by Jack
Long before the latest kneeling protest started, the NFL was falling the TV ratings. Why? Well, some people have said they are fed up with football players acting badly off the field. The rapes, drug abuse, car wrecks, homicide, animal torture, wife beatings, etc. Criminal behavior has become so bad people are calling it the National Felons League. Now they are trying to introduce politics and play the old race card.
The NFL players are protesting over a nothing burger, as Hillary would say. This race card is more about the fallout caused by Obama did during his presidency than it is reality.
Obama and the NFL players were wrong about Trayvon Martin, wrong about Baltimore police, wrong about the Ferguson shooting, and wrong about at least as dozen other incidents that were used to incite rioting and homicide against police officers.
The biggest lie out of Ferguson was repeated on the field by black NFL players, “Hands up don’t shoot.” It never happened yet it still persists because of ignorant people who are unable know fact from fiction.
NFL black players are saying too many black people are being arrested because of a broken, racist system and racist cops! Really? I think it’s more a case of doing crime. If that’s all it is then its an easy fix, don’t do the crime, they you won’t do the time. Next problem please.
President Trump was giving a speech when he called the NFL players that were failing to stand for the National Anthem a bunch of SOB’s. Wow, that’s blunt! He railed on them for not being patriotic. He said, they have a right to free speech, but so do the people who are offended by their misconduct and he really let them have it. Wow, wow, wow. Donald you sure are frank! But, hey, that’s the guy we elected, he calls it like he sees it and he doesn’t mix words. You know he’s going to take a lot of flack from a lot of people for saying it. It’s the truth in my opinion, but I think about half of this nation really can’t handle the truth.
Well, until they stop taking a knew I’m going to do my part. I am not going watch anymore NFL games. The stupid stuff on the field and crimes off the field must stop.
Last thought: The national anthem represents freedom and equal rights – why would you protest that?
ESPN started losing viewers by the truckload when they decided they should feature “social comentary” rather than sports. Firing Curt Schilling was the icing on the cake, and the truckload has become a boatload!
The NFL was in the same boat with their mishandling of Deflategate and their allowance of the Krapernick type “protests” and NFL fans are disappearing faster than cash at a $hrilLIARy fundraiser.
It’s one thing to kneel, but Sunday night’s Oakland Raider “protest” was to remain SEATED!
Can’t get a refund on our DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket for this year at this late date, but you can bet there will be no further financial $upport for the NFL from this family!
Good News! Fox Business today had this:
http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2017/09/26/directv-allows-some-nfl-refunds-after-anthem-controversy.html
So I called and canceled and am urging others to do the same. The NFL is finding out that actions have consequences! Will now be getting my football fix with college games.
People seem to not understand what the First Amendment is and where it applies. It guarantee’s individuals the freedom to speak in the public sector, not the private.
Anyone can pull up a soapbox and stand on a street corner and have at it as long as they don’t put others in harms way. The sidewalk is public property available to all.
Move that soapbox into Macy’s and the manager has the right to have you leave or removed. Macy’s is private property.
The football, baseball and basketball teams for the most part are owned by business men and women. The Packers is the only team owned by the residents of Green Bay, I believe. The NFL is also a private business. Therefore, all owners have the right to allow their paid employees/players to protest or not. Each signed a contract that specified their behavior and what would happen if they violated it. A Macy’s salesperson showing up with Antifa gear on or wearing dirty clothes from hours spent doing yard work should expect to be fired.
Meanwhile over at NASCAR drivers stood for the National Anthem. I’m already a NASCAR fan so giving up Sunday football won’t be difficult.
Richard Petty, NASCAR legend and team owner, says he’ll fire any drivers who protest the national anthem:
“LOUDON, N.H. – NASCAR legend and team owner Richard Petty says he’ll fire any drivers who protest the national anthem.
“Anybody that don’t stand up for the anthem ought to be out of the country. Period. What got ’em where they’re at? The United States,” said the Randolph County native, according to the Associated Press.
Petty was asked if a Richard Petty Motorsports team member would be fired for protesting during the anthem, and he replied, “You’re right.”
