"The Nuggets...Los Angeles Lakers...Minnesota Timberwolves... all stood with arms locked during the anthem."
"We are in this together"
Article Link: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/luke-walton-expects-lakers-to-lock-arms-during-national-anthem-before-every-game/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/01/nfl-players-defy-donald-trump-second-week-kneeling-us-national/
Discussion Question(s):
Read the two articles and answer the questions below:
Do you think it’s the right thing to do for the NBA to make the players stand during the national anthem, whereas in the NFL, where owners and coaches are taking a knee with the players?
How do you think Trump feels about this?
I belive that if they want to take a stand than they should. It doesnt matter the sport, it just matters that it brings convorsation. That is the main goal for this protest, and then it got changed since trumps comments. And if the bascketball players are linking arms, I belive that might be a signal that they support the football. And I think trump shouldnt really have an opinion on this because its just sports, not like something more scary.
ReplyDeleteOverall I believe that Trump would be happy that the players are standing and showing more respect. However, I believe that the NBA players shouldn't be forced to stand or kneel. Military is fighting for our country so people can protest and have a voice and freedom of speech, and once example of expressing this is the decision to kneel or stand. While I personally don't agree with kneeling, I think all should have a voice. Overall no one should be forced to feel or act a certain way, however they should have the morals do make the right choice and know time and place from the start.
ReplyDeleteI think that the NBA should support its players and the issues that they want to protest/address. The players who want to protest obviously want to bring about change and attention to an issue, because if they don't try to make a change, one won't happen. I think that the NBA should support its players like the NFL does because these are very explicit issues and clearly they need to be fixed. Although it is possible for the players to make a change by getting involved in communities and make an impact, I believe that they will bring about more change if they create controversy. I think that Trump will be very happy about how the NBA is making the players stand in a dignified pose during the anthem since that dignified pose means respecting the flag and the anthem, and all else that occurs during the anthem. All in all, I think that NBA should support their players, because otherwise they could feel resentment and it could hurt the reputation of the teams and the league. In contrast, Trump would not support that issue because it could possibly mean disrespecting the flag, the anthem, and all else.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the NBA players should do what they feel is right. If thats taking a knee or standing and locking arms. They should do what they want no matter what Trump thinks about the issue he is just demonstrating his rights just like the NFL and NBA teams are doing. I think Trump will be frustrated in the players but happy with the coaches. But Trump needs to spend his time working about bigger issues like North Korea or Vegas and not the NFL and NBA.
ReplyDeleteI think that the NBA shouldn't force the players to stand because they aren't supporting their players on issues that they feel strongly about. I would think that the NBA especially would allow their players to kneel because the NBA usually has led the sports world in protests. I think Trump supports this because of his remarks about the NFL and players kneeling.
ReplyDeleteI think it is oppressing their rights. You should not force someone to stand or sit: that is , in fact, the opposite of what the flag represents. In a way, forcing players to stand is more disrespectful to the flag than actually sitting for the anthem because it is trampling on the rights of these athletes. I think that while it is not a good way to protest, people's feelings don't outweigh other's rights. The NBA owners are wrong, and the NFL owners are doing the right thing. I think Trump would agree with the NBA owners as evidenced by the fact that he publicly calls out NFL owners and players who are part of the protest. The owners have a right to call out their players, Trump has the right to call out the players, and the players have the right to kneel. But, there should be no actions to force the players to stop.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the NBA players should be able to protest for what they feel is right. As the United States is built on the ideal of freedom of speech, people have the right to protest. There has been more spotlight on the issues that these players are protesting, the media and public opinion has gotten involved. I also believe that it is okay for players to link arms and stand to show unity. However, when it comes down to kneeling during the anthem, I can see why people think it is disrespectful. But for Trump to lash out against the players and organizations, it was extremely unprofessional of him to do so as he has a large influence on the country. So Trump would not support the issue as he would like everyone to stand.
ReplyDeleteThe players should be able to do what they want. There's no reason for the players to not be able to express themselves the way they want. NBA players deserve the same rights to protest as NFL players. Athletes should be able to do what they want, regardless of their sport. Trump hasn't just targeted the NFL, he's gone after NBA players. If the NBA players want to show their stance, they should get to. I get that the NBA doesnt want the controversy, but they should not stop protests over possible controversy. Just let the players do what they think is right.
