Do You Believe in Free Speech and Peaceful Protest?
@DeborahDiane (40848)
Laguna Woods, California
September 26, 2017 2:05pm CST
Having become adults during the 1960s and 1970s, most members of the Baby Boomer generation have very strong feelings about our First Amendment rights of Freedom of Speech and our Rights to Assembly and Peacefully Protest.
However, those rights have come into question lately and many people feel very strongly.
I always stand for the National Anthem.
At the same time, I fully respect the rights of peaceful protestors, including athletes, who choose to Take a Knee in order to protest what they see as the unfair treatment of minorities. They want to quietly and peacefully draw national attention to what they see as a problem. Our constitution guarantees them the right to take this action.
I do not see a conflict between my personal decision to stand for the anthem and the choice of someone else to Take a Knee, instead.
To me, in their own way BOTH choices show a respect for the Constitution of the United States and the rights we have been given by the Bill of Rights.
I believe our forefathers knew there would be times when people on one side of an issue would want to shut-up the people who believed differently. That is why Freedom of Speech and the Right to Peaceful Assembly are emphasized in the Bill of Rights.
I hope that everyone will carefully consider their feelings about this, choose to support our Constitutional rights, and kindly allow people to express themselves peacefully in both their words and actions.
I hope we will stop condemning people who express their opinions in either their words or peaceful actions, whether we agree with them or not.
Isn't that what America is about?
10 people like this
9 responses
@DeborahDiane (40848)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Sep 17
@topffer - Thank you. I hope this post helps people try to understand the viewpoint of the athletes who choose to take a knee.
3 people like this
@YrNemo (20254)
•
26 Sep 17
I didn't know that sports or athletes in the US have that much power. What made these men against the national anthem? They have no respect for the country itself (or are they ashamed of the national anthem)? (Guess most of the players were hired from other countries? If that was the case, then it is a fair matter I think.)
Have no intention to disagree with you, just curious of the mentality of these men. 
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40848)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Sep 17
@YrNemo - They are nearly all American citizens. They are not ashamed of their country or the national anthem. It started because some of the black players felt that black people were being treated unfairly by the police, so they took a knee during the anthem to bring attention to the problem. Now players of all races are linking arms and taking a knee to show they support their black teammates. Sadly, the real issue has gotten lost.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40848)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Sep 17
@YrNemo - Now the NFL is asking their fans to link arms and show their unity next week. It will be interesting to see what happens!
2 people like this
@YrNemo (20254)
•
27 Sep 17
@DeborahDiane Ah, so that was it. I forgot about THAT aspect of black and white in America. Grateful for explaining things to me.
2 people like this
@crossbones27 (52974)
• Mojave, California
26 Sep 17
I am the same way, I would 99.9 percent stand if I ever went to a sporting event, but begrudge no one for doing it. This issue would have never been made aware the way it has if Kaepernick did not sacrifice his career by standing like everyone else. Instead he sat to the national anthem to 75,000 people booing him. Later told it would be more respectful to kneel by a veteran. I ask people if they would sacrifice that to try to help fix a major problem? I do not think I would.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40848)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Sep 17
@crossbones27 - I agree that Kaepernick made a huge sacrifice to stand up (or kneel down) for what he believed.
2 people like this
@changjiangzhibin89 (17243)
• China
27 Sep 17
I have no idea of what "Take a Knee" refers to.I share your views that people should have right to express their opinions in either their words or peaceful actions.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40848)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Sep 17
It is sad when it seems as if our new president is creating so much tension that people in our country seem to be arguing over everything ... even things which should not be in dispute, such as Freedom of Speech!
2 people like this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
28 Sep 17
I am a proud veteran of the US Navy. I would never consider not standing for the National Anthem or when I see the flag. As much as people think it's okay to dishonor and yes, I said and mean, dishonor the flag of our country by taking a knee or sitting. I never will.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40848)
• Laguna Woods, California
29 Sep 17
@just4him - I always stand for the national anthem, too. However, I also believe in peaceful and public protest. It is one of the few ways we have of letting our government know how we feel about unjust or unfair treatment of minorities and other groups. However, I want to also thank you for your military service. One of our son-in-laws served 11 years in the Navy. My father is also a Navy vet.
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
29 Sep 17
@DeborahDiane I've never taken part in any protests. I know it's a right. I've just never seen a point to them. Thank you. And thank you for your family members service.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40848)
• Laguna Woods, California
29 Sep 17
@just4him - I can understand why other people have never taken part in any protests. They take a lot of energy and time. People have to be committed to the issue. I respect people who do protest, as long as they do it peacefully. Many issues would never come to anyone's attention, if it were not for protestors. Some issues, such as medical conditions which were underfunded, only drew attention because of protests of one type or another ... even if it was just a letter writing marathon or petitions. There are many situations which would be completely ignored by authorities if no one ever bothered to protest. We are lucky to live in a country where it is allowed.
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99367)
• Atlanta, Georgia
27 Sep 17
Yes, that's what America is about. The right to speak our minds. The right to protest when we see change is needed. Those rights are for every American, not the few. I always stand for the National Anthem. But others have the right to take the knee the same as I have the right to stand. The constitution gives us that right.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40848)
• Laguna Woods, California
29 Sep 17
@RubyHawk - I agree that it would not hurt our president to sit down and read the Bill of Rights ... although I understand he does not like to read. Sad, isn't it?
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40848)
• Laguna Woods, California
28 Sep 17
@RubyHawk - I completely agree with you. I am shocked that there are Americans, including the President of the United States, who really do not understand what the Bill of Rights is all about!
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99367)
• Atlanta, Georgia
28 Sep 17
@DeborahDiane Our president understands very little. He would do better to listen to experienced people who can advise him and it wouldn't hurt him to read The Bill Of Rights.
1 person likes this
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
8 Nov 17
I believe in both. But, I wonder what your law has to say in regards to behaviour towards the national anthem. From where I come from, we are actually not LEGALLY allowed to change the tempo, the rhythm, and the lyrics whatsoever of the national anthem even for aesthetic purposes. Those who have innocently done so have faced the backlash of the many so-called "experts". That being said, maybe there are rules as to how one should conduct himself infront of the flag during a ceremony and when the anthem is played.
But, Kudos to these players for standing up (or kneeling down) for something they believe in.
In summary, it is an incredible right to have freedom of speech and peaceful protests as long as it is constitutional.
1 person likes this
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
9 Nov 17
@DeborahDiane Then no, I think what they did was very noble, then
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
28 Sep 17
Very well stated! We all have a right to stand to pledge our allegiance to our flag and all that it represents or peacefully demonstrate our protests for what we believe. That's what makes America so great!!!! Too bad it's being led by a liar and total moron.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40848)
• Laguna Woods, California
29 Sep 17
@DianneN - I totally agree with you ... especially the part about our current leader! LOL
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (122238)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
28 Sep 17
If these football players really care about making changes in their city, take action by working with the kids during their free time. As a native of Panama we were taught to love the nation of your birth like your mom. In my view these football players just want some attention by speaking up against President Trump since they have that right in our nation. I always write in my blogs to ask any immigrant from an Eastern Europe nation or Cuba how it was living under a dictator and did they have that freedom of speech.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40848)
• Laguna Woods, California
29 Sep 17
@Deepizzaguy - You are correct that we are very fortunate to live in a country where we are allowed to publicly protest and speak out against injustice. I have no problem when people choose to peacefully exercise those rights ... or what good is it to have the rights at all? I feel that these football players are being made to feel guilty for exercising their rights. That is a shame.