Owner and former driver Richard Childress also said, “It’ll get you a ride on a Greyhound bus.”
No drivers or other team members sat or kneeled at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway during the NASCAR Cup series race Sunday in Loudon, N.H.”
http://myfox8.com/2017/09/24/anybody-that-dont-stand-up-for-the-anthem-ought-to-be-out-of-the-country-says-nascar-owner-richard-petty/
You have a point, Peggy. Employers can fire employees for speech that is considered out of bounds during work hours, and employers have pretty broad discretion to decide what is out of bounds. Employers in the entertainment industry have even more discretion, as their employees are in many ways also their product, and represent their entire organization to the public. They have a right to decide how they want their brand represented and that can mean firing employers who misbehave even off the clock.
My problem in this instance is that I see the National Anthem as a form of political speech. Not everyone agrees, and I’m not sure if the courts have weighed in on this issue. But I think firing an employee for not standing for the National Anthem crosses the line into punishing employees for refusing to engage in compelled political speech. That is wrong to me, and even if it is legal and constitutional, I don’t think it helps us maintain a culture of free speech where different views are tolerated.
*firing employees
Chris, you make a number of valid points in your reply to Peggy. I’m trying to rethink this by putting myself in the place of the football players. If I was a pro athlete and I did something that would bring unwanted negative controversy to my team and possibly result in the loss of revenue, should I expect the boss to let it slide? No, of course not, I would expect a penalty. I am sure you would feel the same way if it cost you big money and weakened the team!
Football players and other pro athletes have been fired for less. Insubordination, drug abuse, moral turpitude and other things that were club rules and specifically things that were in their contract can get you fired. Did taking a knee during the national anthem rise to such an offense worthy of a firing? It’s a matter of perspective. Some would say yes, some would not, but, the vote that counts is the bosses and the fans that support the club.
Thanks Chris, Let’s try this scenario. A Macy’s employee working in his/her dept. decides to sing the National Anthem over the intercom for the whole store to hear. Are they expressing their free speech rights or have they brought unwanted negative controversy to their place of employment, their coworkers, the store owner and the store’s reputation? Or did they make a political statement?
Only the employee knows their reason for doing so, but I’m it’s still wrong IMO, because it was done during work hours. Take it outside on the sidewalk and sing your heart out.
Remember this whole thing started when Colin K. decided to wear pig/cop socks, I believe during the Michael Brown mess in Ferguson. Then it accelerated to him taking a knee in protest to the hands up don’t shoot and the number of blacks being killed by white cops. No one stopped him, which I believe they should have. The NFL and the 49r owners should have nipped this whole mess right then, but they didn’t have the balls to be politically incorrect.
Kaepernick said: “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”
Remember also, the Dallas Cowboys’ owner wanted to honor the five cops that were killed by wearing a sticker on their helmet, but the NFL denied them. Then there was the Rams running on the field with their hands up, which was allowed by the NFL and no one was fined or penalized.
On Aug. 27, 2016, Woods tweeted: “Kaepernick doesn’t stand for the national anthem, Rams players can walk onto the field with their hands up for the ‘hands up, don’t shoot,’ and other players can wear t-shirts saying I can’t breathe. But the Dallas Cowboys can’t put a sticker on their helmets for the 5 police officers who were killed. Way to go NFL….”
Politifact ruled Wood’s statement to be true.
http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2016/sep/01/james-woods/james-woods-says-dallas-cowboys-cant-honor-dead-of/
Also, IMO I believe Trump was wrong for calling them SOBs. It was not presidential and added fuel to the fire already smoldering. Obama did leave this country in a mess and as divided as we were back in the 1960s. (I wish you’d been alive back then, so you’d understand how much of what is happening today IS the same as back then.) Trump should have used better words that could have united those on both sides of this issue.
I strongly believe the NFL and ultimately the players will be the ones who get hurt. Ticket sales and merchandise sales will drop because people do not want to see politics when they are trying to enjoy their entertainment. Actors, comedians and singers are already feeling the loss of revenue. Movie tickets are down and comedians are on their way to being dinosaurs. Only a memory. Remember the Dixie Chicks and what happened to them?
