The Knee

To many of the old dudes in this thread, especially the guy who started this

URL]
Click to expand...
Textbook Alinsky. And ageist.
Click to expand...

Better stop me the big bad ageist.
Click to expand...
A better response would have been "Textbook Alinsky, hypocrite". BTW, the only offense I find re: "old dude" occurs when i look in the mirror.
 
But why should I have expected anything else since Trump and his base have no "skin" in the game when it comes to Puerto Rico, literally.
Click to expand...



So to recap: everyone's a racist, except you.

UPDATE: Breaking news from last week:

Yesterday, [September 20] President Donald J. Trump declared that a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and ordered Federal assistance to supplement Commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Maria beginning on September 17, 2017, and continuing.



In other news:

URL]
Click to expand...




The NFL rule book specifically requires both teams appear on the field for the playing of the anthem, standing, remaining quiet, and holding their helmets in their left hands. Failure to do so can result in fines, suspensions, and the loss of draft picks.
The rules are found on pages A62-63 of the league’s game operations manual:
The National Anthem must be played prior to every NFL game, and all players must be on the sideline for the National Anthem.
During the National Anthem, players on the field and bench area should stand at attention, face the flag, hold helmets in their left hand, and refrain from talking. The home team should ensure that the American flag is in good condition. It should be pointed out to players and coaches that we continue to be judged by the public in this area of respect for the flag and our country. Failure to be on the field by the start of the National Anthem may result in discipline, such as fines, suspensions, and/or the forfeiture of draft choice(s) for violations of the above, including first offenses.
On Sunday, almost a hundred players took a knee during the national anthem. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Beats, Seattle Seahawks, and Tennessee Titans all opted against even coming out on the field for the anthem.
But rather than warn these players and team they're violating league rules, Goodell is focusing his anger at President Trump, who said in a speech Friday that the NFL team owners should require their players to stand during the anthem.
“The way we reacted today, and this weekend, made me proud,” Goodell said. “I’m proud of our league.”
 
But why should I have expected anything else since Trump and his base have no "skin" in the game when it comes to Puerto Rico, literally.
Click to expand...



So to recap: everyone's a racist, except you.

UPDATE: Breaking news from last week:

Yesterday, [September 20] President Donald J. Trump declared that a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and ordered Federal assistance to supplement Commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Maria beginning on September 17, 2017, and continuing.



In other news:

URL]
Click to expand...


What took him so long to do the right thing? Oh yeah to busy talking about the NFL
 
Just thought this thread should be its own

I salute this soldier

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/...-national-anthem-protest/stories/201709250175

Alejandro Villanueva said he never intended to stand alone during the national anthem on Sunday and apologized to his teammates and coach Mike Tomlin for what he called “a very embarrassing” botching of the team’s pregame plan.

“Every single time I see that picture of me standing by myself, I feel embarrassed,” Villanueva said.

“We butchered our plan.”

President Donald Trump said on Friday that NFL teams should fire players who kneel for the anthem in protest of racial injustice, which led to increased demonstrations across the league and dialogue among teams, including the Steelers.


Bill Peduto defended the Steelers' actions during the national anthem.
Adam Smeltz
Bill Peduto: Steelers handled anthem protests 'as well as anyone'
Villanueva, an Army Ranger who was deployed in Afghanistan, said he asked quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the rest of the team’s leaders to amend their original idea, agreed upon after a Saturday night team meeting, which was to stand in the locker room during the anthem in an attempted show of unity. Part of the reason Villanueva pushed for change: he’d received texts from wounded veterans asking him to stand for the anthem.

Villanueva’s suggestion, he said, was to stand with Roethlisberger and the team’s other captains at the front of the tunnel. That didn’t work out due to, as Roethlisberger said, pregame “chaos” in a small area, and Villanueva was left to stand alone with his teammates about 20 feet behind him.

“The crazy thing about that is, when we came out of the tunnel, we told Al to come stand up front with the captains. Cam, myself and [Tyler Matakevich],” Roethlisberger said.


