WASHINGTON 鈥� To stand or take a knee? It’s not church, but the issue of what professional athletes should do when the United States鈥� national anthem is played before games is a “Great Schism” all its own.
Some players stood, other players knelt and entire teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans stayed away from the field while the anthem played ahead of their Sunday games.
The latest wave of emotions surrounding the 鈥淭ake a Knee鈥� controversy were fanned during a rally in Alabama Friday after President Donald Trump criticized players who choose to take this posture during the anthem.
In tweets on Sunday, Mr. Trump also said 鈥淪tanding with locked arms is good, kneeling is not acceptable.鈥�
Great solidarity for our National Anthem and for our Country. Standing with locked arms is good, kneeling is not acceptable. Bad ratings!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
Fans watching Sunday games at the Green Turtle in Downtown D.C. held a variety of opinions about what professional athletes should do when The Star-Spangled Banner plays throughout a stadium or arena.
鈥淭hey should be standing for the flag. I mean, it [the flag] doesn鈥檛 stand for everything Trump believes,鈥� said a man who identified himself as Nick. 鈥淭here鈥檚 people who fought for that flag and have died for that flag, and a lot of people see that as a, almost a memorial to that.鈥�
Another football fan, Pearl Laster, doesn鈥檛 agree with that point of view. She said she gets tired of people relating taking a knee to disrespecting the military and a lack of patriotism.
鈥淢y dad was in the Army. My dad 鈥� is deceased, but he鈥檇 be proud of a lot of guys kneeling,鈥� she said.
Also swirling in the weekend controversy is President Trump鈥檚 rescinding the White House invitation to the entire Golden State Warriors team, which won the NBA Championship this past spring.
According to a Tweet sent Saturday, that invitation was reversed because 鈥淪tephen Curry is hesitating, therefore invitation is withdrawn!鈥�
Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team.Stephen Curry is hesitating,therefore invitation is withdrawn!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
A man who identified himself as Chris, wasn鈥檛 impressed by the president鈥檚 words.
鈥淒onald Trump鈥檚 comments, it was just outrageous,鈥� he told 草莓传媒.
He and his friend Aiyana talked about the reasons athletes have voiced for taking a knee during the national anthem.
鈥淭his country is supposed to stand for freedom and equal rights, and it doesn鈥檛 always play out that way,鈥� said Aiyana.
They both hope the peaceful kneeling protests lead to a resolution of racial fissures, including the dismantling of systematic racism and police brutality.
Jason De Leon of Texas describes the president鈥檚 invitation snatch-back from the Golden State Warriors as 鈥渁 bully move,鈥� but he isn鈥檛 mad at the president for it.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 hate on someone who鈥檚 like, 鈥榊ou know what? If y鈥檃ll having doubts and it鈥檚 an honor to come to the White House, if you鈥檙e having doubts, then just do not come.鈥� Do I agree on that? Yes, I do.鈥�
