Running Head: ETHICS DEMOCRACY AND LEADERSHIP 1 ETHICS DEMOCRACY AND LEADERSHIP 6 Ethics in the National Football League Chad Hurt OLCU 601 18 November 2017 Identify and Analyze There is a saying that goes, baseball is the pastime in America, but the American game is football. Over the past one year, the National Football League has been engaged with controversy over the decision by some of the players to kneel during the American national anthem. The kneeling protest during the national anthem has continued for a long period of time as a form of raising awareness against racism and police brutality (Graham, 2017). The element of ethics sets in when we consider the fact that the action is motivated by a personal belief towards a certain course. The athletes who have knelt during the anthem have stated that they understand the imbalance in the society and they use the sport to raise awareness. There are other people in the country who think otherwise including the President of the United States Donald Trump. The controversy around the issue has arisen based on the fact that the president has raised his voice, and condemned the athletes for the actions. In defiance, the athletes have not taken the criticism lying down. The players, together with some club owners, decided to stage an unprecedented wave of protest against the president’s sentiments. The defiance started in London’s Wembley stadium when the players refused to stand during the national anthem even after the president had called them out (Graham, 2017). Political issues are always looked at from the ethical point of view rather than from a legal point of view. Some people have a view that the president is fueling racial tension through his statements when majority of the people who are protesting are of African American origin. The statements made by President Donald Trump that club owners should fire players who kneel during the protests have been met by condemnation from the Democratic Coalition which believe that he is wrong on the issue. Even though the federal law says that it is not proper for Trump to comment on employment of the citizens, the issue has been looked at from the ethical point of view where individuals have different political affiliation. Hobbes political and ethical theory properly explain some of the positions that have been taken in the debate. Hobbes, in his theory, detests violence (Beitz, 2009). The NFL players, particularly Colin Kaepernick who started the protest, believe that police brutality is violence that is not ethically correct, and the only way that the society can call out the police to stop such brutality is through peaceful protests such as the one he initiated. On the other hand, President Donald Trump and most of the Republicans believe in descriptive ethics (Hussain, 2007). They are concerned that the kneeling is disrespect to the history and the country’s flag. His supporters believe that the veterans who fought for freedom are no ...

1. Running Head: ETHICS DEMOCRACY AND LEADERSHIP
1
ETHICS DEMOCRACY AND LEADERSHIP
6
Ethics in the National Football League
Chad Hurt
OLCU 601
18 November 2017
Identify and Analyze
There is a saying that goes, baseball is the pastime in America,
but the American game is football. Over the past one year, the
National Football League has been engaged with controversy
over the decision by some of the players to kneel during the
American national anthem. The kneeling protest during the
national anthem has continued for a long period of time as a
form of raising awareness against racism and police brutality
(Graham, 2017). The element of ethics sets in when we consider
the fact that the action is motivated by a personal belief towards
a certain course. The athletes who have knelt during the anthem
have stated that they understand the imbalance in the society
and they use the sport to raise awareness. There are other
people in the country who think otherwise including the
President of the United States Donald Trump.
The controversy around the issue has arisen based on the fact
that the president has raised his voice, and condemned the
athletes for the actions. In defiance, the athletes have not taken
the criticism lying down. The players, together with some club
owners, decided to stage an unprecedented wave of protest
against the president’s sentiments. The defiance started in
London’s Wembley stadium when the players refused to stand

