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Wisconsin To Require Sports Events to Play National Anthem
On Tuesday, the Wisconsin State Assembly passed a bill requiring the playing of the National Anthem during the start of all sporting events. This covers all areas and venues in the state that receive taxpayer dollars in subsidies. With the passage in the Assembly, the bill now heads to the Wisconsin Senate for voting.
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The National Anthem Is a National Issue
The playing of the National Anthem during sporting events became controversial during the last few years. Protesting against what they see as systemic racism, many athletes saw the chance to show their stand during the playing of the National Anthem. As a result, many started kneeling whenever “The Star-Spangled Banner ” played. In addition, some athletes stayed in the locker during the segment and only emerged only after.
With the rise of woke citizens who protest everything from the Black Lives Matter movement and other social justice trends, some venues and professional teams decided to cut playing the National Anthem.
‘Part Of One Country’
Representative Tony Kurtz, a military veteran, and Republican-authored the bill supporting the National Anthem. Kurtz hopes that if passed into law, his bill will remind Wisconsin residents that they are all part of one country. “We are a very dysfunctional family at times that’s for sure. But we are a family. And what concerns me, once again to my core, is we are ripping ourselves apart internally in this country,” Kurtz said.
“A part of me worries about that. When somebody says I’m not going to play the anthem, that does concern me. Because folks, whether you like it or not we are one big family and I want people to remember that,” he added. Kurtz got the idea for the bill after a National Basketball Association team owner made a fateful decision. Back then, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban decided that his team’s home games will stop playing the National Anthem.
Democrats Oppose The Bill
Expectedly, Democrats comprised the group that opposed Kurtz’s bill, which passed 74-22. Democrat Representative David Bowen said that the bill “gets in the way of folks being able to use their right to protest.”
Representative Lisa Subeck, also a Democrat, voted against the bill as well. “As much as I respect our flag, as much as I believe in this country, as much as I believe in our freedom, I’m not sure it makes sense to mandate that it be played,” she explained.
Youth Sports and Rec Leagues
In addition to professional sporting events, Kurtz also wants the bill to apply to youth sports and rec league softball games. However, Kurtz acknowledged the bill is symbolic. It is also unenforceable. Kurtz doesn’t mind though. “I want people to voluntarily do that,” he said.
Do you support the playing of the National Anthem before the start of sports events? Why do you think some people find something wrong with this tradition? Let us know what you think about sports and the National Anthem. Share your comments below.
35 Comments
The National Anthem is a must and any athlete that disrespects our country by kneeling while the Anthem is being played should be escorted from the stadium and never allowed to return.
People are always both good and bad as are countries. Loyalty is a great quality and we need to have it for a successful country. If people want to live here, they need to respect our flag and country. If they disagree with something, there are ways to deal with it such as PEACEFUL protests and getting signatures for support. Disrespecting a country because they do not do EVERYTHING that one person or group wants is unsustainable and foolish.
AGREED JIM THANK YOU ~~~!!!
I feel as a veteran people should be proud of the sacrifice that so many have given all so OLD GLORY can fly for our country. So many people don’t understand how people have to live in some of these foreign countries and to see how some of there socialism is!!!!!!!!!!!
I fully agree with the comments above and feel that if you disrespect our country, you need to be shipped to Iraq and see how you like it there!!
They should visit a V.A.hospital to see first hand what the cost is for freedom
I am an Vietnam Era Army veteran and love my America. Our National Anthem is a very big part of this United States of America. Anyone not believing this does not need to live here, with all of it’s privileges!!! 💖
Stand for the flag, kneel for the cross !
As an Army vet I have a great respect for our national anthem. It reminds us of the values this country was founded on and should continue to do so.
I am as well, Joanne! First of all, thank you for your service!
I’m in agreement with every word you just spoke.
Each and every child, male and female, should be drafted right out of high school and be required to go through and graduate from military Basic and Advanced Infantry training before persuing their careers so they will be ready in case our country calls. This will help them to more understand what our flag really stands for and also what patriotism really feels like! 👍🏼
Good for WIS. Semper Fi.
