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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 wanted to thank you very much for presenting your understanding of God. I’ve always been troubled by this question: Why did Jesus have to die? Since my conversion I understood that The Father & Jesus are one, I did not have issues with that. But was there not any other way to save us than for Jesus to die? I guess I actually had a question about God – if He is so wise, how come He did not find another way? I did not see the real ‘beauty’  in the cross. Only when you explained the picture in the medical context, Jesus providing medicine for my selfishness, have I started to finally ‘see the light’. Thank you so much. Your seminar, “Healing the Mind,” are absolutely marvelous & have shared them with my family and many other people, including colleagues at work. Thanks, thanks, thanks. May God bless you abundantly in your ministry.

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I am so pleased with the response your message is receiving at my church from the middle-aged to the young adults. I have given out 100 copies of the first two seminars and there are more request every week. One of my [class members] came to me after viewing the series, grateful and impressed with how easy the message was retained. He had been a Seventh-day Adventist in fear all his life, and felt like the scales were removed from his eyes after viewing the seminars. I am so impressed by the change I see in members who have received this message, we are in one accord. However, I am sadden by the negative response of the older people. I am verbally attacked anytime I talk about imposed laws, but I believe my mission is to enlightened everyone I can. I watch your Bible Study Class on YouTube every Friday night and I feel like I am apart of the class. All of you are in one accord and I am so blessed to have found you. I pray that all of you continue to spread this message and I am committed to doing my part.

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I grew up in a prominent protestant church and had what I like to call religious anxiety. I’ve always had questions about God and Salvation that no one could seem to answer.  I didn’t know how to find resolution. During 2020, at the height of my anxiety, I fell to my knees and begged God to show me truth and light and to give me the hope that I’ve been longing for. Days later, I stumbled upon your online videos and it was like a veil was lifted and EVERYTHING made sense! For the first time in my almost 39 years of life, my religious/spiritual anxiety has lessened. I feel a sense of freedom and peace I’ve NEVER had before… and it’s all because my view of God has changed. Thank you!

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