2. during the national anthem even after the president had called
them out (Graham, 2017). Political issues are always looked at
from the ethical point of view rather than from a legal point of
view. Some people have a view that the president is fueling
racial tension through his statements when majority of the
people who are protesting are of African American origin.
The statements made by President Donald Trump that club
owners should fire players who kneel during the protests have
been met by condemnation from the Democratic Coalition which
believe that he is wrong on the issue. Even though the federal
law says that it is not proper for Trump to comment on
employment of the citizens, the issue has been looked at from
the ethical point of view where individuals have different
political affiliation.
Hobbes political and ethical theory properly explain some of the
positions that have been taken in the debate. Hobbes, in his
theory, detests violence (Beitz, 2009). The NFL players,
particularly Colin Kaepernick who started the protest, believe
that police brutality is violence that is not ethically correct, and
the only way that the society can call out the police to stop such
brutality is through peaceful protests such as the one he
initiated. On the other hand, President Donald Trump and most
of the Republicans believe in descriptive ethics (Hussain,
2007). They are concerned that the kneeling is disrespect to the
history and the country’s flag. His supporters believe that the
veterans who fought for freedom are not happy with the protest.
Evaluate
The issue of players kneeling during NFL games is a matter that
concerns the society. Even though the issue has led to divide
opinion over the ethical position of the actions, it means that
there are certain positions that the society hold dear that must
be addressed and bring the impasse to an end. When the issue
gets the attention of the head of state, it means that there is so

3. much about the continued protest than what meets the eye.
The majority of the NFL players are of the Africa American
origin, a minority race in the country that believes certain
unfair practices have been directed towards them. The most
critical issue that the African American players are raising is
concerned with the fact that the black society has been
victimized by the police, and some of them have been faced
with undue heavy handedness from the police. Even though
there have been street protests against the alleged brutality the
NFL players, a majority of whom are black have decided to
kneel during an important session so as to pass the important
message to the world.
The president and the Republicans are concerned with the
dignity that should be bestowed upon the American flag. The
condemnation that has been directed towards the players is that
they have failed to respect the country and what it stands for by
kneeling during the anthem. The president and the other
members of the American society are frustrated because the
players who are kneeling during the anthem are passing a
message that is important to them. Any act that will force them
to stand during the anthem will be seen as further
discrimination against the minority thereby escalating the racial
issue at hand.
The NFL and the government have a responsibility to one
another. The NFL has the rights of its players to protect while
the government has the image of the nation to protect. The
government has continued to call on the NFL to fire players
who kneel during the anthem, but the NFL has ignored such
calls. The most important thing is that the sport and the
government come together for the sake of the nation and the
players. The public has a role to play in the issue whereby they
can decide to call on both the government and the NFL to find
out what the reasons behind the kneeling are and whether they

4. can be solved through proper dialogue.
Synthesize
The biggest challenge that is posed to the office of the president
is to prove that the issue that has been raised by the players are
not taking place in the society. The minority black society have
maintained that there are issues of race that have not been
addressed in the country, and they have decided to show the
world that there are racial injustices in the country through the
protest. It would have been easy for the president to accept that
certain issues have happened in the past that might have pointed
negatively on the police towards the black race, and decided to
assure the minority that certain changes will be made. The
challenge is that Donald Trump has to work with the ideologies
of his supporters who believe that no racism and profiling has
taken place against the black community. The president has
been quoted saying that the kneeling is nothing to do with race,
and that everything boils down to disrespect of the flag.
The NFL is obliged to protect its financial interest when dealing
with the issue. The fact is that the game is made up of more
black players than any other race. The league is faced with a
dilemma where they can decide to fire the players and end up
diluting the quality of the game. The league owners have
decided to ignore the calls by the government to fire players
who continue with the protest. The NFL, being a private
business, is not limited in terms of what it can do to the players,
but it cannot fall to the coercion from the government.
Recommendation
In every society, people have interests that they want to be
addressed. When issues are addressed through dialogue; in most
cases, they don’t escalate. The hardline stance that has been
taken by players, the NFL and the government opinion is not
healthy for the image of the country. I recommend that both the
NFL and the government leaders come together to address their

