Two Football players at Victory and Praise Christian Academy have suspended for the football team for not standing during the National Anthem at a Friday football game. During the pep talk prior to the game the head coach- Ronnie Mitchem- told the players that disrespect will not be tolerated. Mitchem is a former Marine and would not allow that kind of disrespect on his football team. During the National Anthem two boys, Cedric Ingram-Lewis and his cousin Larry McCullough raised their fist and keeled during the National Anthem. After which Mitchem told the boys too take off the jersey and leave. The boys them took jerseys, Pants and pads off and left. Mitchem said that he has never had problem like this before. He has always had good relationships with the players, but they will have to pay the consequences.
Questions-
1) Do you feel the coach did the right thing or did he act to harsh. If you feel he acted to harsh Why.
2) What would you do if that was one of you sons.
Thoughts-
I feel that he did just what he should have done because they were disrespecting the flag and the U.S. Also if that was one of mine sons I would ground him for a while and not let him do anything, I would feel very embarrassed because that is my community and they would know that he is my son acting out and going against the country.
Replies
Well done! I like how you ask questions back to the person.
1. I think the coach did the right thing. Kneeling during the National Anthem is so disrespecting to the people that have served this country just to keep you alive. 2. If it was my son, he would get his phone taken away, he would be grounded for a while, and I would make sure he doesn't go out in public for awhile. I would be kind of embarrassed also but it was my son that made that choice, not me.
I think the way he reacted was called for. He served as a marine and knows what the national anthem stands for, I think it was right for him to kick them off the team. Those boys were told they needed to stand, knew that their coach had served for his country and should have respected that. It's their own fault for being disrespectful and getting themselves kicked off the team.
I agree, is there any way that you would punish the kids if one of them was your? If you would how would you do that?
I think the coach did what was right. I also think other coaches should do that because not honoring the flag during the National Anthem is just drawing attention to the team and themselves. I would be extremely disappointed and embarrassed that my child has chosen to do that kind of thing.
I feel the coach did the right thing by warning the players that they shouldn't protest and he stayed true to his word. But at the same time, its a players right to protest, while I don't agree with it, it is their right. I would be slightly mad at my son and the coach, they both were in the wrong, the coach overreacted and the players should have listened.
How would you try and deal with this situation?
I feel as if the coach had the right to punish the teens, but he should not have done this. They were exercising their right of free speech. It is unfair to punish kids for peacefully protesting. I would educate my son about the reasons to stand and also to sit and I would let him make his own adult decisions from there.
Do you feel that it was against the school code of conduct?
Disrespecting the national anthem is not cool in my book, and the coach was a former Marine, so i think he had the right to be upset. He fought for our country at some point in time. If it were my sons, I'd take them home and ground them for a long time. But the coach had to realize the exact reason why they were protesting, it is not that they hate their country, but all the bad things that have happened with African-Americans within the past few years.
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