SANTA ANA COLLEGE el Don/eldonnews.org • MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2017
VIEWS 13
TRUMP IS THREATENING THE NFL BY FOCUSING ON THE ANTHEM / BY JORDY ESPINOZA
MAXWELL WAS RIGHT TO TAKE A KNEE
On Sept. 22, President Donald
Trump made it clear to NFL players
that he disliked anyone who doesn’t
stand for the national anthem.
“Wouldn’t you love to see one of
these NFL owners, when somebody
disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that
son of a b---- off the field right now.
Out! He’s fired! He’s fired! ” Trump
said during a rally for Alabama
Republican Luther Strange.
The next day, Bruce Maxwell
became the first MLB player to
take a knee during the national
anthem. Maxwell, among other
athletes, should be able to express
themselves on and off the field.
They have rights and should use
them to protect themselves against
any verbal or direct attacks made
on them.
As President of the United States,
Donald Trump completely crossed
the line. Athletes have every right
to express their displeasure with
Trump, because if that were me, I
wouldn’t want to let any verbal at-
tack against me slip away that easily.
Not only did his comments
spark a backlash from NFL play-
ers, it also brought them together
in unison and created a stronger
trend as it translated to the MLB.
Instead of Trump worrying about
what happens in sports, I believe
he should show some decency and
make a greater effort to aid people
from Mexico, Puerto Rico and oth-
er countries that need the attention
right now.
One day after Trump’s comments,
Maxwell, a catcher for the Oakland
Athletics, took the initiative as if to
say enough is enough in what must
have been a heartfelt moment for
him. I think he knelt for the people
who are afraid to express their
opinions because of the backlash
they might receive. Maxwell’s
actions speak great measures for
air in this country is entitled to say
whatever they want, because it is a
right given to citizens by the Con-
stitution in the First Amendment.
Respectfully, Maxwell has only
played in 105 career games and
as a 26-year-old with little Major
League service, he had a lot to lose.
He choose to kneel anyway and
that is being principled and brave.
The Athletics came to the support
of Maxwell and his teammates,
openly supporting his stance. “He’s
very courageous. I respect his deci-
sion. He’s just exercising his rights
as an American,” said Athletics out-
fielder Khris Davis in an interview
with the San Francisco Chronicle.
“Every fiber in my being was tell-
ing me he needed a brother today,”
Athletics outfielder Mark Canha,
said expressing his feelings towards
Maxwell’s actions.
The team tweeted about Maxwell:
DISAPPROVAL / Oakland A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell refuses to stand for
“[We] pride ourselves on being
national anthem, causing stir in sports world. / John Sleezer / TNS
inclusive. We respect and support
all our players’ constitutional rights
himself and others who appreciate
The inequality of people is being
and freedom of expression.”
what he has done.
discussed and practiced by Pres-
This is the beauty of having a
Before his decision, Maxwell cre-
ident Trump. The indifference of
caring and genuine organization
ated an immediate impact through
humans and the only way that us as with teammates that support you
Twitter, hinting that he would be
a nation can come together is to try and your decisions no matter what
next to take a knee, tweeting the
and inform everybody about the
problems y ou may have, because
following statement: “Don’t be
problems Trump has created.
in the end, they will support and
surprised if you start seeing ath-
Anyone who was affected by
respect you and your beliefs.
letes kneeling in other sports now!! Trump’s comments may have just
Over the last year, numerous
Comments like that coming from
kept it to themselves, but Maxwell
players and athletes have followed
our president. WOW!”
did not as he courageously ex-
Colin Kaepernick in protesting
Whatever Maxwell was thinking
pressed his rights as an American.
giving justice, sparking a trend that
in that moment is beyond any-
“The only platform that seems
allowed Maxwell to become the
one’s guess, but he deserves a lot
to be getting attention is athletes
first ever to do so on an MLB field.
of credit for expressing his stance.
kneeling, so I’m doing my part in
MLB issued a statement as well
I strongly believe that Maxwell’s
baseball.” Maxwell said in an inter-
regarding Maxwell’s decision.
kneeling was not intended to disre- view afterwards. He’s doing his part “Major League Baseball has a
spect the country or the American
for the MLB and serving justice for longstanding tradition of honoring
flag, because Maxwell held his
an unjust president who most of
our nation prior to the start of our
hand over his heart while taking a
the time seems to be talking com-
games. We also respect that each
knee. I saw it as a form of symbol-
plete nonsense.
of our players is an individual with
ism for a cause, speaking for those
Again, this is the United States of
his own background, perspectives
who cannot in America.
America and anyone who breathes
and opinions.”
“Again, this is the United States of America and anyone who breathes air
in this country is entitled to say whatever they want...”