Men of the NFL have shunned the nation

As of this weekend, members of at least 16 teams – fully one-half of the NFL – have protested during the playing of the national anthem, by sitting, kneeling, eating, or raising a clenched fist. The respectful and patriotic practices of standing, covering your heart with your right hand or cap, and maybe even singing, were ignored by these “men.” It should be noted that these “men” collectively earn hundreds of millions of dollars each year playing a game, a game that is not played anywhere else professionally (as far as I know) except in Canada. What game? – football, not to be confused with soccer, which is called football everywhere else in the world.

These “men” have the right of free speech guaranteed to them by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This right has been protected by millions of service men and women since the passage and implementation of the Constitution in 1789. Untold numbers of these veterans have died or suffered injury defending the United States and its Constitution. So it is easy to consider the protests as a slap in the face of every veteran – past, present, and future. And first responders as well, who as a group are extremely patriotic and honor the flag and country, as opposed to players who seem to dislike the country and who disrespect the anthem honoring our country.

These “men” have the right to protest. They do not have the right to play. Yet play they do, because football is no longer a true sport, but a multi-billion dollar entertainment venture. The coaches and team owners have shown little or no backbone in this issue, allowing the protesters to play, earning their millions, while disrespecting the country that affords them the opportunity to earn those millions.

There is a ray of hope. A couple teams are not on the list of 16. Instead, their players are helping the victims of Hurricane Harvey. Good for them! Let others protest as a team. I don’t have to watch their games, or any of the other games in which the 16 teams are playing. And I don’t have to buy products advertised on those TV broadcasts. I can watch baseball, the true American sport, and shun the NFL as the “men” of the NFL have shunned the greatest nation in the history of the world.