Winning Football!! Keep your personal problems & political activism at home

America is for freedom. Especially speech. Sports and politics have been intertwined since sports were invented.

By the way, wtf is everyone doing watching players during the anthem? If the anthem was so important to you, why are you watching players during it? Are you standing up at home?

Save the sanctimonious drivel.

 

Just curious how you get off telling everyone in the title of your thread to "keep your personal problems political activism at home"

And then make the thread about your personal problems and political activism.

That is some professional grade hypocrisy right there.

Cute puppy. Is it yours? Maybe he can teach you how to love. It's what puppies are here for.

 

i think you should move to North Korea where youre forced to keep you mouth shut and stand for the flag

 

Theres no PoFo like threads allowed on trephins so while it is alive i think its baffling the arguments ive heard from the people who feel the flag is being disrespected.

"How are you feeling opressed with your mansion and multi million dollar contracts"

Uh, theyre standing up for those who dont share the gifts they do, because those people matter too.

I think the most baffling of all are the people who deny racism, racism doesnt exist anymore, theyre just a bunch of angry black people that cant figure it out. Lol... im white and ill tell you, racism exists "bigly" and probably bigger than ever.

And thats what this movement is about...


Muhammad Ali said it best in this clip

 

I was watching the news coverage of the Steelers Villenueva standing alone outside the tunnel (and I totally respected that!).

And in the background there were dozens of fans waving their "terrible towels" over their heads during the anthem. I see fans sitting down, drinking beer, walking around, taking pictures, men who won't take off their hats. All of which is 1,000,000,000,000,000 times more disrespectful than taking a knee and bowing your head in a moment of silence.

And then there are true hero's, men who've been there and DONE THAT!!! Who are telling it like it is.

http://time.com/4956246/war-veteran-kneel-nfl-players/

'Those Kids Have Every Right to Protest.' 97-Year-Old WWII Vet Kneels to Support NFL Players

 

Like I’ve said here numerous times, as a Marine combat vet I support those players kneeling 100%. However, those who disagree with their kneeling also have my full backing. You can’t support one point of view while claiming “freedom” and not support the other. That doesn’t mean you have to believe in either sides stance or opinion. It means, if you’re touting freedom you must respect each persons right to their own opinion and their voicing of that opinion. That includes Kaep’s right to kneel and Matt Light’s right to disagree with that kneeling, for example.

This “movement” was never really a movement. Kneeling during the anthem at a football game will get you nothing other than people arguing about kneeling during the anthem at a football game.

Anyhow, sports and politics have always been side by side. Some sports figures, like Ali, knew how to make their case and start a movement. People like Kaep are just dumb. Lol

 

Absolutely.

But it all goes wrong when those players, and now owners are being discriminated against, losing jobs and $$$ because of their stance and that the discrimination is by those who disagree.

And the hypocrisy of those who are angered by this disrespect of "the flag" while showing their own total lack of respect is worse. I don't see how someone taking a knee and bowing their head is disrespectful in any way. I would never myself. I stand and hand on heart at home or the bar when the anthem is playing.

The Star Spangled Banner was written to celebrate our rebellion against the current government. How can a protest be disrespectful of that???

 

Thank you for getting to the heart of the matter Rocky. Let's acknowledge the real problem these brave men are bringing attention to. Racism and discrimination are real problems in a country that was built by immigrants. If you don't think so I have no words. But I'm trying. My problem is I think Racism and intolerance are the highest forms of ignorance. And I can't tolerate ignorance. I'm working on it.

 

The problem THEY have is, we don't need the NFL or its players, they need us. They brought it on themselves. Keep it off the field. I feel zero sympathy for that corrupt organization anyway. Burn baby BURN!

 

The quality of the NFL pregame shows are where the ratings are low. I tune in for fantasy and for inside info and strategies on games. There are plenty of opinions on CNN.

 

Like Dan and being a combat vet, I'll defend everyone's right to be right and everyone's right to be wrong. Right and wrong though is often a matter of perspective. To me personally, kneeling (or sitting down...as this initially started with Kaepernick the first time last year) during the national anthem is inexcusable. It's utterly disrespectful to those who currently serve to keep us safe, those who have served and to those who paid the ultimate price to secure your right to protest...and every other right we cherish. Now whether you agree with me or not, let's put some perspective on this.

