Several NFL teams have come under fire recently for their players taking a knee during the National Anthem. They’ve been called unpatriotic. Disrespectful. Disgraceful. An embarrassment to this great country we call the United States of America. Vice President Mike Pence stormed out of the Colt’s game the weekend of October 9th because players took a knee during the National Anthem, per the President’s orders of course. As if VP Pence can’t make up his own mind about whether or not to leave a football game. But then again, it wouldn’t look right if he stayed and watched, now would it?

According to The Sun, the ‘Take a Knee’ movement started back in 2016 with Colin Kaepernick, who took a knee during the National Anthem. His reasoning? He wasn’t going to stand to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses people of color. Since then, NFL players across the U.S., in addition to even London and Germany have seen players taking a knee during the National Anthem. When Donald Trump called for NFL players to be fired for being unpatriotic in September, NFL owners came out in full force to show their solidarity for their players, as did fans and other teams around the world. Some veterans are even showing their support for the players, saying they fought for the right of players to protest.

President Trump is calling for NFL players’ heads, saying they should be fired for kneeling during the National Anthem, and even calling for changes in tax law to prevent teams from getting “massive” tax breaks. According to Business Insider, the NFL gave up its tax-exempt status in 2015, but individual teams and the league itself still use hundreds of taxpayer dollars to help with building new stadiums.

I can understand why people are upset and angry. I can understand why their actions are considered disrespectful, unpatriotic, and disgraceful. But… here’s the thing. In the grand scheme of things, these NFL players are a tiny blip on a much larger radar.

Are the players hurting anyone? Not really.

Are NFL players loudly protesting and marching with torches and encouraging violence, like the white supremacists who descended upon Charlottesville, Virginia a few months ago and then again less than a week later? No.

Are they tweeting condescending remarks and engaging in a pissing contest with North Korea and their own party? No.

Are they threatening the lives of millions of Americans by making cuts to their healthcare? No.

Are they endangering women by cutting off their access to affordable and much needed reproductive healthcare? No.

When you take a step back and look at the bigger, overall picture, NFL players taking a knee during the National Anthem is the least of our concerns.

Things we need to be concerned about instead:

1. WWIII

Yes, this is a possibility now.

2. Nuclear War

Wait, what? Seriously?

3. Healthcare

Republicans are bound and determined to overturn and replace the Affordable Care Act, putting millions of people at risk for losing their much needed healthcare. And thanks to Trump, who took matters into his own hands and is now refusing to pay the subsidies, we are all pretty much screwed. At least the people who make less than $50,000 a year are.

4. Birth Control

For the love of God get your hands off my uterus and stop concerning yourself with my reproductive health! Last time I checked, it was MY period, not yours.

5. Medicaid, Medicare, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Again, Congress has decided for whatever reason, people should not be allowed to have access to affordable healthcare and food.

6. Environmental Crisis

Earth is one hot babe right now, and not in a good way. I don’t know about you, but I value being able to live and breathe on this beautiful planet that we are destroying day by day.

7. PUERTO RICO

The Jones Act’s 10 day waiver expired last week and these people are still dying and in need of our help.

And the list goes on. There are so many bigger issues happening that should be our focus right now. Not football players taking a knee during the National Anthem. Again, I understand why people are outraged, why they are angry, why they are upset and why it’s considered disrespectful and unpatriotic. But on the same token, they are but a small blip on a larger radar. There are bigger, more important, life threatening issues that we as Americans need to concern ourselves with. The football players can wait. In the meantime, if you don’t like watching them kneel during a game, don’t watch it. Get up. Walk away. Turn off the TV.