ReplyDeleteI do not agree with the NBA in making the players stand during the national anthem. I feel as though the players should do what they believe is right and they are fully capable of making their own decisions based on their beliefs. I feel as though that making the players sit is just like making them stand. No one should be forced to do anything. I think that Trump is probably happy with the coaches in some cases that they are taking initiative to solve the issue but I don't think the players who disagree with standing are too happy.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think no matter what way the players are standing, sitting, or locking arms. Whether or not they are protesting Donald Trump or supporting equal rights, they have the right to do whatever they want. The basketball players standing and locking arms is a step in the right direction but everyone can do what they wish. Trump has the wrong idea of what they're doing this for so he feels like this is complete disrespect, which it's not
ReplyDeleteI believe that the organizations definitely have some say as to what the players/coaches/teams should be doing, because at the end of the day those 3 factors represent the entire NBA/NFL or whatever sport it may be. In my personal opinion, I don't think it's wrong to take a stand for something that they believe in, but I think that it should be done in a respectful manner. I think that it's definitely going to spread to other sports as well, and the NFL and NBA being 2 African-American player-dominant sports/organizations, I think that it's definitely okay to be proactive in the cause that the whole community is fighting for.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that the NBA should make the players stand during the national anthem. If these players want to express what they believe in and take a stand, they should be allowed to, however they are still permitted to lock arms. It should be an individual choice if they want to kneel or stand, even if the coaches think it is disrespectful. Like the NFL players, the NBA players want to stand up for what they think is right, yet they are being restricted and not given a fair chance. This
ReplyDeletemost likely makes Trump content, as his views of disrespectful kneeling are not applicable in the NBA. Instead of more and more people protesting against him, the NBA is being forced to stand, which means they cannot protest him.
No, it's not ok that the NBA is making their players stand. They are taking away the players rights and not letting them stand up (or kneel) for their rights. Trump obviously loves this. He influenced a whole league to give up their freedom.
ReplyDeleteDo you think it’s the right thing to do for the NBA to make the players stand during the national anthem, whereas in the NFL, where owners and coaches are taking a knee with the players?
ReplyDeleteIt is absolutly not okay for the NBA to say that players need to stand in a dignified position while the anthem is played. Players are people in this country and all people in this country have the right to protest as stated in the Bill of Rights. Just because they are in the national spotlight more than others does not mean that their rights are any different than others. Sure, the NBA does pay their players money but it is really not ok for any company to fire an employee based on his/her beliefs. In addition to the fact that the NBA should not tell people this, I believe that the government should actually tell the NBA to not do this as this is a violation of the Bill of Rights.
How do you think Trump feels about this?
Trump obviously feels that the NBA made the right call. Trump was quoted saying the NFL coaches should fire those who "disrespect" the anthem even though they are not really disrespecting it. Donald Trump tweeted, "Very important that NFL players STAND tomorrow, and always, for the playing of our National Anthem. Respect our Flag and our Country!" As we can see, if Trump says this about the NFL, he will definitly stand with the NBA. He's also not afraid to back them up as he was not afraid to do so with the NFL.
Overall, regardless of the sport at hand, I believe everyone should stand for the playing of the national anthem. It's understandable that players have things they want to make better in this world and I think it's perfectly moral to use their status as athletes to go about making that change; however, I don't think players should be disrespecting the flag and what it stands for. There are so many other ways for players to bring attention to their cause that don't involve disrespect to the country or the military. Instead, players could use social media or public interviews to make a stand for what they believe. On another note, I'm sure Trump will be pleased about the NBA making its players stand for the anthem. In my own opinion, I think as long as the players are standing, it's ok to lock arms. I just don't think it's respectful for players to sit or kneel during the playing of the national anthem.
ReplyDeleteI think the NBA should be allowed to make players stand for the national anthem. The players are still allowed to protest the injustice that they see in America by locking arms or raising their fists but they still show respect for the nation and its veterans. There is no locker room distraction or division in a locker room on what to do as we see in the NFL. Locker room distractions have ruined great seasons for some teams because if a team isn't united, their talent can only take them so far. I think Trump will be very pleased by this news, he tweeted in support of players locking arms in protest. His main concern was players kneeling. This prevents players from kneeling, keeps teams united, makes the president happy, eliminates distraction, and allows players to voice their opinions and fight against injustice. I truly believe that this is the perfect balance.
ReplyDeleteI believe players shouldn’t kneel during the national anthem. Although I don't support the kneeling during the national anthem, I think that each player should be able to voice their opinion/protest in another way. The anthem protest in my opinion is really doing nothing because the media is focusing on whether players should be kneeling during the anthem or not and they have lost sight of the real reason these men are protesting. It is clear that our nation is not perfect and we need to address the things that these young men are protest such as police brutality. If the NFL and NBA players came together and began protesting in a different way, we may start to see a difference in police brutality and all the other reasons their protesting. Since last september there has been nonstop media coverage of these athletes and whether they should kneel or stand but no one has addressed the problems they brought to us.
ReplyDelete