“When we came out of the locker room into that tunnel, it was a very small area. There was a flag or something coming off the field so there were a bunch of Bears fans, coming off the field holding that [and] going in front of us, so it kind of held us up.”

The end result was Villanueva, hand on his heart and mouthing the words to the song, standing apart from his teammates. It was widely perceived, with sound enough logic, that he’d gone rogue.

Villanueva took sole responsibility for the mix-up and said that “very few players” knew that he’d planned to head to the tunnel because he went directly to the captains with his idea.

“How would you feel if you were somebody who really wants to go out there and stand for the national anthem, and you didn’t know that there was a player that was going to stand in the tunnel from a [better] vantage point? I would be really [mad],” he said.


Ben Roethlisberger says he couldn't sleep after Sunday's game.
Sean Gentille
Ben Roethlisberger regrets anthem decision, says Steelers won't do it again
“They’re getting negative feedback because they didn’t stand up for the national anthem when in reality, they would’ve done it. They were fighting to stand up for the national anthem.”

He also made a point to say that he did not take offense to players who have chosen to take a knee during the anthem in protest of “injustices and racial divide,” including former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who knelt for the anthem in protest of police brutality and racial injustice last season.

“I take no offense,” Villanueva said. “I don’t think veterans at the end of the day take any offense. They actually signed up and fought so that somebody could take a knee and protest peacefully whatever it is that their hearts desire.”

Continually, Villanueva apologized to the rest of the team.

“I made coach Tomlin look bad, and that is my fault and my fault only,” he said. “I made my teammates look bad, and that is my fault and my fault only.

“When everybody sees an image of me standing by myself, everybody thinks that the team and Steelers are not behind me, and that’s absolutely wrong. It’s quite the opposite. Actually, the entire team would’ve been out there with me, even the ones that wanted to take a knee.”

Sean Gentille: sgentille@post-gazette.com.
 
