Trump versus athletes on NFL anthem protests. How does everyone feel about this?

[furrowtickler]

Sad to see the only war vet from the Pittsburgh Steelers be the lone man out .
It's turning into a shit show down there and only one man had the power to smooth it out .... the only Black President in U.S. History simply ignored the issue and walked away laughing and is now pointing fingers like most leftists. Sad situation . It will spiral out of control now with Trump because he will not hold his tounge good or bad going forward.

[farmaholic]

And at home we had Colonialism Day demonstrations on Canada's 150th anniversary. And the PM acknowledging the problems on the UN stage.....

The problems that need fixing, and how, can't even be discussed without being called a racist. Until there is frank discussions with out tip-toeing around and egg shell walking.....................sometimes the truth hurts.

Don't forget my previous posts about positive changes happening already....

[furrowtickler]

So what is the whole circus really about??
The disrespect to the American Anthem?
What is the real issue ? It seems to be this or that or ?? just don't like things ? Like a five year old child ? It seems to be be very unclear .
No doubt Trump has made things even more clouded but what is the real issue ?

[farmaholic]

So what is the whole circus really about??
The disrespect to the American Anthem?
What is the real issue ? It seems to be this or that or ?? just don't like things ? Like a five year old child ? It seems to be be very unclear .
No doubt Trump has made things even more clouded but what is the real issue ?

"Black lives matter"?

[Jay-mo]

Some of you need to rethink this.

Athletes are protesting racism against black people in the US and the way they are treated by cops. We all know they have a problem. There have been several well publicized cases of unarmed black citizens being shot or killed without good reasons.

Freedom of speech is well entrenched in the US constitution. Players have every right to protest, criticize America, and defy the President. It is not about the flag, the anthem, or being patriotic. That is just trump's manipulative way of trying to stop the protests.

Trump is the one who has a problem with respecting all Americans, being patriotic and upholding the Constitution.

He failed to condemn the white supremacists and Nazi's marching in Charlottesville untill he was forced into it.

It looks like his campaign team and likely his family and himself conspired with The Russians to interfere in the US election.

If convicted of anything he has mused about pardoning himself.

He criticized John MCain for being shot down and held prisoner in Vietnam.

He criticized a grieving Muslim family of a US soldier who was killed in Iraq.

If anybody has a problem with being a patriotic American, it is Trump himself who wants to create a huge racial and political divide in the US for his own political benefit.

Except, I'm pretty sure Kaepernik and maybe others started the kneeling thing long before Trump became president.

If you want to say they have "freedom of speech" then Trump has the same right to voice his opinion against what they are doing.
Now if he uses his power to throw them in jail or something and actually force them to stop what they are doing, I would have a serious problem with that too.

[LEP]

I can't believe I agree with chuck and grassy on this. I am just sick of Trump. I believe that those who hold the highest office of a country should work to bring the people together not act like a spoiled brat.

Now I think I have to go lie down. I feel light headed.

[sumdumguy]

That tweeting is a real pain in the butt. Taking childish snipes like a playground bully is getting very sickening. I am not commenting on another country's choice of leader just the constant jabbing.

[mustardman]

Rather have someone who Wraps himself in the Constitution and Burns the Flag
Than someone who Burns the Constitution and Wraps himself in the FLAG

[samhill]

Taking a knee

My opinion the flag and national anthem represent my country and people who fought and died for it.

[the big wheel]

Agreed Sam.

Your problems within the realm of the country should be solved seperately from the representation of that flag. I think obviously not enough people respect the lives of those sacrificed.

There needs to be dialogue of people to express themselves and their concerns. If you really want to change something then don't play the game at all. Or go to a country where you are shot for having an opinion. You may quickly learn to respect the flag a bit more and find another way to Voice your concerns. Trump is feeding this division amongst people it's getting scarey. Education of the facts is key. But that's easier said than done also. We can't even get the facts on whether a product is harmful or not to you pretty tough to get the facts on someone getting shot for robbing a store was it
Justified or not? I say maybe don't rob the store in the first place you out
The store owners life in jeapardy which means you lose your rights after that. Jmo. The facts of black treatment have to come out by way of discussion not kneeling half of people don't even know what the kneeling even represents.