Good job Wisconsin – I’m thinking about moving there! This nation was built on patriotism and we should not bow to the wishes of the minority, period. God Bless the USA!!
It definitely shows respect for country and flag. For those professional ball players who disrespect this country, y’all can go straight to hell. You bitch about being repressed and not being treated equal but you live in a great country that gave you the opportunity of making millions of dollars. You live in the best country in the world but yet complain about everything. If you can’t stand for the national anthem and the flag, you’re a communist piece if shit.
“IN GOD WE TRUST” means that we want to be ON GOD’S SIDE, not a manipulative “God is on OUR side” insistence. Those such as Theocratic Radical Muslims currently assaulting ISRAEL from the Gaza Strip consistently execute death from a “god is on MY side” belief.
Not a longtime resident of Wisconsin ,but this playing of the National -Anthem at sports an other events is making me proud,,
Way to Go Wisconsin.
I feel the Anthem should be played at all large gatherings to show respect for the Country that allows these gatherings. This is the Vcountry that gives you the right to have your opinions and voice them freely. This Country should be honored just for this reason.
I agree completely with the Anthem being played before all social events. I applaud the Wisconsin Senate for passing this law and hope the House will do the same. My hope is that every state will adopt this law. God Bless America. If you don’t like it here…..move.
I thank GOD that Wisconsin has the guts to STAND UP FOR OUR GOD AND COUNTRY and not be afraid to stand up against those who are trying to destroy our GREAT COUNTRIES WAYS AND POLICIES. “THANK YOU GOD AND WISCONSIN FOR STANDING UP FOR THE GREAT AMERICAN WAY”. We aren’t perfect, but we are better the some other countries in so many ways. Why else would our enemies make every effort to destroy us. We have allowed our enemies to come in and take over our once GREAT WAY OF LIFE, and now our chicken shit leaders have shamed us, by allowing our enemies tell us what they want and they give it to them, at our expense. In order for them to get rich by doing crooked ways that help our enemies destroy us from the inside out. GOD BLESS our great country again and Wisconsin for standing up for our ONCE GREAT COUNTRY.
Total agreement with all previous comments USA! USA! USA!
God Bless America!
Love it or LEAVE it!
God bless Wisconsin ….In 1973 I got shipped over to Germany to help defend NATO countries from communism…. and now we have this virus from Communist China …. God bless our veterans past present and future ….do you want to kneel down go to church!!!
YAY FOR WISC. I 100% AGREE. THESE “AWOKE BASTARDS AND THE CULTURE AS THATS HOLES AND THE REST OF THE SHIT EATING LIBERALS THAT HATE THE USA PACK UP YOUR SHIT AND GET THE F— OUT
OF OUR COUNTRY, AND STAY OUT. GOD BLESS THE USA. TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP MAGA.
101% with Jim Yeoman.
Fire, and escort out the knee takers.
Yes! I agree, our National Anthem should be played at all sports and social events. I believe too many people have taken our Declaration and Constitution for granted; they do not realize or comprehend the God-given rights and freedom that were used by our Founding Fathers. Freedom is not free. It comes with an extremely high price. Never take it for granted. Never think it’s free. Never abuse, misuse, or let it deteriorate. Stand for the Anthem – stand for the flag – kneel in church. Help one another, and, do t forget to thank a vet every chance you get. GOD Bless America 🇺🇸.
What an interesting concept! I’m sure this infuriates the new administration and his boss XiXi! Now that they’ve dumped the democrat Liz, they can be proud of America and be patriotic. Hopefully she’ll be run put of that state. I hear NY has plenty of real estate available and I saw their pathetic Mayor that murdered all the seniors begging people to come back. Even ofdering to buy the rich a dinner, on taxpayors dime of course!
Mother always said never argue Religion & politics so I don’t But people need to remember GOD is on the throne his will shall be done.
