Students Mirrored Perspectives on NFL Kneeling Issue

By Bella Lopes
i_l90@txstate.edu

Mariah Dismuke,20, is a sophomore excersise and sports science major from Waller, Texas.

1. Do you know about the Colin Kaepernik NFL issue?
"Yes."

2. Describe what happened with this issue.
"The 49's quarterback kneeled during the National Anthem to stand up against racial issues in America and everybody lost their minds."

3. How do you feel about the approach he (Colin Kaepernik) took?
"I think that he should have left the politics out of the game. Also, it was disrespectful to the American flag. He's there to play football not to tell everyone about his political opinions."

4. How do you feel about the NFL's response?
"He should have know that he was risking everything by doing that. He can say all he wants about how he's standing up for the little guy but the team depended on him. He's the quarterback so he should have put the team first and left politics off the field."

5. How would you handle this situation?
"I would have done exactly what the NFL did; they made the right decision."

Shelby Keith, 20, is a sophomore bachelor of fine arts in theatre, performance and production major from Fort Worth, Texas.

 1. Do you know the Colin Kaepernik NFL issue?
"Yes."

2. Describe what happened with the issue.
"Kaepernik kneeled during the playing of the National Anthem at an NFL game in protest of the injustices involving police brutality in America."

3. How do you feel about the approach he (Colin Kaepernik) took?
"I feel like what he did was valid and was an appropriate response to the issues at hand. He didn't say anything and yet his actions spoke louder than any words could. He brought people together and shed light on a problem that needed to be addressed."

4. How do you feel about the NFL's response?
"The NFL responded in the worst way they could. Instead of allowing a conversation about this issue they shut it down and dug them self in a deeper hole. There are so many ways they could have responded that would have been better than the way they did."

5. How would you handle this situation?
"I would use this to start a dialect about police brutality. Football players are people too, they have opinions and suffer injustices as well. If someone feels that America is no longer a country they are proud of, why should they have to pledge to it."