[danny W1M]

Here are pics of the empty seats at various NFL games this past weekend. Note that the players are on the field, and the game is being played.

[URL="http://www.breitbart.com/sports/2017/10/22/nfl-teams-play-before-empty-stadiums-as-fan-backlash-spreads/"]http://www.breitbart.com/sports/2017/10/22/nfl-teams-play-before-empty-stadiums-as-fan-backlash-spreads/[/URL]

The Media is doing it's very best to hide this away from fans and Americans. Also TV ratings continue to drop.

Another website,

[URL="http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2017/10/nfl-hell-several-stadiums-nearly-empty-anthem-protest-backlash-rolls-week-7-photos/"]http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2017/10/nfl-hell-several-stadiums-nearly-empty-anthem-protest-backlash-rolls-week-7-photos/[/URL]

[sumdumguy]

I guess if you disagree with something as in "my young countrymen are being shot in the streets unnecessarily", you should stand up and be counted. Whether their targets are black, indigenous, white or green, no country wants cops shooting to kill when it is not necessary. I don't blame people for standing up for the little guy, what if that were your son or my grand son walking down the street or making u-balls? Where else would you have more impact, but a major sort event ? Well Kapernick found out how much impact he has. The world just gets bent out of shape for any reason these days.

[mustardman]

There HAS NEVER been a peaceful black protest that White America was OK with

[grassfarmer]

I thought this was a good perspective from an American Vietnam war veteran.

"I’ve seen a lot of posts over the last 24 hours regarding “respecting the flag” and what that means…and how athletes who use their public forum to voice dissent are somehow “unpatriotic”. I want to offer a different opinion.
My father is buried at the foot of the flagpole in Golden Gate National Cemetery. He landed at Normandy, fought at the Battle of the Bulge and liberated Nazi camps in Germany. His enemy was fascism. I served as a Green Beret in the early 1970s (pretty sure you all know what that entails). Our enemy at the time was communism. My son is currently a serving officer in the Army, who on his dress blues wears the Bronze Star he was awarded during a year-long tour in Afghanistan. His enemy is and was the Taliban and the threat of terrorism.

Three generations of my family, serving the USA, in harms’ way. Three vastly different enemies, but enemies who shared one common trait. ALL of them stifle free speech. All of them bully, degrade and terrorize those who hold opposing views and who peacefully express them. All of them are intolerant and demand “loyalty” to the leader.

I can tell you, speaking for three generations of my family, it is PRECISELY for men like Kaepernick, and his right to peacefully protest injustice, that we were willing to serve. There is NOTHING more respectful of our country than living up to its ideals. There is nothing more patriotic than to say “I’m concerned with injustice, and will use my position to try and address it.”

Want to know what’s unpatriotic? Using your white privilege to avoid serving, citing “bone spurs in the heel” while playing varsity tennis at college while others went. Want to know what is antithetical to American values? Using the most powerful pulpit in the land to incite violence – against ANYONE. Want to define disgraceful behavior? Denigrating a man like Senator John McCain’s service and heroism while you sat home.

Want to respect the American flag? Then respect the ideals for which it stands. Bullying language and calling peaceful protesters “sons of *******” who should be fired aren’t among them."

[samhill]

Protests

I'm not sure that we disagree all that much. I certainly agree that people have a right to protest unlawful activities and racist killings which I believe are what some white police officers are doing when they shoot unarmed black persons.
But these atheletes are rich people. There are venues for them to use to protest.
When the flag is presented and the anthem played, I stand at attention and sing.
I can protest injustice by writing letters, contacting elected representatives, or if I was wealthy could even buy air time.
So, we disagree.