We Honor Those Who Serve

   As the drumbeats of war both at home and abroad grow louder once again, those of us who are listening and paying attention to those familiar sounds also stand at a distance and watch with great disgust as privileged, multi-millionaire black and white football players kneel during the singing of the “Star Spangled Banner” at NFL games across the nation.  My most pressing concern is the children who are watching the adults’ response and will replace the real heroes of freedom with these false, empty idols, if they do nothing.

   People mistakenly argue that these football players have a First Amendment right to protest, but, in fact, they have no such right under the law.  The problem with the “free speech” debate is that most people, including those in the media, are using false legal arguments.  These NFL “superstars” take a knee because of their perceived grievances towards America.  But this venue is inappropriate because there are no First Amendment protections for employees in non-governmental organizations.  The First Amendment is only a restraint upon governmental actors’ ability to silence protestors.  

   This means that if the NFL owners decided to discipline or even fire the players because of their failure to stand for the national anthem (which is in the rules by the way) the player/protesters have no right to sue under the F ...

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