According to Snopes, this is not true, is confusing, and they rate it 'a mixture':
During that weekend’s games, an item began circulating via social media proclaiming that the NFL League Rulebook specifically required that all players must be on the sideline during the playing of the national anthem, and that “failure to be on the field by the start of the National Anthem may result in discipline, such as fines, suspensions, and/or the forfeiture of draft choice(s)”:
The specific rule pertaining to the national anthem is found on pages A62-63 of the NFL League Rulebook. It states:
‘The National Anthem must be played prior to every NFL game, and all players must be on the sideline for the National Anthem. During the National Anthem, players on the field and bench area should stand at attention, face the flag, hold helmets in their left hand, and refrain from talking. The home team should ensure that the American flag is in good condition … It should be pointed out to players and coaches that we continue to be judged by the public in this area of respect for the flag and our country. Failure to be on the field by the start of the National Anthem may result in discipline, such as fines, suspensions, and/or the forfeiture of draft choice(s) for violations of the above, including first offenses.’
However, no such wording appears in the 2017 version of the Official Playing Rules of the National Football League (which the NFL also sometimes refers to as an “operations manual”): Pages 62 and 63 contain only regulations about the enforcement of fouls committed on the field during gameplay, and nowhere else does that document specify anything about the either the playing of the national anthem prior to games or the required behavior of players and team personnel during that ceremony. In fact, the rulebook makes no mention of the national anthem at all.
Rule 4, which covers Game Timing, states only that both teams must be on the field before the scheduled start time of the first and second halves, and must initially appear on the field at least 10 minutes early in order to allow sufficient time for warming up:
Both teams must be on the field to kick off at the scheduled time for the start of each half. Prior to the start of the game, both teams are required to appear on the field at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled kickoff in order to ensure sufficient time for proper warm-up. Designated members of the officiating crew must notify both head coaches personally of the scheduled time for kickoff prior to the start of each half.
Rule 5, which covers Players, Substitutes, Equipment, and General Rules, does include (in Article 8) a section prohibiting players from “conveying personal messages” throughout the game day while they are visible to fans in attendance and television audiences, and from “convey[ing] messages, through helmet decals, arm bands, jersey patches, or other items affixed to game uniforms or equipment, which relate to political activities or causes …”:
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.
However, some sources have confusingly stated that the NFL has a separate game operations manual, and it is that document, not the rulebook, which supposedly includes the wording in question regarding player conduct during the national anthem:
It’s important to know that NFL football games are governed by multiple codes of conduct. One is the NFL rulebook; another is the NFL game operations manual. The rulebook is concerned with in-game actions by players and coaches (like scoring, penalties, challenges and so on), whereas the game-operations manual dictates how NFL games should be run in the bigger-picture organizational sense.
“The league’s Game Operations Department uses the manual to govern the conduct of home clubs, to ensure they protect players and provide the conditions for a fair and fan-friendly contest,” reads the NFL’s website. “Clubs face warnings and other penalties for noncompliance.”
The NFL rulebook makes no mention of the national anthem. But the game operations manual does.
Here’s what the game operations manual says regarding the national anthem, according to an NFL spokesperson:
‘The National Anthem must be played prior to every NFL game, and all players must be on the sideline for the National Anthem.
‘During the National Anthem, players on the field and bench area should stand at attention, face the flag, hold helmets in their left hand, and refrain from talking. The home team should ensure that the American flag is in good condition. It should be pointed out to players and coaches that we continue to be judged by the public in this area of respect for the flag and our country. Failure to be on the field by the start of the National Anthem may result in discipline, such as fines, suspensions, and/or the forfeiture of draft choice(s) for violations of the above, including first offenses.’
We have not yet been able to independently confirm the existence and wording of this second document (the NFL has not responded to our query), but the proffered wording states that players must “be” on the sideline for the national anthem, not that they must “stand” on the sideline (the latter is listed as something players “should” do). It also states that players “may” (not “shall”) be penalized for not observing the regulation, and indeed the NFL announced that they would not hand down any discipline over players’ remaining in the locker room before Week 3 games:
The NFL will not discipline those teams and players who refused to be on the field for the playing of the national anthem before games Sunday, league spokesman Joe Lockhart said.
“There will be no discipline handed down this week,” Lockhart, the NFL’s executive vice president of communications and public affairs, said in a conference call with reporters.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans were not on the field for the anthem.
When Colin Kaepernick first made waves by kneeling during pre-game ceremonies back in August 2016, the NFL issued a statement proclaiming that “Players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the National Anthem.” NBC News similarly observed that “The NFL has no such rule, and the Collective Bargaining Agreement is silent on the subject.”
Nonetheless, could Article 8, Rule 5 of the rulebook itself be interpreted as requiring NFL players to stand on the sidelines during the national anthem? The latter part of it would not seem to apply, as players who kneel or remain in the locker room during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” are not wearing, or affixing to their uniforms, any symbols related to their protest. The first part seemingly provides league officials broad latitude to determine what constitutes a “personal message,” but as James Dator noted in addressing this issue on SBNATION, it’s unlikely that section could or would be applied to the current protests:
Despite claims over what is or isn’t “acceptable,” none of them hold weight. Potential disciplinary action over how players act during the anthem would need to be in place under the collective bargaining agreement with the NFLPA, and to make matters more complicated, several states that have teams also extend first-amendment protection to employees of private businesses while at work.
CORRECTION: We have changed the status of this article from "FALSE" to "MIXTURE" due to possible confusion over the existence and wording of two similarly identified documents.



