Today, it’s safe to assume that most of us have heard the news about players in the National Football League taking a knee during the National Anthem. These past few weeks, the athletes on many football teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks, refused to stand. Several players either knelt or locked arms in solidarity.

Whether you agree with these men and support their right to protest the recent criticism of our President or believe that it is a matter of patriotic respect and their opinions should not affect the game, the truth is, this has been happening for a while.

Last Sunday was not the first time we have seen football players protest and disregard the American flag. We all have the right to maintain our own perspectives and opinions, but the question that applies to current high school students today is, will this come into play in high school football teams? How will we, as students, be affected by these acts?

Dylan Ramirez, of Los Alamitos’ football team emphasizes the scale of recent news. “Honestly, the only way it would affect a team in high school is if it affected the coach. In high school, you are still a kid, so…your coach is really going to control what you do, so that is his decision.” While many students across Los Al’s expansive campus have voiced their objective opinions, according to Ramirez “so far no one in my team has discussed it, I don’t think they are too involved in that”.

But maybe it’s time we start becoming involved, and paying attention to how the world around us can affect even our sheltered community at Los Alamitos High School. Let’s use this as an opportunity to become aware of the racial divide here at our school, and realize the intensity of such offensive political denunciation and support the individuals who are affected by it.