What’s really sad is how many sports players are minorities who found a way to earn a fantastic living. That same opportunity won’t be there for future football players. Will it be there for basketball and baseball players? People need to think long term before they act.
And so it begins.
There will be no NFL and professional players without college football teams.
UPDATE: Two Years After Embracing Racial Protests, Mizzou Football Is A Dumpster Fire:
“The team that helped ignite the football protest movement: a lesson in what happens when politics eclipse sports.
When the Mizzou football team vowed to quit all football-related activities in November 2015 until the university system president was removed or resigned, The New York Times cheered the players for “lending heft” to the racial activists’ cause. Two years later, the Times had to admit that all the campus hysteria and the administration’s decision to cave to it turned out to be exactly what many predicted it would be: an absolute “disaster” for the university. Over the next two years, freshmen enrollment dropped a stunning 35%, forcing the school to shut down seven dorms and lay off over 400 employees. As for the football team, which saw millions in donations disappear overnight, well, it’s now a full-fledged dumpster fire.”
http://www.dailywire.com/news/21480/update-two-years-after-embracing-racial-protests-james-barrett#
Von Miller loses an endorsement deal after kneeling for anthem:
“Denver Broncos star pass rusher Von Miller knew very well that kneeling for the national anthem could cost him money. His teammate, linebacker Brandon Marshall, took a knee last season and lost endorsements.
The same thing happened to Miller on Monday. Phil Long Ford in Denver said it wouldn’t be continuing its sponsorship agreement with Miller, the Super Bowl 50 MVP who is enormously popular in Denver. A spokesman for Phil Long Ford told CBS4 in Denver that it wasn’t firing Miller, but it was in a contract renewal negotiation and Miller kneeling for the anthem caused them to cut that off.
Here is the statement given to CBS4 in Denver:
“We are evaluating the events of the weekend. It is important to state that we haven’t fired Von. We are in the middle of contract renewal and this weekend’s events remind us that sometimes we feel that we best represent ourselves. We support Von and his first amendment rights, we know Von and he’s a good person. He donated a police car to his hometown police dept. All that notwithstanding when we bring in celebrities to represent us we run the risk of being misrepresented.
“We, like millions of Americans are concerned and will respond consistently with our values as a proud American company founded by a war hero (Phil Long). While we can’t control the actions of others we can be responsible for how we support our nation and community. That is why, years ago, our principal owner, Jay Cimino, founded the Mount Carmel Veteran’s Service center, and is supported by all Phil Long Dealerships. We support this cause not just with our words, but financially as well, and it is serving hundreds of veterans in need right here in Colorado. This would be a great time for our community to show support for our military community by supporting this cause or others that continue to serve them after they serve us.”
https://sports.yahoo.com/von-miller-loses-endorsement-deal-kneeling-anthem-225340969.html?.tsrc=fauxdal
I agree singing over the intercom without approval would be wrong. But I still see a few differences. Forcing players to stand for the anthem is compelling speech. Taking a knee is unobtrusive and can easily be ignored.
I also agree the socks representing cops as pigs was tacky, inappropriate, and bigoted.
Proof Americans love their flag and those who serve more than the NFL
Sales Of Villanueva’s Football Jersey Skyrocket:
“Alejandro Villanueva, the lone football player on the Pittsburgh Steelers who stood during the national anthem Sunday while the rest of his team remained in the locker room, has become more popular than ever as sales of his jersey have skyrocketed.
Sales of the former Army Ranger’s jersey on Fanatics.com shot up to the highest-seller among Pittsburgh Steelers jersey as of just 10 PM Eastern time. (RELATED: Former Army Ranger Is Only Steelers Player To Stand For National Anthem [VIDEO])
Additionally, Villanueva’s jersey sales rocketed into the top sellers in the entire league as of 7:45 PM EST behind only Marshawn Lynch, Derek Carr, Carson Wentz, Brown, and Aaron Rodgers, 247 Sports reported.
