The NFL's new policy concerning the national anthem is as much "fake patriotism" as President Trump's rhetoric on players who take a knee while the national anthem is being played. The NFL and Trump are simply playing to their base and with Trump its also politics and his every day attempt to divide the country and its people.
In this writers judgement, the new NFL rule of allowing players to stay in the clubhouse while the national anthem is being played is worse than taking a knee. The situation has gotten out of hand because the NFL has allowed Trump to play politics with sports and the national anthem and also intimidated the league.
Patriotism is defined by how one lives his or her life and not by elected officials or the NFL. Trumps every day actions tells us he could care less about patriotism or the military. Protesters have a right to peaceful protest and take a knee and fans have a right to disagree and even boycott the game if they choose to use that form of protest.
The bottom line is the great majority of Americans never burn the American flag and show respect for the national anthem when sung or played and that is why our country will always be "America the Beautiful." The politics of division only works when the constitution is trampled upon and no voices are willing to speak out. Free speech lives on. Those who try to ride the tiger with division and fake patriotism usually end up inside the tiger.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
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