The one issue completely forgotten in the sports kneeling controversy (“To Kneel or Not to Kneel: Part 2,” September 28, 2017) is that this is not about free speech. This is about the behavior of employees on the job. No one goes to the mall or a doctor’s office and sees it festooned with blatant partisan political banners. Houses of worship are prohibited from endorsing candidates. Why then is it somehow permissible for paid athletes, on the job and given the opportunity to perform in front of tens of thousands of people live, to engage in their personal politics? Save it for after the game, or before. But people are buying tickets to see them perform, not be forced to swallow whatever political position strikes their mood. When such a significant portion of the population sees anything but standing during the national anthem as offensive, then it’s time to keep political behavior out of the arena!

 Scott David Lippe, MD

Fair Lawn