Villanueva, who played football at West Point Military Academy, later went on to become an Army Ranger and served three tours in Afghanistan. He also was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor. Prior to playing for the Steelers, he played for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2014.”
http://dailycaller.com/2017/09/24/sales-of-villanuevas-football-jersey-skyrocket/?utm_campaign=thedcmainpage&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social
Steelers fan burns everything.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULJ4quHQxG4
From the NFL’s 2017 Official Playing Rules.
“The only section of the rulebook that could be pertinent to the issue would be Article 8 under Section 4, “EQUIPMENT, UNIFORMS, PLAYER APPEARANCE.” The rule states that
“Throughout the period on game-day that a player is visible to the stadium and television audience (including in pregame warm-ups, in the bench area, and during postgame interviews in the locker room or on the field), players are prohibited from wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office. Items to celebrate anniversaries or memorable events, or to honor or commemorate individuals, such as helmet decals, and arm bands and jersey patches on players’ uniforms, are prohibited unless approved in advance by the League office. All such items approved by the League office, if any, must relate to team or League events or personages. The League will not grant permission for any club or player to wear, display, or otherwise convey messages, through helmet decals, arm bands, jersey patches, or other items affixed to game uniforms or equipment, which relate to political activities or causes, other non-football events, causes or campaigns, or charitable causes or campaigns. Further, any such approved items must be modest in size, tasteful, non-commercial, and noncontroversial; must not be worn for more than one football season; and if approved for use by a specific team, must not be worn by players on other teams in the League.”
Good post Peggy. The league rules include exceptions:
That means the league has discretion. The lack of even handedness in their decision making in this regard has been obviously biased to many football fans and x-football fans.
After the shooting of police officers in Dallas the NFL would not allow the Cowboys to honor the slain officers with a decal on their helmets.
The NFL has turned it’s players into pink ladies on the field in order to support efforts to wipe out breast cancer. An arm band was not enough. Before long cleats, gloves, sweatbands and towels could be seen on the field.
One player wanted to wear pink all year. The NFL said no.
Former quarterback Tim Tebow became a lightening rod for controversy when he knelt to pray in the end zone. The negative response eventually drove him from the game.
According to Hot Air, the NFL apologized for penalizing a Muslim player who prayed in the end zone:
The NFL has authored it’s own problem. They apply their own rules with prejudice. And they are failing to heed the messages being sent by their customers.
The media and some on the left would like to make this a race issue. That’s ridiculous on so many levels. Has anyone bothered to notice the numbers of players whose faces are black that have been supported, cheered on, or elevated to god-like status? Racists wouldn’t do that! In fact if America was a racist nation there would be no black players in the NFL, much less blacks represented as the majority of the total!
(High marks for Alejandro Villanueva!)
The NFL will be in Webster’s dictionary defining a circular firing squad.
What the left doesn’t get is the average person has a high enough IQ to figure out just what is going on. Tim Tebow was forced to give up his career as a football player because he knelled. And today hundred are kneeling and the media is telling us to kneel with them in honor. Just whose values and beliefs are they trying to everyone to believe is right and which one is wrong? Hummmm, let me take two seconds to figure out what their agenda is.
Trump will win this and the NFL will loose, because Americans are still proud of their country, as citizens of every nation should be. Sports was once a uniter. Who can forget the USA hockey team that beat the mighty Russians? Only those not born then have no memory of what a united country was like and how wonderful it was for the most part. Perfect? No, but no one can deny that with hard work almost anything was possible. Today’s NFL players are proof it still is. Tomorrow? Maybe not so much.
The left’s goal of filling people with hate for each other, a different race, a different social economic background or their political party has to fail for this country to succeed. Burgess Owens is an outstanding former football player who speaks out on this often. I hope and pray his words are heeded.
Burgess Owens Calls Out NFL Kneelers: “Stand Up As Men”:
“On Fox, this weekend, Burgess Owens let loose on the anthem protesters. “Let me tell you about what our responsibility is” began, “every generation has done this throughout the history of our country, is to give our kids more hope than we had. My parents’ generation, my grandparents’ generation succeeded [in sowing hope]. That’s how they fought racism.”