Last week during the playing of the national anthem, there was a grand total of 6 players that knelt during the national anthem. That's it, just 6! This week however, following President Trump's expression of his disdain for those who kneel, that number jumped to 186, with others standing in locked arms and three teams remaining off field all together. So let's REALLY put things into perspective and ask honestly, were you protesting what you said you were protesting? Social injustices as was put out in a Seahawks players statement, or were you really protesting the President? If you look at the actual numbers, the in vogue of kneeling had worn off until President Trump made his remarks this Saturday. You weren't protesting the social injustices you claimed you were. You were protesting your President.

Now I know there are those who are going to come rallying to the defense of the players and pick-up their pitchforks to fend off the President with their words of ridicule towards him but before you do, consider this...how loud were the "boos" in each and every one of these stadiums when these players knelt? How loud were they in games past? All the President did was echo the sentiment of fans alll throughout the league so before you stab your proverbial pitchfork at the President, keep in mind you're stabbing at the millions and millions of fans who feel the same as I do.

I started this off saying I'll defend everyone's right so before turning that pitchfork my way, are you mature and courteous enough to understand mine and millions of others's point of view and instead of hurling insults, have a constructive dialogue?

 

Whose more in the wrong then....the POTUS for going off and making this a bigger issue or the players, coaches & owners standing together because a POTUS literally targeted citizens who were just expressing their right to speech and protest?

 

The President was talking to a small group of his constituents who, I presume, disliked the kneeling. He could have been a little more "presidential" in his wording, but make no mistake, there are millions of people in this country who think exactly like what he said. Him being their voice is not wrong. Him saying what he did was not wrong. If someone thinks he was wrong then they are a hypocrite.

The right to kneel during the anthem is something I'll always defend. Hell, I'll defend the right for some ignorant skinhead to spew his hate. I will not, however, pretend that I like either.

I tolerate things that people have a RIGHT to do. I don't have to agree. Tolerance isn't acceptance. And it seems that nowadays in order to be "tolerant" a person must also accept or agree with the opinions of everyone.

Bottom line, people I know have died to ensure that people can kneel, if they so choose, during the anthem. I don't think it shows disrespect to the military if people kneel stating that their purpose for kneeling is to bring awareness to something. I do, however, think it's a bad idea because it's going to do nothing more than cause hate and discontent.

Do police need better training? Yes. Do police departments need better screenings for their officers? Yes. However, the inner cities and high crime areas of this country need to take some responsibility for continuing to create a culture of violence and disrespect for authority. The fact of the matter is, 80+% of people who live in poverty in this country are hard working individuals trying to do the right thing. The 20% give them a bad name. The same with police. The minority gives the majority a bad name. And frankly, this won't change until they each take responsibility for their own actions and stop blaming others.

 

I agree 100% if the fact kneeling is supposed to "Unite" why are some sitting some kneeling and some raising fists. Last time I checked after 9/11 we all tried to unite and what did the players do? they all surrounded the flag and held it or locked arms during the anthem, this protest is not about one race, one gender or one shape shifter its a whole country's issue, and the "whole country" should unite like they represented after 9/11.

 

Its kind of hard now the MNF broadcast the anthem first time in like 100 years, the media keeps it relevant, I agree don't show them.

 

The media keeps it relevant because despite the crying and whining, people are watching. They wouldnt do it for anything other than ratings and believe me theyre getting high ratings.

 

This means nothing. This fire chief is an ignorant loser. He's dumb. Just ignore him. He has no power. His "words" have no power. Should he be fired? Yes. But not because of his words, but because of his character and his position in a government job.

While I agree that certain police departments are definitely "racist" in the fact that they profile, institutionalized racism in this country is all but gone. Trying to stop each individual from being racist is a losing cause and will only make a person angry. Racism will be around for as long as humans are around. That doesn't mean you must accept it, it just means you should ignore it. Again, institutional racism in this country (other than the very small percentage of police who practice this) is history. I do believe that something needs to be done about this left over police racism, but looking for individual racists to crucify won't change anything.

