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If there’s one thing that we’ve learned from NFL protests it’s that the social justice
warriors involved are willing to pay tribute to anyone or anything other than America.
No matter how much these entitled players benefit from the United States’s free economy
and the service members who have given their lives so that we remain free, they persist
in insulting America and praising everyone else.
Watching the players of this season’s protest is reminiscent of watching a teenager who
rebels against the parents who gave him life and food and housing, just because they told
him he couldn’t do one thing he wanted to do. In both cases, they stomp off to their
Range Rovers and sulk like children, cursing the hand that feeds them.
That persona slips away, however, when there’s an actual danger at hand. If you don’t believe
me, just take a look at what happened during Sunday’s NFL game with Mexico. One of the
anthem protest’s biggest supporters, Marshawn Lynch, not only sat out our National Anthem,
but he stood in respect for the Mexican anthem. Fox News reported that the President both
took notice, and had a few ideas for how to deal with Lynch’s blatant disrespect:
“President Trump on Monday slammed a top NFL player who sat for ‘The Star-Spangled
Banner’ but stood for Mexico’s national anthem, and offered a new directive: suspend
him for the ‘remainder of the season.’
Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch sat during the majority of the U.S. national
anthem but stood for the Mexican anthem before his team’s game Sunday against the New England
Patriots at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
‘Marshawn Lynch of the NFL’s Oakland Raiders stands for the Mexican Anthem and sits down
to boos for our National Anthem. Great disrespect!’ Trump tweeted. ‘Next time NFL should suspend
him for the remainder of the season. Attendance and ratings way down.'”
Obviously, the President can’t require that Lynch be cut, but the NFL is in dire straights
as far as their business is concerned so they might want to listen to the advice. Americans
have gotten sick of watching millionaires pretend that they know what’s best for the
country, and have left the NFL in droves, but still, the players persist.
“The president has seemingly taken it easy on the NFL for the past few weeks — likely
because he was overseas for a 13-day Asia tour. But Sunday, he again addressed the NFL’s
national anthem controversy.
According to Sports Illustrated, Lynch has protested the anthem all season and has not
stood for the anthem since coming out of retirement to join the Raiders.”
NFL players who have protested the national anthem this season by taking a knee, or sitting
on the bench, reportedly do so to protest police brutality and injustice, rather than
the U.S.
The now months-long feud began dominating headlines in September after a rally in Alabama
when Trump called for players to be fired if they disrespected the flag, spurring the
controversy.
“Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our
flag, to say ‘get that son of a b— off the field right now? Out! He’s fired! He’s
fired!” Trump said to the crowd at the rally, drawing criticism from NFL players, as well
as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
The president has repeatedly tweeted about his disappointment in the NFL players, and
managers for their lack of “rules and regulations” to ensure players stand for the anthem.
This move was especially insulting because of the U.S. border wall project that Mexico
has been trying to block at all costs. Mexico is perfectly happy with the arrangement we
currently have, where any undesirables that they want to get rid of can be shipped north.
Assuming it gets too tough for some drug lord in Mexico, he can just jump a fence or swim
a river and carry on his business in peace.
Another reason Lynch’s move is noteworthy is that when considering the possible reasons
behind his respect for the Mexican national anthem. It’s hard to ignore the possibility
that it’s because he didn’t want to risk getting into trouble.
America has made it clear that while most of us don’t appreciate these protests, they’re
perfectly legal. There won’t be anyone throwing cuffs on a person who sits for the anthem
or stomps on a flag. Mexico, however, has a reputation for being less forgiving, and
their prisons less cushy.
It’s hard to ignore the idea that Lynch probably stood for the Mexican National Anthem
because he actually feared the repercussions if he didn’t. This is kind of what the President
was getting at with his tweet a while back, when he said that disrespecting America have
some consequences. Of course, they don’t have to give any punishment to players like
Lynch, and we don’t have to start watching their games again.