Owens continued, “It’s really time for us to stand up as men and say: ‘Listen guys, this country gives us everything we want and if I did it, you can do it too.’ And stop the whole thing…if you wanna have demonstrations, demonstrate someplace else, but not against our flag that gives us the freedom to be the greatest people in the history of mankind.”
The protests during the NFL games that took place this Sunday were “unlike anything I’ve ever seen before”, expressed Osi Umenyiora, a two-time Super Bowl winner.
Interestingly, Owens has been very vocal about race issues in the past, he even spoke out during the protest in St. Louis when a former cop was acquitted for a crime in relation to shooting death of a black man. Owens argued, “What’s happening here is actually a purposeful process to divide us. Those who like to call everybody as racists, keep in mind, they’re the racists and they will continue to divide us with their negative focus… We win this thing together. That’s what America is all about.”
http://libertynewsnow.com/burgess-owens-calls-nfl-kneelers-stand-men/article7937
If the NFL’s antitrust immunity were removed, you’d see them actually following their own rule book!
And why in the world should the NFL have antitrust immunity in the first place???????
I can’t recall–did Trump call the Nazi terrorist that murdered Heather Heyer in Charlottesville a “son of a bitch?” How about any of the other Nazi protesters?
Don’t get me wrong: the president shouldn’t publicly call anyone that, as it’s demeaning to the office. He also should not condemn private citizens for protesting, as long as they do so peacefully, and certainly should not call for them to be fired. That is completely damaging to a culture of free speech.
Last week I had my students write a response to the question, “Should students be forced to say the Pledge of Allegiance in schools?” Many of them did not know they had the right to refuse. I had to explain that their teachers can make them stand (but that I never would), but cannot make them put their hands over their hearts or say the pledge. What does it say that their right to refuse a patriotic exercise might not extend to their place of employment? I can accept that the NFL has the right to fire players who take a knee, but I can’t accept the clamoring for them to do so. This is the least obtrusive form of protest possible, and people are reacting as if they’re burning the flag on the field.
It’s true that liberals have been wrong about some instances, paricularly Michael Brown. However that story was only believable because Ferguson did have a huge racial profiling and discrimination issue. I’m not sure how we were wrong about Baltimore when last month the police were caught planting evidence two weeks in a row.
The point of kneeling during the anthem is to show that, yes, the flag stands for freedom and equality, and we are not living up to those ideals. Now you may disagree with that idea, but the fact remains these players have chosen a peaceful and non-intrusive way to represent their belief in that idea. To be against this protest is to say that there is no valid form of protest. It also says that employers can and should force their employees to engage in displays of patriotism, which are themselves political speech. I don’t believe that is fair. The flag represents exactly the freedom these men are exercising.
Here’s an interesting fact: flag protests go back to WWII when Jehova’s Witnesses in Nazi Germany refused to honor the swastika. Most know that Jehova’s Witnesses decline the Pledge for religious reasons; that they see it as a form of idol worship. But another reason they adopted this practice was to show solidarity with their fellow believers in Nazi Germany. I have major beef with the JWs (I believe I’ve told you about my personal dealings with them before) but reading about this the other day made me gain slightly more respect for them.
Many people do the flag salute or put their hands over their hearts for the national anthem and never think about what it means. The players taking a knee are engaging with the ideals of the flag more than most.
As a final thought, here’s the best tweet I saw on this subject:
“You know what’s really disrespectful to the American flag?
The Confederate flag.”
Chris, I wished Trump had not called them SOB’s too, because all it does is tick off the same people who don’t need another excuse to be ticked off. Bottom line…Half the country approves of the comment, half the country disapproves, so where does it get us? Besides, Trump has greater concerns to deal with and we don’t need this distraction. So for this much, we are on the same turf, no pun intended.
