no argument from Dan Blankowski, who planned to play the national anthem at pool parties during the holiday weekend and never fails to stand during pregame performances: “I find myself standing, even when I’m watching on TV.”
Some folks likened the
NFL’s policy to other workplace guidelines.
“The NFL is a business and (players) are employees,” Scott Kimbler noted. “The boss is not always right, but he or she is always the boss.”
Observed Aron Siegel, “If I voice a different opinion in my workplace and express my First Amendment right to do so, I won’t go to jail, but I’m not free of consequences from both my co-workers and my employer.”
During last year’s NFL season, owners including the Atlanta Falcons’ Arthur
Blank made shows of solidarity, locking arms with players during the pregame pageantry.
The official entreaties followed past comments from the top urging reverence during the anthem and U.S. flag unfurling.
“We encourage all our players to respect the flag and all our fans to do the same and everybody in attendance,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in response to a question about pregame protests. “To us, it’s a very important moment.”
He said that in Houston more than a year ago - ahead of Super Bowl LI starring the Falcons and the New England Patriots.
Melani Carter said players who kneel before games aren’t showing disrespect to the flag, the national anthem or the military but rather are highlighting social injustice.
“When you pray, you kneel. When you ask for someone’s hand in marriage, you kneel,” she said. “I’m a Falcons fan, but I’m definitely thinking about not watching this year.”