National Anthem Protests - Agree or Disagree?

[Jethro Bodine]

Just curious what the membership, especially any American members think of the "protests' by NFL players during the playing of their national anthem.
Personally I am all over the map on this one and being a middle aged, upper middle class white guy, I feel I really don't have the perspective to comment.

Cheers
JB

 

[Dick Ford]

If I were a black man, or a black person, in the USA, I'd be pissed, too. Good on 'em, I say. There's certainly more for these athletes to lose by protesting, like endorsements, yet Colin Kaepernick's jersey is the top seller online, so who knows? Maybe the public is a lot more understanding than I give them credit for.

 

[hedgeman]

I don't understand the anthems being sung anyways for reg season or even pre season games, big games like Superbowl, WS and Stanley cup yes, but reg season...nope, it's kinda stupid imo

 

[Aesthetics>all]

I strongly disagree with some of these protests, especially the retards that are standing on and burning flags... I'd be liable to catch an assault charge if I saw someone doing that shit to ours

 

[johnniejetpack]

Good question Jethro. I think it's sad that people protest the flag that so many people spilled blood to protect. I guess some people have forgotten that lots of white people died in the civil war to abolish slavery and promote civil rights.

Yes there are a few rogue cops and idiots out there who act like vigilantes, no one agrees with that. These guys should be subject to appropriate discipline and cops definitely lose their jobs if they use undue force.

I don't think people should blame the flag or the country for that. I wonder if Kaepernick will sell his multi million dollar house and give all of his money to charity to combat the problem? It's funny that his jersey sales have skyrocketed since he began his protests...... He won't be a quarterback for long based on his recent skill level, and hopefully he will go away after that happens. He has an exceptional standard of living and is making millions of dollars because of the country and the freedom it provides.

Racism is not going to go away because he is protesting the flag. Bigots now have another reason to hate him because he is disrespecting the flag. His message will not reach the right audience, it just seems to infuriate people that are already on board with equality.

 

[Ms Erica Phoenix]

Good question Jethro. I think it's sad that people protest the flag that so many people spilled blood to protect. I guess some people have forgotten that lots of white people died in the civil war to abolish slavery and promote civil rights.

Yes there are a few rogue cops and idiots out there who act like vigilantes, no one agrees with that. These guys should be subject to appropriate discipline and cops definitely lose their jobs if they use undue force.

I don't think people should blame the flag or the country for that. I wonder if Kaepernick will sell his multi million dollar house and give all of his money to charity to combat the problem? It's funny that his jersey sales have skyrocketed since he began his protests...... He won't be a quarterback for long based on his recent skill level, and hopefully he will go away after that happens. He has an exceptional standard of living and is making millions of dollars because of the country and the freedom it provides.

Racism is not going to go away because he is protesting the flag. Bigots now have another reason to hate him because he is disrespecting the flag. His message will not reach the right audience, it just seems to infuriate people that are already on board with equality.

Colin Kaepernick is not protesting the flag: he is protesting the anthem that is a hymn to war. We have all been sold a lie that the Civil War was about freeing the slaves...it was about protecting the economy with the advent of the cotton gin. They have been selling that lie for a very long time. He is donating his share of the jersey proceeds to charity. His football career gives him a platform to speak for those who have no platform, and no voice, as more than a few black athletes have done before :

Jesse Owens
The US Men's Relay Team
Muhammad Ali

They called Ali a traitor too...until they didn't anymore & gave him the Medal of Freedom.
Muhammad Ali (RIP)

 

[westwoody]

Much more disturbed by the cops who want to boycott the security duties. Law enforcement must act impartial or professional.
Football olayer want to make a statement, no big deal, it is just a game.
Police officer deciding to be insubordinate in performance of their duty is far more serious.

 

[nice]

Kaepernick also donated a million dollars along with his jersey sales proceeds this year towards his beliefs. He has every right to protest the gross and grotesque acts of violence against people of color without just cause. Did you see the one about the black social worker who was trying to help an autistic client? He was cooperating and lying down trying to tell the police that his client was autistic. They shot him in the leg. His client was sitting with a toy truck and the cop claimed he was trying to shoot the autistic white man and missed. That's why he hit the black social worker. I don't know if that's any better. But firing a gun should be a last resort for the police, not the first one. There are lots of reasons why, but Kaepernick is trying to bring attention to these issues. The government will only act from public awareness and pressure.

 

[johnsmit]

First off the Stars Spangled Banner has nothing to do with the civil war.. It is bases onot a poem from the war of 1812.

So as good American they are way off base about any slavery or racism applied by the lyrics or theme.

It seems to be a tread to make our anthem and the americsn gender and ethnically nutrual.

