Via editorial and op-ed writings in newspapers, NFL players' protest by kneeling during the national anthem has elicited equal amounts of sympathy and condemnation from opinion shapers and the general public. Those who oppose kneeling argue that the players are not patriotic enough and do not respect the flag. Supporters of such activities, on the other side, argue that the players have the right to protest in whatever way they see fit, including kneeling. The protests have escalated primarily as a response to President Trump’s comments aimed at firing the players who kneel during the anthem as lack of respect to the American sense of nationhood.
Arguments are always subjected to analysis and construction through the various models to increase their persuasive power to the intended audience. One such theory for constructing arguments is seen in the Toulmin mode (Karbach 81). This paper analyses the editorial The Day the Real Patriots Took a Knee published in the New York Times on September 24, 2017, by the editorial board. The article supports the need to allow the NFL players to kneel for the anthem if they want using the six principles presented in the Toulmin model.
Claim
The editorial claims that the protests by the players are one of the most significant gains for freedom and free speech in America with the kneeling representing the rights of individuals to express themselves as they wish. The authors want the audience to believe that it is right for Americans regardless of their status to protest in ways they deem fit, and that true patriotism is noted related in any way to the freedom of speech (The Board n.p). Furthermore, the editorial perceives the kneeling as an ultimate victory for free speech as well as the adoption of the racial justices in which the blacks have faced unwarranted police brutality.
Data/Grounds
The claims are based on the perceived police brutalities and racial injustices against the minorities in the United States history. The kneeling is further supported on the grounds as an appropriate reaction towards the President Trump’s call for the firing of the players who kneel during the anthem before the games (The Board n.p). Mr. Trump sees the kneeling as an instance of an ultimate disrespect to the flag and lack of patriotism. The arguments are further supported by the NFL owners like Robert Kraft who owns the New England Patriots who feel that the players have the right to effect social changes and raise awareness in a manner they deemed fit. It can further be seen that the remarks by the President to condemn the protests through kneeling demonstrates lack of concern for the legitimate fears and issues that are affecting the American society especially the grievances against the minorities.
Warrant
The fight against social injustices in America is seen as a significant concern in the country with the historical struggles observed towards the accomplishment of a fair and just society. It can thus be understood that the editorial argues that it is the role of individuals to raise awareness regarding the police brutality issue as it affects the minorities. On the same note, the article is based on the perception that people may be forced to forsake their freedom of speech especially when they wear uniforms and on a role for their respective clubs (The Board n.p). On the same note, it is argued that the limitations of the players’ capacity to protest reflects the restrictions placed on the workers’ free speech in the work environment. Workers have the rights to freely voice their opinions in a manner that they consider fit to raise awareness in the society without keeping quiet on the most of the prevailing social issues. The protests can, therefore, be noted to have a significant impact on the community that has struggled with historical racial injustices dating back to the slavery days. The call by the President to have the protesting players arrested further raises the questions of whether individuals can be sacked from their jobs for not agreeing with some aspects of the society.
Backing
Further accusations are made against President Trump who is viewed to be primarily focused on the NFL’s efforts to reduce head injuries and long-term problems associated with the players who retire from the sports at the expense of patriotism. It is right for the league to consider the safety of the players especially after evidence showed that the brain of a 27-year old had signs of a degenerative disease that is usually associated with the former players who are over 60 years old (The Board n.p). Instead of focusing on the dangers and safety issues to which the NFL is associated, the President can be observed to be more concerned with what he considers as a beautiful game at the expense of the player’s wellbeing. On the same note, the President has been recorded as complaining against the referees who penalize the use of excess violence by the players during games. It can thus be seen that the claims by the president for disrespecting the flag are in bad taste since he does not consider the player’s welfare and rights of expression (free speech).
Qualifier
The degree of certainty in the report is observed in the assertion of the right to free speech towards the struggles against the social injustices that are meted against the minorities. Police brutality and racial profiling are some of the issues that are noted to arise in the American society with the activist movements like the black lives matter seen as a way of responding to the violence with which the blacks are handled (The Board n.p).
Reservation
The public mostly judges the teams and the players regarding their perceived respect to the American flag and patriotism. It can thus be observed that there have been witnessed boos and fans disapproval in the instances that players have knelt during the singing of the national anthem before games.
Flaws in the Argument
The fallacies noted in the argument is observed in the fact that the authors bring the idea presented in the tweet by a basketball player James Lebron who upon hearing that the President had disinvited a player from attending a traditional ceremony in the White House aimed at honoring the champions. The conclusion to the article is disjointed as it does not reflect the topic. The use of the Lebron’s tweet is a logic flaw since it does not answer the question of how kneeling during the anthem by the players reflects an actual act of patriotism (The Board n.p). It can further be observed that the application of the tweet makes the last part of the argument as fallacious as it primarily seeks to appeal to the masses while deviating from the topic and hence is disjointed. The importance of the previous move to the overall structure is noted mainly in emphasizing the stand-off between the President and athletes who are protesting the alleged police brutality against black people in America.
Conclusion
Apart from the one logical flaw identified in the conclusion of the story, it can be observed that the story is logically flowing to advance the topic that the NFL players should be allowed to kneel if they want as a way of demonstrating free speech. It can further be observed that the authors are using enough data and a solid ground for arguing that there should be a course aimed at championing against the social injustices that are observed in the American society especially the perceived police violence on the minorities. The editorial’s argument is also essential as logical in the manner in which it portrays America as a country that embraces free expression of individuals despite the differences and perceived hostile remarks from the President that sparked the riots. The arguments placed by the editorial The Day the Real Patriots Took a Knee is therefore not undermined to a significant extent by the fallacies like a false dichotomy, fallacies of composition, and ad populum.
Works Cited
Karbach, Joan. "Using Toulmin's model of argumentation." Journal of Teaching Writing 6.1 (1987): 81-92.
Lewis, Nicole. "Analysis | The NFL And The First Amendment: A Guide To The Debate." Washington Post, 2017, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2017/10/05/the-nfl-and-the-first-amendment-a-guide-to-the-debate/?utm_term=.ac593f7cbd69.
The Board. "Opinion | The Day The Real Patriots Took A Knee." Nytimes.Com, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/24/opinion/nfl-football-patriots-take-a-knee.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fopinion-editorials&version=latest&contentPlacement=2&module=ArrowsNav&contentCollection=Opinion&action=keypress®ion=FixedLeft&pgtype=article.