Now, on a purely personal level, I honestly feel the football players were acting inappropriately. They were misdirecting their anger at the symbol of our country. Their concerns, legit or not, resulted in something disrespectful and offensive to so many patriotic people. Ironically, the flag and our national anthem are the symbols of their own redemption and without all the things they represent life might be a whole lot worse for them. So protesting the anthem is just short sighted. They appear as ingrates. There are better ways to protest. It’s also looks absurd to see a bunch of over-paid athletes, with their fame, fans, million dollar homes, Cadillacs and Mercedes cars, complaining how life isn’t fair. Ultimately, the real losers here won’t be Trump or even the mythical rich white guys keeping them down or the mythical police shooting every black motorist they can stop. Let’s be real…without football most of these guys would still be in the hood on welfare or worse, in prison.
The players are making their protest on the dimes of the customers and the league that hires them…and they are payed very, very well! They are protesting on the customers time. customers tune in for entertainment not social or political activism.
Some people are posting that the NFL requires players to stand for the anthem. Station KHUA in Texas could not verify that but did find the following in the 2017 rule book, pages 62 and 63:
Once again the NFL is not observing the letter of their own rule book.
Kaepernack wore socks that symbolized cops as pigs at practice games where the press was present to capture the images and the images were made public…apparently with the approval of the NFL.
This business seems to be going down the tubes becasue of it’s own failure to uphold the rules. Players can be excused on that one point alone. But that doesn’t make their actions less distasteful for fans that are sick of the politics in football (and other sports).
If players want to make statements of protest let them do it on their own time and dime.
Re: “The point of kneeling during the anthem is to show that, yes, the flag stands for freedom and equality, and we are not living up to those ideals.”
We, white man?
Here is an interesting fact: Our flag is not a swastika and this is not Nazi Germany.
We, white man?
I’m not sure what this means. Were you confused by my use of the word “We?” I used that to mean our nation as a whole.
Here is an interesting fact: Our flag is not a swastika and this is not Nazi Germany.
Of course not. My point was that when one believes their country is failing to live up to its ideals, protesting the flag can be valid.
Discrimination? intimidation? Threats maybe?
The Conservative Treehouse, “Pittsburgh Steelers Player Alejandro Villanueva Apologizes For Standing During Anthem…”
Out of something bad emerges something good. Let’s hope he doesn’t meet the same fate and Tim Tebow.
Ravens Player Who Stood for Anthem: If I Kneel ‘It Would Be Two Knees, So That I Can Pray For…’:
“Howard asked what protesting our anthem would solve before going on to say that if he was going to kneel, it would be on both knees, in prayer (emphasis added):
I have so many thoughts, emotions and opinions about the unfortunate and current state of our country right now. It would be so easy so lash back with an unthought through response, and “go on the attack”, but what would that do? Instead, I will pass along a message I recently read from a pastor that my wife and I have trusted and looked up to for years….
“If I take a knee during the national anthem, it would be two knees, so that I can pray for the evil and wrong in this world…”
Howard continued saying he prays for the blessing of living “in this great country”:
Mere men cannot make the changes that need to happen, only One can defeat all evil, and ease the pain this evil has caused so many.
Lord I pray for this country, I thank you for blessing me enough to live in this great country, I pray for the hearts of those who have succumbed to hatred and evil. I pray that the message that those like me need to get across to others can be done in such a manner that truths and actual feelings may be clearly seen and understood.
We are all different, and every single one of us were born in sin. It is only by Your Grace that we are able to wake up each and every day. Allow those who are in such positions to make positive changes by using their public platforms that you have blessed them with, do so in a manner that upholds all truth and brings honor to your Name and Kingdom. In Jesus name, Amen!!!”
Steelers’ quarterback regrets staying in tunnel..
“I was unable to sleep last night and want to share my thoughts and feelings on our team’s decision to remain in the tunnel for the National Anthem yesterday,” Roethlisberger wrote on his Facebook page. “The idea was to be unified as a team when so much attention is paid to things dividing our country, but I wish we approached it differently. We did not want to appear divided on the sideline with some standing and some kneeling or sitting.
“As a team, it was not a protest of the flag or the Anthem. I personally don’t believe the Anthem is ever the time to make any type of protest. For me, and many others on my team and around the league, it is a tribute to those who commit to serve and protect our country, current and past, especially the ones that made the ultimate sacrifice.
