By the New York Times Editorial Board
The editorial board represents the opinions of the board, its editor and
the publisher. It is separate from the newsroom and the Op-Ed section.
The owners of the National Football
League have concluded, with President Trump, that true patriotism is not
about bravely standing up for democratic principle but about standing
up, period.
Rather than show a little
backbone themselves and support the right of athletes to protest
peacefully, the league capitulated to a president who relishes
demonizing black athletes. The owners voted Wednesday to fine teams whose players do not stand for the national anthem while they are on the field.
Let
us hope that in keeping with the league’s pinched view of patriotism,
the players choose to honor the letter but not the spirit of this
insulting ban. It might be amusing, for example, to see the owners tied
in knots by players who choose to abide by the injunction to “stand and
show respect” — while holding black-gloved fists in the air. Or who
choose to stand — while holding signs protesting policy brutality.
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