President Trump took to Twitter over the weekend of Sept. 23 in response to NFL player’s’ decision to kneel during the national anthem. The athletes’ protest was in response to Colin Kaepernick’s decision to sit during the National Anthem in 2016, for which he later lost his position as quarterback on the 49ers. Kaepernick sat in protest of the injustice served to minority communities in America.

After Kaepernick was fired from the 49ers, his message and protest spread throughout the NFL. Soon after teams such as the Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints chose to kneel and sit during the National Anthem, President Trump began tweeting to share his opinion on the matter, “Ratings for NFL football are way down except before game starts, when people tune in to see whether or not our country will be disrespected!”

Americans were scattering to choose a side from the start of the protest. The big question still stands: “Are the NFL players disrespecting their country by sitting, kneeling and remaining in the locker room during the national anthem, even if they are just trying to make a point?”

Trump continued to comment on the issue, saying that players who knelt or sat should be removed from their position or placed on probation. As the protest continued to spread, the American people begin to feel more passionate about their side of the cause.

Some felt as though the athletes are disrespecting the flag by kneeling or sitting. Some Patriots feel as though the protest is a direct disrespect for the lives of those people willing to fight for our country.

Others believe that the flag represents more than the country’s veterans. The supporting side believes that the flag is a representation of the good that lies in American history — which is precisely what the athletes are opposing.

The Xavier community had a lot to say on the matter, as Dr. Luken, a senior Theology teacher, brought the topic to class discussion. Some students felt the president should show more interest in matters such as Puerto Rico, rather than a protest. Others felt the players were disrespecting the men and women who put their live on the line fighting for their country. While some thought the matter was over publicized.

Regardless, Colin Kaepernick protest last year, shed a light on the injustice being served to the colored population and he chose the flag as a vehicle, and led to the anthem protest this season. To Colin and athletes alike, the government was disrespecting the flag by allowing the injustice to continue, especially without reprimand in certain cases. President Trump’s tweets have died down over the past two weeks on the matter, and NFL teams and players have mostly resumed saluting the flag.