Feedback
Sources
Fact Checker:
David Mikkelson
Featured Image:
ABC News
Published:
Sep 24th, 2017
Updated:
Sep 25th, 2017
Sources:
Dator, James.   “Are NFL Players Required to Be on the Field for the National Anthem?”
    SBNation.   24 September 2017.
Scholes, Ty.   “Are NFL Football Players Required to Stand for the National Anthem?”
    WXIA-TV [Atlanta]   24 September 2017.
Florio, Mike.   “NFL: Players Are Encouraged But Not Required to Stand for National Anthem.”
    NBC Sports.   27 August 2016.
Fitzpatrick, Alex.   “Does the NFL Require Players to Stand for the National Anthem?”
    Time.   25 September 2017.
Boren, Cindy.   “Steelers’ Mike Tomlin Says Team Won’t Take the Field for Anthem.”
    The Washington Post.   24 September 2017.
Maske, Mark.   “No Discipline for Anthem-Skipping Teams as NFL Fires Back at Trump.”
    The Washington Post.   25 September 2017.
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FACT CHECK: Are NFL Players Required to Stand on the Field During the National Anthem?

FACT CHECK: NFL Fines Pittsburgh Steelers $1M Each for Skipping National Anthem

FACT CHECK: Aaron Rodgers Pictured Holding 'Stand For the Flag, Kneel for the Cross' T-Shirt?

FACT CHECK: Did an American Actor Take Part in a London Bomb Attack 'Hoax'?

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According to Snopes, this is not true, is confusing, and they rate it 'a mixture':
During that weekend’s games, an item began circulating via social media proclaiming that the NFL League Rulebook specifically required that all players must be on the sideline during the playing of the national anthem, and that “failure to be on the field by the start of the National Anthem may result in discipline, such as fines, suspensions, and/or the forfeiture of draft choice(s)”:
The specific rule pertaining to the national anthem is found on pages A62-63 of the NFL League Rulebook. It states:
‘The National Anthem must be played prior to every NFL game, and all players must be on the sideline for the National Anthem. During the National Anthem, players on the field and bench area should stand at attention, face the flag, hold helmets in their left hand, and refrain from talking. The home team should ensure that the American flag is in good condition … It should be pointed out to players and coaches that we continue to be judged by the public in this area of respect for the flag and our country. Failure to be on the field by the start of the National Anthem may result in discipline, such as fines, suspensions, and/or the forfeiture of draft choice(s) for violations of the above, including first offenses.’
However, no such wording appears in the 2017 version of the Official Playing Rules of the National Football League (which the NFL also sometimes refers to as an “operations manual”): Pages 62 and 63 contain only regulations about the enforcement of fouls committed on the field during gameplay, and nowhere else does that document specify anything about the either the playing of the national anthem prior to games or the required behavior of players and team personnel during that ceremony. In fact, the rulebook makes no mention of the national anthem at all.
Rule 4, which covers Game Timing, states only that both teams must be on the field before the scheduled start time of the first and second halves, and must initially appear on the field at least 10 minutes early in order to allow sufficient time for warming up:
Both teams must be on the field to kick off at the scheduled time for the start of each half. Prior to the start of the game, both teams are required to appear on the field at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled kickoff in order to ensure sufficient time for proper warm-up. Designated members of the officiating crew must notify both head coaches personally of the scheduled time for kickoff prior to the start of each half.
Rule 5, which covers Players, Substitutes, Equipment, and General Rules, does include (in Article 8) a section prohibiting players from “conveying personal messages” throughout the game day while they are visible to fans in attendance and television audiences, and from “convey[ing] messages, through helmet decals, arm bands, jersey patches, or other items affixed to game uniforms or equipment, which relate to political activities or causes …”:
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.
However, some sources have confusingly stated that the NFL has a separate game operations manual, and it is that document, not the rulebook, which supposedly includes the wording in question regarding player conduct during the national anthem:
It’s important to know that NFL football games are governed by multiple codes of conduct. One is the NFL rulebook; another is the NFL game operations manual. The rulebook is concerned with in-game actions by players and coaches (like scoring, penalties, challenges and so on), whereas the game-operations manual dictates how NFL games should be run in the bigger-picture organizational sense.
“The league’s Game Operations Department uses the manual to govern the conduct of home clubs, to ensure they protect players and provide the conditions for a fair and fan-friendly contest,” reads the NFL’s website. “Clubs face warnings and other penalties for noncompliance.”
The NFL rulebook makes no mention of the national anthem. But the game operations manual does.
Here’s what the game operations manual says regarding the national anthem, according to an NFL spokesperson:
‘The National Anthem must be played prior to every NFL game, and all players must be on the sideline for the National Anthem.
‘During the National Anthem, players on the field and bench area should stand at attention, face the flag, hold helmets in their left hand, and refrain from talking. The home team should ensure that the American flag is in good condition. It should be pointed out to players and coaches that we continue to be judged by the public in this area of respect for the flag and our country. Failure to be on the field by the start of the National Anthem may result in discipline, such as fines, suspensions, and/or the forfeiture of draft choice(s) for violations of the above, including first offenses.’
We have not yet been able to independently confirm the existence and wording of this second document (the NFL has not responded to our query), but the proffered wording states that players must “be” on the sideline for the national anthem, not that they must “stand” on the sideline (the latter is listed as something players “should” do). It also states that players “may” (not “shall”) be penalized for not observing the regulation, and indeed the NFL announced that they would not hand down any discipline over players’ remaining in the locker room before Week 3 games:
The NFL will not discipline those teams and players who refused to be on the field for the playing of the national anthem before games Sunday, league spokesman Joe Lockhart said.
“There will be no discipline handed down this week,” Lockhart, the NFL’s executive vice president of communications and public affairs, said in a conference call with reporters.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans were not on the field for the anthem.
When Colin Kaepernick first made waves by kneeling during pre-game ceremonies back in August 2016, the NFL issued a statement proclaiming that “Players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the National Anthem.” NBC News similarly observed that “The NFL has no such rule, and the Collective Bargaining Agreement is silent on the subject.”
Nonetheless, could Article 8, Rule 5 of the rulebook itself be interpreted as requiring NFL players to stand on the sidelines during the national anthem? The latter part of it would not seem to apply, as players who kneel or remain in the locker room during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” are not wearing, or affixing to their uniforms, any symbols related to their protest. The first part seemingly provides league officials broad latitude to determine what constitutes a “personal message,” but as James Dator noted in addressing this issue on SBNATION, it’s unlikely that section could or would be applied to the current protests:
Despite claims over what is or isn’t “acceptable,” none of them hold weight. Potential disciplinary action over how players act during the anthem would need to be in place under the collective bargaining agreement with the NFLPA, and to make matters more complicated, several states that have teams also extend first-amendment protection to employees of private businesses while at work.
CORRECTION: We have changed the status of this article from "FALSE" to "MIXTURE" due to possible confusion over the existence and wording of two similarly identified documents.



