Will the NFL Play Two National Anthems?
Contents
- Introduction
- What is the NFL?
- What is a National Anthem?
- What is the Purpose of a National Anthem?
- What is the History of the National Anthem in the NFL?
- How Many National Anthems are There?
- Who Decides Which National Anthem is Played?
- What are the Criteria for a National Anthem?
- What are the Different Types of National Anthems?
- Conclusion
The NFL has been embroiled in a controversy over whether or not players should stand for the national anthem. Some have argued that playing two national anthems, one for the United States and one for Canada, would be a way to show respect to both countries. However, others have argued that this would be unnecessarily divisive. What do you think?
Introduction
The NFL is caught in a bind. After years of protests by players during the national anthem, the league is now facing criticism for not allowing players to protest. The latest controversy began when the league said it would fine teams if players didn’t stand during “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Then, the president turned up the heat by saying that players who don’t stand should be fired. Now, the NFL is trying to figure out how to make everyone happy – or at least not too angry.
One solution that has been suggested is to play two national anthems – one before the game and one after. This would allow players to protest during the pre-game anthem without offending those who want them to stand during the game. It’s unclear if this will satisfy everyone, but it’s something the NFL is considering. We’ll have to wait and see what they decide.
What is the NFL?
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league consisting of 32 teams, divided equally between the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). The NFL is one of the four major professional sports leagues in North America, and the highest professional level of American football in the world.
What is a National Anthem?
The National Anthem is a patriotic song that is sung to show support for one’s country. The National Anthem is usually played at public events, such as sporting events, and is typically sung by a solo singer or a group of singers.
What is the Purpose of a National Anthem?
A national anthem is “a song, as of praise, devotion, or patriotism,” according to Merriam-Webster. The Star-Spangled Banner, which is more than 200 years old, is the United States’ national anthem. The lyrics come from a poem written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key. The melody comes from a popular British song called “To Anacreon in Heaven.”
Other countries have similar songs with different origins. For example, “La Marseillaise” is the French national anthem. It was written in 1792 by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle during the French Revolution.
The purpose of a national anthem is to rally citizens of a country together emotionally. They are supposed to be patriotic songs that inspire feelings of pride and unity.
What is the History of the National Anthem in the NFL?
The NFL has a long tradition of playing the national anthem before its games. This tradition dates back to the league’s early days, when military bands would perform the song prior to kickoff. Over the years, many different performers have taken the field to sing the anthem, including Whitney Houston, Garth Brooks, Mariah Carey, and Carrie Underwood.
In recent years, however, the league has come under fire for its handling of the national anthem. In 2016, then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the anthem as a form of protest against racial injustice in America. His actions sparked a nationwide debate, and other players soon joined him in kneeling or raising their fists during the anthem.
In 2017, US President Donald Trump weighed in on the issue,calling for NFL owners to fire any “son of a bitch” who dared to kneel during the anthem. The following year, the NFL instituted a new rule requiring all players and personnel to stand for the anthem or stay in the locker room until it was over. However, this rule was later put on hold after backlash from players and critics.
The issue came to a head again in 2020, when several high-profile players announced that they would be sitting out or skipping the season altogether due to concerns about COVID-19. In response to these decisions, Trump called for those players who sat out to be suspended or fired. Following these comments, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement saying that “the NFL fully support[s] our players’ right to peacefully protest.”
With all this history in mind, it remains to be seen what will happen when the NFL season kicks off later this year. Will players kneel or raise their fists during the anthem? Will they boycott it altogether? Only time will tell.
How Many National Anthems are There?
Many people are wondering how many national anthems will be played at the upcoming NFL game. The answer is that there are two national anthems, one for the United States and one for Canada.
The American anthem is “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and the Canadian anthem is “O Canada.” Both songs will be played before the game, and both countries’ flags will be displayed on the field.
Who Decides Which National Anthem is Played?
The United States has two national anthems: “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “America the Beautiful.”
So, which one will the NFL play before its games?
That’s a good question.
It turns out that there is no set rule or guideline on which anthem should be played. The decision is ultimately up to the NFL and its broadcast partners.
In the past, the NFL has alternated between the two anthems. For example, during Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014, “America the Beautiful” was performed before “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
But this year, things are different. The NFL has decided to only play “The Star-Spangled Banner” before its games.
This decision was likely made in response to recent protests by Colin Kaepernick and other NFL players during the national anthem. By only playing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the NFL can avoid any potential controversy that could come with playing both anthems.
So, there you have it. The NFL will only be playing “The Star-Spangled Banner” before its games this season.
What are the Criteria for a National Anthem?
There is no set criteria for what qualifies as a national anthem. According to the National Association of Baseball and the National Hockey League, an anthem must be a song that “evokes patriotic feeling and [ whose] origin is widely known.” The National Basketball Association simply states that an anthem must be “widely known and recognized.”
The National Football League has not released any official criteria for what constitutes a national anthem. However, in an email to NBC News, an NFL spokesman said that the league generally selects songs that are “recognizable and evoke strong emotions.”
Some have speculated that the NFL will choose to play two national anthems this year due to the political climate surrounding Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling protest during “The Star-Spangled Banner.” It is unclear if this is accurate or if the NFL has considered this option.
What are the Different Types of National Anthems?
There are many different types of national anthems, each with their own unique history and purpose. Some anthems are purely patriotic, meant to stir up feelings of nationalism and pride. Others are more solemn and reflective, meant to honor the country’s history and values. Still others are designed to be inspirational and aspirational, urging the citizens of the nation to strive for greatness.
Which type of anthem do you think the NFL will choose to play? Will they go with a traditional patriotic song like “The Star-Spangled Banner” or “God Bless America”? Or will they choose something more reflective, like “America the Beautiful” or “My Country ‘Tis of Thee”? There’s really no way to know for sure, but whatever they choose, it’s sure to be a moving moment for all those who hear it.
Conclusion
The question of whether or not the NFL will play two national anthems has been a topic of discussion for many years. There is no clear answer, and it seems that the league has no plans to make a decision on the matter anytime soon. In the meantime, fans can only speculate on what might happen if the NFL does decide to play two national anthems.