“Here in America, we are descended in blood and spirit from revolutionists and rebels. As their heirs, may we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion.” (Dwight D. Eisenhower)
In announcing its decision to mandate players’ on-field observances of the national anthem, the NFL has stumbled into a dangerous territory where existing racial and political divisions likely will be heightened in our increasingly polarized nation. First and foremost, those fans who favor the league’s decision and castigate the protesting players should realize that the right to engage in peaceful protest is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.