Various NFL players have continued to take a knee during the National Anthem during this season. By doing so, they have shown disrespect for the National Anthem, their flag and their nation, regardless of what they might be protesting about. Such action has brought criticism from the Trump Administration, veterans, and many other individuals. And it is unlikely that the matter will go away quietly.
As a result, on Veterans Day Weekend (November 10-12), there will be the Flags Across America Rally that will show support for the flag. This rally, which has been planned and organized by a conservative group known as Main Street Patriots, is more than just a rally. It is also a call for Americans throughout the country to fly the flag everywhere. In addition, the Main Street Patriots have called for a boycott of the NFL during Veterans Day Weekend, i.e. no attending the NFL games, watching the NFL on television (even to turn on a game to check the score of a particular game or the scores of other games).
It should be noted that Veterans Day Weekend will be Week Ten of the NFL Season, which includes games on Thursday, November 9, and Monday, November 13. Thus, the boycott needs to include those dates as well (if they have not already been included).
On a side note, I should mention that athletes in other countries show respect by standing for their national anthems, regardless of their political views or what the laws are in other countries in regards to political expression. As far as I know, no athlete from another nation has chosen to take knee whenever the national anthem of his or her country is being played.
I am hoping the entire NFL takes heed of the boycott that will take place. Perhaps the players will realize how unpatriotic their actions are and actually stand for the National Anthem instead of taking a knee. And by doing so, then maybe, just maybe, the boycott will be called off. So, the best thing to do in the meantime is to contact the NFL (including its teams’ owners) and give them an ultimatum: stand for the National Anthem and respect America and the flag by Week Ten of this season (and continue to do so). Otherwise, the boycott will go into effect, thus resulting in even lower ratings than they had already experienced on television, not to mention lower attendance at games (which in turn affects ticket sales).
As I mentioned earlier, Week Ten of the NFL Season starts on Thursday, November 9. Time will tell on what the NFL will do by then.
photo credit: Excerpted from: Thomas Hawk Patriotism via photopin (license)
