All through history, the United States has gone through obstacles that dealt with racism. It has prevailed overtime, but it has not diminished completely. The story is about the controversy of “taking the knee” from a liberal, conservative, and a neutral perspective. Some people find that taking a knee is offensive towards the U.S. Constitution while others saw it as a peaceful protest towards minorities. The articles are from CNN.com a neutral source, Fox News a conservative source, and MSNBC a liberal source. The “take a knee” has a more profound importance to it such as my reasons for choosing the story, how it relates to Business Law, what laws affect the story, different perspectives and my overall opinion on the topic.
I picked this story because racism still exists this day forward and I want to be able to voice my opinion upon the whole situation itself. Whether everyone may or may not agree that racism does exist. I have witness and experience the suppression and superiority of another nationality towards myself and others. It is one of the main issue that we as a nation face today. It has shown people’s true colors throughout the “take a knee” campaign and how important equality for all is.
The “take a knee” story identifies with what we are learning in class by the business viewpoints and additionally a Constitutional perspective. It breaks down how the constitutional law, civil right law, and labor law was played into factor when retaliating the national anthem. It relates because it does explain the contracts between the NFL players and the business to a certain extent on what they are and are not allowed to do. The rights that are given to us to protect us from unlawful government and people. Discrimination in the work force has clearly shown through the campaign and how people would act irrational towards the subject. The labor laws to balance out the power between management and employees.
The campaign has multiple laws that affects not only the players, but also the citizens. The constitutional, civil right and labor laws protects the player from retaliation for the national anthem protests. The campaign itself conflicts with the First Amendment; Freedom of Speech. NFL players as well as citizens have been mistreated over their decision to take the knee and it takes away their freedom of speech when violence breaks out. It enables business to authorize on its representatives that the government could not demand from its citizen. The president of the United States could not implement a law and confine the NFL players from their freedom of speech and affiliation. Alongside the free expression, the race and gender equality of the Equal Protection Clause and the Thirteen Amendment to race and work freedom. Under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII, it clarifies race separation by private businesses.
There are two different perspectives you can look at when debating about “taking a knee.” One perspective is that the players and citizens are disrespecting the flag and how it is disrespecting women and men who have served the country. Also, how people “paid money” to watch a football game instead of a protest which has deeper meaning to it. Another perspective is about police brutality, social injustice, and inequality. People have gone away with murder while being in uniform and institutionalized violence has occurred quiet often. I am in favor with the social injustice and police brutality because I believe that people should express themselves without having the fear of being attacked just for using their rights. Being discriminated because of your nationality, race, sexual orientation and so forth makes you feel like an outcast and makes you think about what the United States really stand for.
In my opinion, I believe that people should express themselves without an issue. Racism continues to exist to this day forward and there is no justice for the wrongdoing. I have witnessed people attacking other people just for taking a knee. It needs to stop and we should be able to grow as a country of diversity and different culture. The past should not repeat itself at all, especially through the obstacles the nation has gone through to achieve freedom. People need to start respecting others more as equals instead of social powers. It is a dog eat dog world out there, but it takes understanding to diminish the violence and racism that still exist today.