Due to recent ultra-nationalism, especially in the United States, I was agog as to why people were thinking the way they are. In particular, the protest by NFL players against racism, and unequal treatment due to race, in the United States. The action of taking a knee or linking arms is emotionally considered by some as a spit in the eye for the flag, country, veterans, military, president, government...fill in the blank. These offended persons also feel personally attacked by the NFL players, and demand action and justice.
I was researching a good word to describe the "offense" being taken by persons on the news and online. That is when I discovered the actual definition of the word "chauvinism" and please keep the below in mind during the rest of this post. The definition is:
1. Exaggerated or aggressive nationalism or,
2. Excessive patriotism or prejudiced loyalty or support for one's own group, cause, or gender.
Other words used to describe chauvinism are jingoism, excessive patriotism, blind patriotism, sectarianism, flag-waiving, isolationism, xenophobia, racism, partisanship, bias, discrimination, bigotry, and sexism.
Back to the example of the NFL. Firstly, these "victims" fail to consider the NFL players are protected under the United States first amendment:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;
or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;
or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and
to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
Secondly, they also do not consider why the NFL players are on the field during the United States anthem either, which only started in 2009 for primetime games but it existed for non-primetime games for decades before this. For primetime games, players used to do as they wished: in the locker rooms getting ready, receiving last minute tactics, getting pep talks...etc. There was no protests for not standing or being on the field for the anthem during primetime games before 2009. During 2009, the NFL received funds from the department of defense and at the same time the NFL told teams the players had to be on the field during the anthem during primetime games. A coincidence perhaps, but it does make it seem the teams and the NFL were paid to be patriotic, a foul thing.
Thirdly, some of the "victims" then say that the NFL players are employees, have to do what their bosses say, and should be told to stand for the National Anthem as good employees. In the public rulebook of the NFL, it says "should" not "shall" for the national anthem. Therefore this stance by the "victims" is otherwise known as the "do what I say and shut up" method of discourse by the "offended" because further thought from the "offended" would lead one to conclude that if the NFL or employees were told to stand, they could successfully sue using the first amendment as a defense.
Discourse is not what these "victims" want, as the quote alluded to at the beginning. They want "my country, right or wrong" mentality. Forcing others to be the people you want them to be is not democracy, and thinking you can is another form of zealotry. Be mindful of it. Confront it. Dispel it.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2017/sep/25/short-history-national-anthem-and-sports/
http://time.com/4955704/nfl-league-rulebook-a62-63-national-anthem-rule/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chauvinism
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