I say write a new anthem and propose it to the public. None of today anthems have been all way the anthem , they only became standards after many years of being song as a national inspiring song .

 

[yasmine]

Freedom of speech - it's a constitutional right. I stand behind the protest. I commend bravery.

Side note :
When you are allowing a rapist to receive a sentencing of 6 months (which is outright ridiculous) and being released after 3 months for good behaviour you can't begin to point fingers at a man whose feeling frustrated about the country's justice system.

 

[westwoody]

Yasmine, you know if that rapist had been black he would be doing twenty years.

But if you have a rich daddy and your judge is from your frat it is easy street.

I was just in Washington DC and the cop cars have external cameras now, that is how bad it is.

Flags mean nothing, if you cannot see the difference between a flag and systemic racism then you need help.

 

[Ms Erica Phoenix]

First off the Stars Spangled Banner has nothing to do with the civil war.. It is bases onot a poem from the war of 1812.

So as good American they are way off base about any slavery or racism applied by the lyrics or theme.

It seems to be a tread to make our anthem and the americsn gender and ethnically nutrual.

I say write a new anthem and propose it to the public. None of today anthems have been all way the anthem , they only became standards after many years of being song as a national inspiring song .

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

That's the third stanza. Not commonly sung, but still part of the poem that Francis Scott Key wrote. Still think he is off base?

 

[yasmine]

Ain't that the ugly truth !!

Yasmine, you know if that rapist had been black he would be doing twenty years.

But if you have a rich daddy and your judge is from your frat it is easy street.

I was just in Washington DC and the cop cars have external cameras now, that is how bad it is.

Flags mean nothing, if you cannot see the difference between a flag and systemic racism then you need help.

 

[Cock Throppled]

Using professional sports to display one's patriotism is pretty stupid, however I believe standing for an anthem is showing respect for the good things your country represents, not the bad.

Who would condone racism, or income disparity, or Galaxy 7's burning up on planes?

But one could condone the abiity to express opinions, the ready access to emergency services and the welfare system that can help the less fortunate.

How many countries give the opportunity to underclasses to excel at sports or entertainment and make millions?

 

[westwoody]

How many countries give the opportunity to underclasses to excel at sports or entertainment and make millions?

The number of millionaire athletes is statistically irelevant.

Ready access to emergency services? Not for the dirt poor in slums.

It is sad that some people are more upset about his choice not to grovel beneath a flag than the systemic racism he is protesting.

 

[Amuse0ne]

Well it's one way to get that trade he wanted, I wouldn't be surprised if something preventing this sort of behaviour is added to their personal conduct code when signing contracts with the club in the future. This sort of thing was banned from the Olympics a long time ago and I still can't get past how it's such a slap in the face to all who have proudly served their country.

 

[Atticus]

America is broken, they can't keep burying their heads in sand, blind patriotism is not going to solve a thing. Racism has to be confronted and exposed, just look at some of the people who are supporting Trump, blatant racism going unchecked.

 

[westwoody]

A slap in the face?

Get real. I served, I got no problem with his protest.

It has nothing to do with the military. The military is not America. If anything it may show what a fucked up situation the US is in with their military fetish.

 

[PierreCoeur]

Land of the free. Home of the brave. If it was not the fact that civil rights had to be fought for years then the protest has no validity. We all know that the fight for equality is still on going in the USA. Trump is a prime example of the bigotry so rampant in society and you question the right of an athlete to stand for his race?
Indeed Land of the Free, can only be earned by those who are brave enough to say "enough already"

 

[sevenofnine]

Im following this with curiosity

but like someone said being a comfy fat white guy in Canada I don't know want to think,

I remember Cassius Clay protesting the Vietnam war, but how many dam wars have the americans started how many people have been killed since then by the dam americans
I remember Martin Luther King read a lot about him, remember the day he died. but now we have this black lives matter rally and movement and so much police brutality etc.

my question or what I wonder is does it do any good these protests.
sitting watching some one take a knee during the national anthem or whatever else they do, doesn't really change the way I think at all.

I think peoples minds are made up on race or homo sexuality or whatever the issue is and a demonstration or a stand, only adds fuel to the fire
what ever it is that is driving them a protest only makes them dig there heals in.

and as far as colin kapernick is concerned, and his protest. I don't think it goes that deep as far as civil war and the national anthem
and all that,

its the black lives matter movement for him, and that is it. he is up set with the police violence toward his race.

its interesting in a way

I mean I work with a gay couple married well a lesbian couple happily married,
and they fucking hate gay pride week and all this lgbtq bull shit.
in there opinion all it does is create stress and tension, brings all the nuts out of the wood work. they can't wait for gay pride week to be over.

so I wonder does it actually do any good.