Feedback
Sources
Fact Checker:
David Mikkelson
Featured Image:
ABC News
Published:
Sep 24th, 2017
Updated:
Sep 25th, 2017
Sources:
Dator, James.   “Are NFL Players Required to Be on the Field for the National Anthem?”
    SBNation.   24 September 2017.
Scholes, Ty.   “Are NFL Football Players Required to Stand for the National Anthem?”
    WXIA-TV [Atlanta]   24 September 2017.
Florio, Mike.   “NFL: Players Are Encouraged But Not Required to Stand for National Anthem.”
    NBC Sports.   27 August 2016.
Fitzpatrick, Alex.   “Does the NFL Require Players to Stand for the National Anthem?”
    Time.   25 September 2017.
Boren, Cindy.   “Steelers’ Mike Tomlin Says Team Won’t Take the Field for Anthem.”
    The Washington Post.   24 September 2017.
Maske, Mark.   “No Discipline for Anthem-Skipping Teams as NFL Fires Back at Trump.”
    The Washington Post.   25 September 2017.
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More from Snopes


FACT CHECK: Are NFL Players Required to Stand on the Field During the National Anthem?

FACT CHECK: NFL Fines Pittsburgh Steelers $1M Each for Skipping National Anthem

FACT CHECK: Aaron Rodgers Pictured Holding 'Stand For the Flag, Kneel for the Cross' T-Shirt?

