Games, not protests

Dear editor:

I read Judy Ladd's letter, "It's just a game," and I would like to comment on the letter. Yes, Judy, it is a game, a football game played by "professionals." It is their job, pays them lots of money and they are hired by the owners, who pay their salary. The owners, in turn, make their money from the fans, who buy the tickets to see the game, and the sports gear and memorabilia items.

Can you remember who started this taking the knee and why? It was Colin Kaepernick over a shooting involving a white cop and a black victim. I'm no expert and I wasn't there for the tragic event. My personal opinion is the football field, on his boss' time, was not the place to protest. His job should reflect the respect of his fans and the rest of the team and play football for which he was paid to do. By the way, last I read, he's still out of work.

I would like to watch a football game and see the players respecting the national anthem of our country, because it shows young people how to respect our country. I have a grandson signed up to play "flag football" and I want him to be a team player and follow the guidelines of the game. I hope to someday watch him play high school, college and maybe even professional football. As a football fan, I would have come on the field and jerked my son up on his feet if he had done a protest at his school football games.

There is a time and place for all events, but a football game is not a protest site. I want young and old to have an enjoyable time, as I do every season. Therefore, as my act of protesting the players who are still disrespecting the national anthem, I am sending out a letter to each NFL team. If they wish to protest a shooting, why not the killing of the children in drive-by gang shootings? I would walk right beside the players over that. These players are in the media and watchful eyes are on their actions, on and off the field. Many players are involved in activities in their communities, those are the players I respect.

It is a game, and I pay to watch these games because it is my choice of entertainment each fall.

L.J. Gibson

Hot Springs