When I was in the Marines I had a 1stSgt that was black. He and I served in Afghanistan together. He is, without a doubt, the bravest, most hardworking, most intelligent person I have ever met. Take note, I work with interventional cardiologists nowadays. When I was a Sgt we had two Marines in my platoon get into a fist fight. One was black and one was white. The fight was pretty even, but the white guy called the black guy the "n" word. Well, suffice to say that caused a huge uproar among the other Marines. (Including me)

Well, both guys were sent to see the 1stSgt in order to get their punishment. The entire platoon was shunning the white guy because of what he said. They each received the same punishment. This made the other Marines even more mad because they thought the white guy should have gottenworse because of what he said. The 1stSgt heard about this and called formation. He said he heard that some wanted the white guy to get more punishment. He asked why? Some of the Marines told him and he listened. Then he said, "Who here is going to have a beer with LCpl _____?" No one raised their hand. He asked, "Who here is going to give LCpl ______ a ride if he needs a ride?" No one raised their hand. He asked a few more questions along these lines and then he said,

LCpl________, due to the changes in this country and the willingness of the majority to look past color and race, and due to the integrity of the Marine Corps, will suffer much more punishment than LCpl___________ (the black guy he fought with). The Marine Corps doesn't tolerate hate which means this Country doesn't tolerate hate. LCPl____________(the white guy) learned his hate, he wasn't born with it. I don't hate him. Neither should any of you. You should help him as I will help him. If we all help him, maybe he will see the error in his ways. If we all shun him he will keep hating. Then he walked away. It took a little bit, but the white LCpl was eventually accepted back and he and the black guy he fought with became great friends.

About 6 months after this happened we were in Afghanistan. That 1stSgt saved a bunch of Marines and Northern Alliance fighters and died while doing so.

I still talk with both nowadays from time to time and they both live close to each other and hang out from time to time. The white guy named his son after that 1stSgt.

 

Both. The initial group was protesting cultural inequality and police brutality which are certainly very real and important issues. Then, following the comments from Agent Orange, the rest of the league made it clear they stand for those players rights to have their own opinions and protest as they wish. It had nothing to do with protesting the president directly, and the VAST majority of people in this country understand that the right to free speech is more important than your physical orientation when the anthem happens to be playing within your surrounding area.

Besides, anyone who would boo a person protesting during the national anthem is hysterically acting against what the anthem actually stands for in the first place.

 

racism and activism are taught things in society to feel one way or another, white people are racists black people are racist and Mexicans are racists everyone no matter color shapes and sizes are racist. Not saying every person is, but every race is racists. My 3 yr old son loves his friend at school who is a black kid and my son is a mix Hispanic white boy they play and have no care in the world about what another look like, if everyone could just see life through a kids eyes, who know nothing it would be easy, but the mere fact there are youth football programs 6 yr old kids kneeling for an anthem they don't even know the words to yet is brought on by adults and taught and its a shame to me. Like my man DAN said racism will always be around because everyone is too busy pointing fingers instead of fixing what they can control that is themselves and their own youth.

 

I just liked your post because I liked your picture!!!!!

 

So now the POTUS doesn't have a right to his opinion......Hmmm hypocritical comes to mind.

My right for Freedom of speech allows me to call your Mother a ***** is that OK with you ????.... hey its right to speech.....you see my friend one needs to understand and have some level of responsibility and reason. And I'm sure your Mom is a beautiful loving woman.
Coaches owners and commish saying that the players deserve respect and the President should not have said what he said. Well the President is saying our Country and the people that put their lives on the line and even died to have this Country, deserve respect. But todays society is so friggin ignorant they can't even understand that simple truth.... You know you cant fight stupidity....

Sunday Afternoon Minute men...... thats it

 

I don't blame the players...i blame the owners. As far as I'm concerned the NFL owners allowing this from their employees while they are representing their teams in uniform are the ones disrespecting our flag. The NFL made damn sure that players weren't allowed to play with pat tillman's number on their uniform or the cowboys couldn't support the police or paying fans who support this sport couldnt hold signs voicing their displeasure so it's obvious the NFL supports and condones this activity. It definitely isn't about free speech since the NFL is more than happy to quash free speech it doesn't agree with. For those who disagree with kneeling cut the cable cord and stream your games for free, buy knock off jerseys instead of NFL endorsed products and boycott the advertisers after writing them telling them you will boycott them

 

I believe I can believe in racial equality and stand for the national anthem, but I am not black so maybe the gesture to kneel is the only way to get attention on the subject of police racism.

 

My stance isn't hypocritical at all.

The POTUS doesn't have to like it and he is perfectly allowed to have his own opinion. However, he is in position of extreme power and is subject to a different set of rules. Him calling for a firing is a whole lot different than me calling for a firing. Surely, as a rational human being you can see that, no?

There are no laws governing how a person treats the anthem. None. There are no laws stating an average citizen must salute the flag. There are those laws in places like North Korea, however.

