This week there were a few NFL players who decided to take a knee. I’m a big fan of the NFL and always closely follow whatever news comes out about the league. After all this kneeling happened it left me feeling kind of down and out. How could there be such a divide among these guys?
We all know the NFL is more than a game, more than entertainment. It’s a platform for expressing opinions and views and a chance for athletes to show their support for the issues they care about. But, some groups have been taking advantage of the platform to try and hurt the sport and it’s players.
But it also made me wonder, why did these players decide to take a knee? Did they feel a need to remind us all of the on-going issues that minorities are facing in this country? Was it a way stand up for the oppressed and silenced voices in our nation? Or was it something else?
I decided to do some research and try to understand this situation a bit better. I found out that a couple of players had made statements supporting the Black Lives Matter movement and proposed that their kneeling was a peaceful form of protest to bring attention to the suffering and inequality that still exists in our nation. The sentiment was echoed again and again and even reached some of the coaches who agreed with the peaceful protest.
The whole ordeal made me contemplate things a bit more. It made me think how we, as a nation, need to come together and listen to each other and unify on issues such as this one. We can’t keep living in a world where people are divided by race or skin color. We all need to have open minds and learn to understand different cultures and perspectives.
It also made me question myself, what would I do in that type of situation? Would I kneel or stand? Would I support the movement or have nothing to do with it? So many questions running through my head.
But when I stopped and thought about it more, I realized how lucky we are to have passionate players in the league willing to speak up and lift others’ voices. We should take a moment and appreciate their courage and not judge them for taking a stand.
I also learned that there are other ways to show support to the movement. From donations to volunteer work and so much more. We all have our own way of helping, and every bit counts.
It’s time we take a step back, educate ourselves and listen to each other stories so that we can have meaningful conversations. Let’s challenge ourselves to be more aware and conscious of the issues that still exist in our country. Change takes time, courage and dedication. Let’s work together and be the change we wish to see in the world.