In today’s society, nationalism within the United States has progressed into a controversial and messy topic. The modern era has evolved into a time of “repression of minorities and imperialist ambition”, rather than focusing on uniting the nation (McArdle). The United States Flag, Pledge of Allegiance, and National Anthem were all designed to honor our proud heritage as Americans. These national symbols call respect from all citizens, athletes, and the military, and represent all of the ideals that our patriots died fighting for. The American idea stresses that “prosperity and justice do not exist in tension, but flow from each other”, therefore protests for discrimination create imbalance in the foundation that our fathers created(Appelbaum).
Historically speaking, people immigrated to the United States due to the fact that it represented more than just a point on a map, but because it portrayed something much larger. The value behind the “American Dream” attracted millions of people to the US and created a high sense of patriotism countrywide. America’s strong power and influence over the world stems from the notion that “America is not just a place. America is an idea.” (Koplow). The idea of the American dream initially recognized what the citizens strive for, “as an expression of hopes and dreams for a better life, as a fulfillment of a quest for ultimate safety and prosperity and liberty.” (Koplow). In recent times, nationalism has transformed our nation from a cohesive union into a negative denationalized country which puts specific groups above the overall population. The United States of America no longer serves as the world’s perfect role model as it once did. The American idea is receding, as critics and nationalists push for what they believe in, causing disunity throughout the country.
The movie Forrest Gump reconstructed a time of the 1960s where the United States was portrayed as the savior of the world and appreciated for all of the benefits it could offer. The movie retold the story of the latter 20th century, a time when a series of events led the nation into the modern era that we currently live in. Forrest Gump went through life experiencing no racism, no terrorism, no sexism, or any form of alienation. Gump was an innocent soul who was constantly admiring the people and things around him, with no intentions of evil ever on his mind. He was the perfect representation of the American spirit, looking past the colors and races of his acquaintances, he saw people for who they truly were. Overall, the movie was depicted as a political propaganda, because the nation never really mirrored the flawless idea of America. Nowadays, Americans are frightened by what their world has become and rush to churches, philosophical groups or join social movements to try and bring about change regarding the problems in the world. However, these social groups including liberals, feminists, progressives who try to fix the world, anger many Americans causing physical and verbal tension between people.
The United States is the most diverse nation in the world on all platforms. People have created a melting pot where cultures have generally assimilated into American society including religion, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. If you take a glance at the diversity index, you can see that there is a very small “chance that two people chosen at random will not be the same race and ethnicity. A high score means a county has people of many races and ethnicities, while a low score means the community is made up of a single dominant group.” (Keating and Karklis). Diversity increases our country’s dynamics and boosts the workforce. The cultural and ethnic diversity creates flavor in cities throughout the country, shaping the way we live and learn. This diversity has heavily swayed our political representation, as people of high power have the ability to act on behalf of all types of people. As our nation is rapidly changing, people have become strong supporters of racial movements, enforcing the prevailing inequality issues.
Nationalistic controversies have stirred up protests like choosing not to rise during the national anthem. Kneeling has become a nationally divisive issue as it was aroused by Colin Kaepernick in 2016. Kaepernick is the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers and was the first one who refused to participate in the traditional protocol during the “Stars Spangled Banner” on national television. He has been a “polarizing figure since becoming the first NFL player to stage protests of racial injustice during pregame renditions of the national anthem”. (Beiler and Bonesteel). His attempt at protesting “racial injustice and police brutality in the United States” spurred up a nationwide debate among the public. (ProCon) Celebrities and sports figures have the ability to attract many people to their social causes, therefore Kaepernick’s refusal to stand for the national anthem created public dismay and was a successful attempt to perform a peaceful protest. The quarterback took a knee in every preseason game due to the oppression of blacks and other minorities. (Brashear). Many other sports teams have begun to follow the protesting trend. On September 24, 2018, the Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks chose to stay in their locker rooms before the game started. They left the field basically empty during the anthem, and the Seahawks reported that “As a team, we have decided we will not participate in the national anthem. We will not stand for the injustice that has plagued people of color in this country. Out of love for our country and in honor of the sacrifices made on our behalf, we unite to oppose those that would deny our most basic freedoms." (ProCon). One of the Miami Dolphins’ linebackers who kneeled, Jelani Jenkins, reported to CBS his reasoning behind getting involved in the movement. He wanted to spread change and raise awareness of social and racial injustice in our country. Jenkins made clear in his interview that he had no intention to disrespect the military or police officers that protect our nation, however, he wanted to “move forward in the right direction with everybody: equal rights, equal opportunity. From my position, it doesn’t seem that it’s happening. That’s why I took a stand.” (Brashear). Many people joining in seem to have the same mindset on the situation. In response to Jelani Jenkins’ interview, the owner of the Miami Dolphins, Stephen Ross, addressed that his whole team and organization respects the country’s heritage and symbols. They support the flag and the prevailing meaning behind it, but his team has recognized a popular topic within this country and they have earned his complete support.
In early September of 2018, Colin Kaepernick shared his first Nike sponsored advertisement which generated a lot of buzz, exposing a surprising generational divide. Nike has been the exclusive provider for all of the NFL apparel and had a contract with Kaepernick since the start of 2011. Kaepernick’s commercial released footage of “everyday people overcoming adversity” and mirrored the idea of attaining impossible dreams. His message stressed how people must strive to success even when society discourages them. He incorporated famous sports figures like Lebron James, Serena Williams, and Shaquem Griffin to engage a large number of people to his cause. (Wharton). The advertisement negatively captivated President Donald Trump’s attention. Trump tweeted “What was Nike thinking?” as he seized upon the protesting problem. He strongly believes that NFL players have enough fame to influence their supporter’s decision, and broadcasting these protests at rallies and on social media creates unnecessary outrages. The video also got a lot of negative feedback and reactions because the public believed Colin took this too far. People began boycotting Nike as they promoted “an attitude of division and disrespect toward America” on national television. The Nike ad angered their customers, causing them to destroy their apparel due to their fealty to the flag and their country.
This newly emerging form of protesting has brought a number of supporters to both the “for” and “against” sides. According to a study done by ProCon.org, people who support the cause have three main points that they argue. The first point they made states that when a citizen does not fulfill their ideals of the Pledge of Allegiance, which promises freedom, liberty, and justice for all, they have the right to take appropriate measures. In their eyes, the ability to refuse to stand during the national anthem is in fact one of those measures. The second point that supports the demonstration addresses that when a famous figure like an NFL player does not follow the traditional path of things, like standing for the national anthem, it seems to attract an audience and generate conversation among intelligent people. These conversations may ultimately lead to change, but change is only a possibility when it is propelled in the right direction. As the NFL began receiving more and more supporters of not standing during the national anthem, the NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell praised this movement because it was now seen as “progress” compared to its former “protest” label. In this day in age, social media seems to play a huge role in change movements because it gives people the ability to voice their opinions and gain support countrywide. Lastly, supporters of the movement believe that due to the First Amendment, not standing for the national anthem is completely legal because it is a non-violent tactic of getting a message across. President Obama stated that Colin Kaepernick was exercising his rights and looking back in time many sports figures have done the same. While exercising these rights, an individual has the freedom to choose in what they participate in, which is a valid point when speaking about the choice to raise for the anthem.
Among the supporters, there seems to be a large number of people who are against refusing to stand for the national anthem. The first reason behind the opposition is that refusing to stand shows a level of disrespect for the symbolic flag which honors the armed forces who protect our nation. The national anthem pays respect to those who put their lives in danger in order to defend the United States. A quarterback from the New Orleans Saints, Drew Brees, announced during an ESPN interview that he supported Kaepernick’s protest but was not a fan of the way it was delivered. He described it as “an oxymoron that you’re sitting down, disrespecting that flag that has given you the freedom to speak out.” (PressHerald) . Other critics believe that there are more effective and productive ways to promote a cause. The football coach at Clemson University announced his opinion; he believes using your team as a platform for change is a distraction to the overall team. The final opposing side claims that refusal to rise for the national anthem causes separation in our country and angers the public. Many people seem to support a cause without even knowing the background behind it, causing a never-ending debate to occur. Sports figures including Kaepernick have caused division among their teams and fans. Fans have burnt Kaepernick’s jersey to show their side and have posted disturbing comments on all social media platforms regarding the occurrences.
Living and being an active part of a society which is constantly changing, people sometimes try to propel change in their favor. While doing so, these people gain supporters along with a handful of opponents. Recent issues in racial discrimination and police brutality of innocent unarmed black people has caused an erosion of protests to begin. Colin Kaepernick began a non-violent protest where he showed his opinion by not rising for the national anthem, ultimately creating a controversial topic of respect. People believed that involving Football, the most traditional sport in America, to protest the most traditional anthem in our country is portraying a negative image. Today, the protest is no longer focused on “The Star-Spangled Banner” but on the racial conflicts present in our country. The great idea of America where people came to seek liberty and justice, has transformed into a nation of protest.