Forced patriotism is not patriotism. Forced respect is not respect.

If we want people standing for the anthem, maybe we should stop having our cops kill unarmed black people and then getting away with it.

 

So what. Just play winning football.

 

You mean the same guy who is a hero for kneeling in defense of oppressed people, then rocks a Castro t-shirt?

You want to know how horrible the media is? Ask yourself, why is that rarely brought up?

 

So your saying that athletes aren't in a position of extreme power to the normal fan base or youth? if even more so they are.

well maybe we should look at the true statistics and stop singling out only "black" people Im guessing you think cops don't kill anyone but black people? that's is a 100% false statistic the difference is; is every color and gender has an incident with cops armed or unarmed only thing that gets blasted by the media is when an incidents with "blacks" and its sad super sad either way but the fact that you think its only "black people" is naïve and arrogant.

My other question is its been over a year since cap kneeled has anything changed? its supposed to be a peaceful protest but all the protest is doing is making common folks come between each other and a country pick sides!!!!!

I do agree there are something POTUS shouldn't say and he should shut his mouth because he's doing the same as kneeling making people pick sides and that's not a way to go.

 

same reason tebow was blasted beyond belief for kneeling in prayer and its accepted for cap, the media wants the country to peel apart from the inside....illuminati at its finest hahahahah

 

You are reaching very, very, very hard to compare a football player's importance to the importance of the leader of the free world. Football players work for the league....the POTUS works for all of us.

Are you actually questioning the validity of the protest because it hasn't;t changed everything in a year? Really?

You can guess all you want about what I do and don't know and none of that has any bearing on what I actually know. I know that there is a long and storied problem with systemic institutional racism in this country that extends to law enforcement agencies. I know black people are a lot more likely to be stopped and questioned than white people. i know cops get away with killing more unarmed black people then they do white people. I know black people are more likely to be arrested and convicted of the same crimes that white people get away with. I know that institutional racism that permeates the country has done everything it can to keep the black population down and in poverty as much as it can. I've also seen the disgust in people's eyes while they shake their heads when they walk past my black friend and his white wife and mixed children. I've also seen white people scream about how much they hate jews and black people and mexicans and women and the LGBTQ community while protesting with tiki torches.

 

Tebow wasn't blasted for kneeling. The whole country started a craze following suit.

 

Everything you've written could be said about any race. Institutionalized racism is all but gone in this country.

In 2016 963 people were shot and killed by police. 915 were armed. 466 were white. 233 were black. Police don't have a racism problem as much as they have a lack of training problem. And kneeling for the anthem will not change that.

 

you must not be paying attention to see how many kids/adults can tell you the starting 5 for the warriors but cant tell you who the vice president is. you don't want to admit it most people cant admit when their wrong but if you think the president is more influential to young adults and kids than professional athletes or musicians your crazy

you are stating an opinion based off a small sample size of what you see? were you personally at the rally with tiki torches or what you seen on tv? by chance did you hear about the kid in Huntington beach, ca who was unarmed and shot 7 times by police? and happened to be a white kid? do you also account for the fact that 56% of all major crimes are committed by black males in this country? do you know all shootings that are committed and their outcomes and who was involved? no you don't your basing on what you read and see on tv. I don't know the exact percentage but last yr alone 50 something % of cop involved shooting were white people and if I can find it I will show you that it was less than 25% of them had involved people of color in all of officer related shootings yet what is showed to you on tv is what they want you to see so everyone in this country is divided. Im not saying its not a problem by all means I see it all the time 80% of my friends are black and I get there is a problem but stop playing poor me or a one sided affair and realize it spans everyone in the country not just one sex or gender.

Ive heard blacks talk about whites Mexicans etc as well, are you saying only white people say these things? your biased on your opinion and that's the point of all this when is enough, enough?

Well right back at you I have a friend who is married to a black girl and the amount of criticisms and times he has been antagonizes by black males because of it. its the same all around the world man stop thinking its a one way street and realize what it really is, that is a majority of all this dividing a country, once everyone realizes its about the usa as a whole and what we can do to make it better for everyone not just one specific group whether it be LBGTQ whites blacks, the cheetah population or the dying tulips in san Diego.

 

thank you my % was off but I was around the number appreciate the help!!!!

 

the craze was his td celebration not the anthem the anthem was condemned!!!! get straight with what it is!!!