# NFL:  Stand for the anthem or stay in the locker room.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-stand-for-the-anthem-or-stay-in-the-locker-room/814701>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [May 23, 2018, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-stand-for-the-anthem-or-stay-in-the-locker-room/814701 "2018-05-23T20:38:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 159

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-stand-for-the-anthem-or-stay-in-the-locker-room/814701/159 "2018-05-24T20:39:05Z")

</div>

> [@puddleglum](#):
>
> Opting out of a ritual designed to show respect to something is a calculated way to show disrespect. It is obvious. If he said different he is lying.  
> He did it to cause controversy so his political views would get more publicity. That was his intention.

No it’s not. It’s not disrespectful to choose not to participate in a ritual, be it religious, nationalistic, virtue signaling, etc that one does not agree with. What Kaepernick did vis kneeling should have been more or less ignored. It wasn’t offensive and it was actually brave. Now you may disagree with his message or stance. That’s your right as well.

But ascribing motives or financially ruining/harming a person over a difference in point of view is disturbing and dangerous. The sad thing is that is now the accepted way of handling differences of opinion.

---

_[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-stand-for-the-anthem-or-stay-in-the-locker-room/814701)._