5. concerns in a professional manner that have the interest of the
American people in mind. From the topic, what I have learned
is that a leader is an individual who is willing to listen to the
opinion of others and learn from them; don’t criticize them for
their beliefs. I recommend that an Ethics policy is put in place.
One that both parties can agree upon to deter future issues.
Lastly, ethical dilemmas are not easy to fix. I believe the key
to resolving an ethical dilemma is to have an open mind and the
interest of your employees and the organization at the forefront
of ethical decisions.
References
Beitz, C. R. (2009). Political theory and international relations.
Princeton University Press.
Graham, B. (2017). NFL players kneel for anthem in
unprecedented defiance of Trump. The Guardian
Hussain, N. (2007). Honest illusion: Valuing for Nietzsche’s
free spirits. Nietzsche and Morality, 157.
Warnock, G. (2003). The object of morality. Cambridge
Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics, 2(3), 255-258.
Running head: HUMAN NATURE
1
HUMAN NATURE
4
Human Nature
Chad Hurt
OLCU 601
4 November 2017

6. Introduction
Developing thoughts regarding human nature is equal to having
a reflection in the mirror, of what one is made of, what they
look like, and their overall identity (DeLeuze, 2011). Just as
different individuals react differently to different reflections
when they look at the mirror, human nature is also in some
cases, disputed. Core characteristics evidently define human
nature, which includes feelings, psychology, and behaviors. All
these aspects are shared by all individuals. This paper discusses
human nature, an understanding of human nature concepts, as
well as real life and practical examples, of how this theory has
helped in decision making.
My theory of human nature
I concur entirely with Aristotle’s theory regarding human
nature. I believe human beings are made up of two substances,
which include the material body and the material mind. In my
view, regarding human nature, the mind is the most critical
aspect of being, which makes human beings different from
animals. Every human being has a different structure and form.
Every human being as well has a different mind, and ways of
thinking. Every form of being on the other hand, cannot exist
independently. Nothing in the human form is an entity by itself.
Divine intellectual functioning can take place without the
material body. However, it is tough to make everything efficient
without all systems in place. I think human beings are social
creatures, which have activities that are common amongst
themselves. Human nature can ensure that societal development
is not compromised in any way (DeLeuze, 2011). In an ideal
life, the human mind works with a lot of honor, and an
intellectual reflection is capable of unveiling a lot of
individuals in the society. Intellectual contemplation is the
highest, most important and the best form of human activity.
Self-realization does a lot of positive aspects in the life of

7. individuals in the society.
Examples and ideas I have learned
Examples of how human nature can be manifested in practical
life are more linked with the experiences of a child. These are
gradually imprinted into the mind of a child as they grow up.
Just as explained in theory, the human mind has a lot of power,
and will, as well as the capacity to store and put in a lot, to
develop social relationships (Hill et al. 2010). The mind is
considered to be an unborn reservoir, which influences
individuals’ behaviors as developmental stages set in. Based on
the theory, it is right to conclude that children are the best
examples to use in showcasing the concept of human nature.
Development stems from the mind. The child grows to believe
what his or her young mind is fed, during the growth process.
How this theory has functioned in my decision making
In life, we do what we do as a result of what we may have
learned while growing up and more so, because of what we
believe to be right. Other people also do what they do for the
sake of achieving the same sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.
Human nature cannot be compromised, especially if ethics
prevail. People are good unless they end up picking the wrong
forms of behaviors and adopting vices from their environment.
Conclusion
Philosophers and many scholars have managed to talk about
human nature in different schools of thought. More broadly,
some religions have gone ahead to discuss the various forms of
human understanding, and the relationship with other people’s
beliefs (Hill et al. 2010). Other ideas of human nature have also
been historically brought forward, in regards to prominent
historical figures, and complement my theory. A lot is still at

8. stake when it comes to human nature. Evidently, people are
good, and not all can be termed as dangerous. Rules that govern
human behavior should, therefore, not be shunned at any time.
References
Deleuze, G. (2011). Empiricism and subjectivity: an essay on
Hume's theory of human nature.
Columbia University Press.
Kaplan, H., Hill, K., Lancaster, J., & Hurtado, A. M. (2010). A
theory of human life history
evolution: diet, intelligence, and longevity. Evolutionary
Anthropology: Issues, News,
and Reviews, 9(4), 156-185.