“I appreciate the unique diversity in my team and throughout the league and completely support the call for social change and the pursuit of true equality. Moving forward, I hope standing for the Anthem shows solidarity as a nation, that we stand united in respect for the people on the front lines protecting our freedom and keeping us safe. God bless those men and women. — Ben.”
http://www.abc15.com/sports/sports-blogs-local/steelers-quarterback-ben-roethlisberger-couldn-t-sleep-after-staying-in-tunnel-for-national-anthem
Daily Wire, “Who Needs Rules? NFL Players Arrested Every 7 Days On Average”
I knew it was bad but I didn’t know it was that bad.
The NFL has given a lot of poor black men a real shot at success. This seems a selfish and ineffective way make a difference. Spending some of their excessive salaries on commercials to teach young black men how to respond to authority figures like the police would do more good. They’ve done it regarding rape and abuse of women.
Michael Brown is dead because of his attitude and his ignorance. He made a series of stupid choices and it ended badly for him. At every step along the way he could have chosen differently. It’s the same for most black men that find themselves in trouble with the law. They suffer from Hillary’s disease…there’s always an excuse or someone else to blame. The black gangsta culture has worked against them and they can’t see it. It’s much easier to blame whites or cops.
Clearly the NFL players do not hold the moral high ground one this one. I doubt if half of them really have their facts right about their reasons for protesting. “Hands up don’t shoot’ ….STUPID.
Related: KIRO7:
And do they fly the flag in the ballpark? That seems odd.
Yup.
https://www.daybydaycartoon.com/comic/the-forgotten/
Re : “Last week I had my students write a response to the question, “Should students be forced to say the Pledge of Allegiance in schools?”
Forcing students! Those fascist bastards! Uh, who is forcing them at your school?
A parent after Chris’ own heart.
A 6-year-old, emulating NFL football players’ take-a-knee protests, kneeled for the Pledge of Allegiance in his Tampa suburb classroom.
The boy’s teacher at Wiregrass Elementary School in Pasco County told him to stand and show respect for the flag. His mother says the school should not have publicly reprimanded him.
The teacher’s message to McDowell read: “I knew where he had seen [kneeling], but I did tell him that in the classroom, we are learning what it means to be a good citizen, we’re learning about respecting the United States of America and our country symbols and showing loyalty and patriotism and that we stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.”
A spokesperson for the Pasco County School District told ABC that the teacher responded to the incident by mouthing, “We stand for the pledge” when she saw the boy kneeling. The district policy requires students to have written exemption from their parents if they don’t plan to take part in the pledge.
Clearly this school is being run by a bunch of right wing fascists.
High School coach Joe Kennedy was fired for taking a knee and praying after games on the 50 yard line. He was often joined by other coaches and players.
NFL players have a 1st Amendment right to spit on the flag and the nation by taking a knee before a game during the national anthem.
*** THE RULES
Kneeling in public prayer is a fireable offense and not protected by freedom of speech (as ruled by the 9th Circuit).
Kneeling in public to spit on our nation, flag and national anthem is not a fireable offense and is protected free speech.
***
The right to freedom of expression includes public prayer. Even prayer by public employees. Public employees are not second class citizens. The 9th Circuit was not merely wrong, its ruling was absurd. It is interesting to note that public employees — as public employees — act publicly on issues such as labor disputes or politics. If you pray, look out. You may lose your job.
NFL players have a right to politicize football and offend as many fans as they like. If their employers are like-minded or cowards, they have every right to go along.
I have the right to tell the NFL and the 9th Circuit to burn in hell.
The NFL and the 9th Circuit could not care less what I think.
“The Rules: Kneeling in public prayer is a fireable offense and not protected by freedom of speech (as ruled by the 9th Circuit).
Kneeling in public to spit on our nation, flag and national anthem is not a fireable offense and is protected free speech.”
That is so wrong, the whole 9th Circuit court needs to go! They are a cancer on liberty and American idealism.