Would like to see all 50 states do the same thing. Have respect for all those who have died to defend this country. The dems want to keep this race thing going with their lies. I don’t think the majority of this Country is races’ at all the dems just want to keep us fighting among ourselves. God created all of us and we should not let color make a difference.
I’m sick of hearing people state “people fought and died so people can kneel and disrespect our country”?!? I say if you do not like this country then GET THE F*#% OUT PERIOD”!! I have a lot of friends in the ground that did what their country ask of them and others missing limbs and hearing and in no way did they ever think that going to war was a pass for disrespecting our flag, anthem or Country! If more patriotic Americans would stop being so goddamned afraid of everything and push back hard on these anti-American pos who hate this country then we wouldn’t have to “demand” that everyone respect the United States of America which is the umbrella of freedom that they live under!!
If you don’t like our National Anthem or our laws, and everything else THEN MAYBE YOU SHOULD LEAVE OUR COUNTRY THE ONE THAT SO MANY GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR SO WE COULD HAVE FREEDOM. LEAVE
Very easy: 1st kneeling: A warning. 2nd kneeling A substantial fine 3rd kneeling a suspension. No excuses.
I echo Ms. Abel’s comment as I couldn’t say it any better.
Anyone who kneels or in any other denies the necessity of the national anthem should have their citizenship revoked and ship them to whatever banana they came from!!
I agree with Wisconsin. If they don’t want to respect our flag send them out of OUR COUNTRY.
I agree with Wisconsin – if they can’t respect our flag but insist on enjoying our freedom they should at least appreciate and show that appreciation by respecting our flag. Otherwise, get the hell out of OUR COUNTRY and I hope the door hits you in your ass.
THANK YOU WIS./ LAW MAKERS !!! OUR COUNTRY IS IN EFFECT UNDER ATTACK. THE YOUNGER GENERATION HAS GROWN UP IN A SOCIETY SO PROSPEROUS, THEY DON”T HAVE A CLUE ABOUT HOW IT CAME INTO BEING! THEY DON”T EVEN TEACH ” REAL AMERICAN HISTORY NOW” HISTORY LIKE “THE TRUTH” NOT THE TRUTH AS YOU SEE IT. WAKE UP PEOPLE, THERE”S FACTIONS AS WE SPEAK WANTING THE USA TO FAIL & FALL OUT OF `HISTORY PERIOD; NOTHING BUT REALITY NOT WISHING WILL KEEP THIS COUNTRY ALIVE! TAKE PEOPLES HISTORY AWAY SO THEY DON”T KNOW WHO THEY R & WHERE THEY COME FROM: IT”S A RECIPE 4 DISASTER! LOOK AROUND, ONE WOULD THINK W/TECHNOLOGY WHERE IT”S AT & STILL WE HAVE KID”S SHOOTN UP SCHOOLS/ POLICE BEING DEFUNDED/ TURNED INTO A NANNY STATE; WHERE”S THE WISDOM ? THERE”S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “WISDOM & KNOWLEDEGE ! WAKE UP AMERICA, WHILE YOU STILL HAVE A NATION & THE RIGHTS 2 DO SO! NEVER FORGET :FREEDOM IS NOT FREE! IF YOU GOT IT SOMEONE SOME WHERE PAID FOR IT ,IN BLOOD OR MONEY ! THE USA IS ON HILL; WE CAN ROLL FORWARD OR BACKWARD & CAN HAPPEN SO FAST, YOU”LL WAKE UP SPEAKIN A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE ! WAKE UP AMERICA LUV IT OR LEAVE IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PRAY ! GOD”S GRACE; GAVE US THIS COUNTRY ! DON”T LET POLITICAL CORRECTNESS STEAL YOUR FUTURE AWAY! GOD BLESS !! THANK U VETS FOR YOUR SERVICE !!!!!!!!!
I love all of the comments and everyone comments ! And they reflect what we the American people are feelings. So why is it that we are in the boat we are in right now?