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Free to Disagree: The Protests, the Anthem, and Free Speech

Free to Disagree: The Protests, the Anthem, and Free Speech

By now, everyone has heard the news reports about NFL players kneeling during the National Anthem, the president tweeting that such behavior is offensive, and that the kneeling players should be fired. This resulted in a media backlash claiming that the players have free speech rights protected by the Constitution and that the president is encouraging the violation of those rights.

As a U.S. Army Veteran who served eight years active duty and nine years in the Reserves, I bring this issue up not to take a position on the kneeling, nor on the president’s statements, but because this is an excellent moment for us to practice the skill of discernment. I want to stimulate people into thinking for themselves, to pierce through hyperbole and hysteria, and to differentiate the reality from mere perception—to separate fact from fiction.

First, let’s lay out the facts as I know them:

  • Some players have knelt during the National Anthem to make a statement of protest
  • Some U.S. citizens have found this irritating, disrespectful, and offensive
  • The emotional discomfort that some experience, and their subsequent reactions, is the purpose of the kneeling
  • The outrage and complaining against the kneeling has further fueled the protests
  • President Trump’s actions have given more strength to the protest movement by bringing so much attention to it 

Now let’s use our discerning powers on some of the allegations: The media has been quite vocal—in article after article—that the president’s demand that the NFL fire players for kneeling during the playing of the National Anthem would be a violation of the players’ constitutionally protected free speech. Is this allegation true? And perhaps more important, do they really mean it?

Hmmm. Ask yourself for one moment what would happen if an NFL player used a racial slur during an interview, or put swastikas on his personal car, or perhaps even flew the Confederate Flag outside his home? Or what if some players tied special bandanas on their sleeves to protest the kneeling protests? As offensive as some of these expressions are, such speech is protected by the First Amendment. Yet I think we all know that NFL owners would immediately take action to discipline—if not fire outright—such players. And in firing them, almost everyone, and most certainly the media, would insist that those players’ free speech rights would not be violated, because they are still free to express themselves; it’s just that the NFL is also free not to employ them. In other words, the Constitution protects people’s right to free speech—not the right to employment.

I am not supporting the president’s position that the NFL should fire those who kneel during the anthem. I’m only pointing out that to do so would not be a violation of their free speech rights. They are free to speak; they don’t have a right to force employers to employ them regardless of their speech. Employers throughout U.S. history have set all kinds of speech limits—dress codes, for instance— that if not followed will result in discipline and even termination (the NFL has a strict dress code policy that it rigidly enforces).

Again, my purpose here is not to pick a side, but to say don’t get caught up in the media hype and allow others to put false ideas into your mind or to manipulate your emotions. At the end of the day, when we love others as God loves us, we recognize their behavior tells us about them, so we present the truth in love, but leave them free.

Are we mature enough to allow others to kneel during the playing of the National Anthem, yet still appreciate and value the nation that protects the right of that person to protest its flag? Do we recognize that if this country was not founded on such godly principles of freedom, that the protesters wouldn’t have the freedom to protest in the first place? In many places of the world (e.g., North Korea and many Middle Eastern countries), such protests would not be tolerated. In other words, the protests demonstrate how amazing the freedoms and privileges—written into the founding documents of the United States and to which the flag represents—really are. 

Next time a media storm over some emotionally charged issue arises, stop and think through the facts for yourself and come to your own conclusion, and then choose to be a person who presents truth in love, but leaves people free—this is the road to peace and harmony in our society.

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I was introduced to Come And Reason by a friend of my mother-in-law, who gave me several CD’s of Dr. Jennings. The clarity of the message and recognition that God’s is a God of love was so clear, advancing beyond Dr. Maxwell’s message. However, grappled with Maxwell saying God used emergency measures for the fallen world. Now after several years of being a regular listener of the Come And Reasoning bible study class and attending Jennings’ meetings in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, things are becoming clearer for me. Design law versus imposed law has added so much to my personal understanding of theology. This message has really impacted my work in counseling so many people miserable because they are searching for and trusting human governments to create order and peace or believing in a God who says love Me or I will kill you. I am grateful that I have an alternative view to offer my clients that makes sense. I teach a bible study class on a semi-regular basis and I value the materials that Come And Reason so freely offers to aid me in presenting this vital message. Thank you for continuing to provide advancement in our very limited understanding of a Infinite God that is rational and believable.

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I have been tuning into your weekly study classes for a while now and wanted express my appreciation for the teachings that ha been a huge blessing in opening up the true message of the word. Viewing scripture under an imposed law theory always, without fail, raised more questions, concerns, and conflicting scripture interpretations that were discouraging at the very least. Looking at scripture through the design law lens has brought more truth to light for me personally and an understanding of our Heavenly Father that places Him “above all others,” where I am now more than thrilled to witness and serve Him.  I “stumbled” across this ministry a year or so ago and would only watch a few minutes at a time. But the more I listened and the longer I paid attention, the more my spiritual eyes were opened to the ever present truths of scripture. The comprehension of the great controversy and it’s origin by the lies perpetrated and perpetuated throughout the Bible on the attack of God’s character and government is truly priceless. Keep up the Good Work! Your servanthood is desperately needed in such a time as this!

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