When watching NFL games this weekend, it was clear to see that players throughout the league we rebelling against President Trump's call for the firing of players who refuse to stand for the national anthem. It has become apparent that he has actually taken a divisive issue and brought a unity (and irony) to the league, much to his ire, I'm sure. But people, including those affiliated with the NFL, are misinterpreting this debate.
What NFL players should be arguing about is that Trump has inserted his views into the governing of a private business. Regardless of what his message is, players should have voiced their outrage, not by
kneeling in front of our flag, but by making statements at press conferences about how the president
should mind his own business and worry more about national concerns--you know, those that appear in the Constitution.
The kneeling nonsense is not a free speech issue. Let me throw a few scenarios at you.
If I showed up to class every day, and in the first few moments, I made a political statement to my class,
would it be strange for the dean or other university administrator to tell me to keep my political opinions to myself while I am in front of the classroom? If my wife showed up at her real estate firm each morning and made a political statement, would it be strange for the CEO or other company employees to tell her to keep her politics to herself while at the office between 8 and 5? If a performer on Broadway began each
performance, as the curtain came up, with a political statement, would it be strange for the director to
demand the play be performed as written and rehearsed, without personal politics? Imagine if a doctor
came into the exam room and approached a patient on the table with “Hi, I’m Dr. So-and-So. Before I start, I just want to tell you about my disdain for inequality and injustice.” Any sane patient would say, “Who cares! Do something about this disgusting thing on my toe!”
The debate has been misrepresented as not being allowed to have freedom of speech at the workplace.
That is a fallacy, changing the argument to what is not allowed, instead of what is appropriate. No one is
saying that NFL players can’t hold political opinions--on their own time. Trump is merely suggesting that
football players get back to what the general public wants them to do, play football. And that owners, like
bosses in any field, should have the right to discipline employees for being distracted from their job.
Trump’s error (which, yes, there are plenty to choose from) is trapping himself in a freedom of expression
issue, a position from which he cannot win. This was clearly indicated yesterday and will continue
throughout the season, one would assume. Trump’s greater mistake is involving himself in football at all.
Though it would’ve been nice if athletes and political commentators got equally upset when other
presidents inserted themselves into business that definitely was not theirs (Obama and others are just as
guilty), the President of the United States should only be a fan when discussing the NFL or other sports
enterprises.
Congrats, Mr. Trump. You have not only encouraged more players to disrespect our flag and anthem, you
have even turned those who usually agree with you (see the Patriots’ Bob Craft and other prominent
football figures) against you.
So as not to end on such a sour note, here is the Steelers’ Alejandro Villanueva, a genuine war hero, who
defied his teammates’ position of not taking the field at all for the pre-game festivities (though Ben
Roethlisberger has regretted the team's choice), standing alone to honor the flag he has personally fought
to defend. Though the Steelers lost on Sunday, Villanueva is the ultimate winner.
What NFL players should be arguing about is that Trump has inserted his views into the governing of a private business. Regardless of what his message is, players should have voiced their outrage, not by
kneeling in front of our flag, but by making statements at press conferences about how the president
should mind his own business and worry more about national concerns--you know, those that appear in the Constitution.
The kneeling nonsense is not a free speech issue. Let me throw a few scenarios at you.
If I showed up to class every day, and in the first few moments, I made a political statement to my class,
would it be strange for the dean or other university administrator to tell me to keep my political opinions to myself while I am in front of the classroom? If my wife showed up at her real estate firm each morning and made a political statement, would it be strange for the CEO or other company employees to tell her to keep her politics to herself while at the office between 8 and 5? If a performer on Broadway began each
performance, as the curtain came up, with a political statement, would it be strange for the director to
demand the play be performed as written and rehearsed, without personal politics? Imagine if a doctor
came into the exam room and approached a patient on the table with “Hi, I’m Dr. So-and-So. Before I start, I just want to tell you about my disdain for inequality and injustice.” Any sane patient would say, “Who cares! Do something about this disgusting thing on my toe!”
The debate has been misrepresented as not being allowed to have freedom of speech at the workplace.
That is a fallacy, changing the argument to what is not allowed, instead of what is appropriate. No one is
saying that NFL players can’t hold political opinions--on their own time. Trump is merely suggesting that
football players get back to what the general public wants them to do, play football. And that owners, like
bosses in any field, should have the right to discipline employees for being distracted from their job.
Trump’s error (which, yes, there are plenty to choose from) is trapping himself in a freedom of expression
issue, a position from which he cannot win. This was clearly indicated yesterday and will continue
throughout the season, one would assume. Trump’s greater mistake is involving himself in football at all.
Though it would’ve been nice if athletes and political commentators got equally upset when other
presidents inserted themselves into business that definitely was not theirs (Obama and others are just as
guilty), the President of the United States should only be a fan when discussing the NFL or other sports
enterprises.
Congrats, Mr. Trump. You have not only encouraged more players to disrespect our flag and anthem, you
have even turned those who usually agree with you (see the Patriots’ Bob Craft and other prominent
football figures) against you.
So as not to end on such a sour note, here is the Steelers’ Alejandro Villanueva, a genuine war hero, who
defied his teammates’ position of not taking the field at all for the pre-game festivities (though Ben
Roethlisberger has regretted the team's choice), standing alone to honor the flag he has personally fought
to defend. Though the Steelers lost on Sunday, Villanueva is the ultimate winner.