FACT CHECK: Did an American Actor Take Part in a London Bomb Attack 'Hoax'?

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Click to expand...

UPDATE: Snopes.com claims that this rule does not, in fact, exist. The article cites the rule quoted above and reports "No such wording appears in the 2017 version of the Official Playing Rules of the National Football League."
Yet the NFL's Game Operations Manual -- the 200-plus book the league refers to as its "bible" -- is different than its rulebook. It is not available to the public. The rule cited above comes from the league itself, via the Washington Post.
The Post reported Sunday that the NFL confirmed the rule's existence but emphasized their ability to enforce it selectively:
Under the league rule, the failure to be on the field for the anthem may result in discipline such as a fine, suspension or loss of a draft pick. But a league official said the key phrase is “may” result, adding he won’t speculate on whether the Steelers would be disciplined.
The specific rule pertaining to the national anthem is found on pages A62-63 of the league’s game operations manual, according to a league source.

UPDATE TWO: After Grabien contacted Snopes.com, bringing the above facts to their attention, the author amended his article, confirming the existence of the above-state rule, and changed their description of this story from "false" to "mixture."
UPDATE THREE: The NFL, responding to the Kansas City Star, confirmed the national anthem-related rules cited above. However, the NFL's vice president of communications, Brian McCarthy, "stressed that [the] passage about the national anthem is a guideline and not a requirement."
But this is odd since the rule warns that failure to comply "may result in discipline, such as fines, suspensions, and/or the forfeiture of draft choice(s) for violations of the above, including first offenses." Why does the NFL attach penalties for failure to comply if this is all just a "guideline," as the league now argues?
It appears the NFL is simply changing the rules — by electing not to enforce them.

THE NATIONAL FELON LEAGUE
 
If you all can't draw parallels to Adolf Hitler and The Rump, we are heading down a terrible road.
 
If you all can't draw parallels to Adolf Hitler and The Rump, we are heading down a terrible road.
Click to expand...

You're a mod and will probably delete this post but atleast he won't pay kim to not build nukes unlike Clinton.
Isn't that called EXTORTION?

Trump is gonna kill funding Iran that OBAMA MADE THE DEAL GIVING THEM 150BILLION
sorry but politician SUCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

Yeah I'm a republican but they gave obama whatever he wanted so yeah screw them too.
Hench is why Trump is in. BOTH PARTY FREAKING SUCKKKKKKKK.

BLAME THE LIBS AND REPUBS FOR TRUMP
 
If you all can't draw parallels to Adolf Hitler and The Rump, we are heading down a terrible road.
Click to expand...

I was fooled at first but once he named Wink Martindale head of the Gestapo I caught on.
 
Funny :lol: Johnny you make me go :huh: often. Chicago is a great town with or without Obama...or me. NYC is irreplaceable but Chicago a very cool town. Thanks for asking!
 
Sigh!! They’re so many things wrong with this thread that it was tough and slightly emotional to read. But considering the age and racial demographics of the site I’m not really surprised. I’ll just try to offer my persepective as a young (28) African American male, if it helps.

Side note: If they’re any other black posters on this site, I apologize if it seemed like I skipped over your post or come off as a bad representation in your eyes ( you can always DM me).

Here we go!

1) - Some common themes I’ve seen on this site is “ why protest the flag, it’s disrespectful to our military”.

Answer: The military has nothing to do with the protest at all. In fact I’m still confused how that flag became associated with the military in the first place. The reason why a lot of black football players and people ( again just my views) are protesting the flag is because it’s tough to stand for a flag when you don’t feel like you’re being treated as fairly as your Caucasian counterpart. I’ve been told growing up that everybody is treated equal in America regardless of race etc. However, with the unequal treatment of us guys in the Justice system ( always giving police the benefit of the doubt, harsher sentences for the same crimes, etc) a lot of black people started believing that this isn’t the case. So it begs the question why stand for something that’s not giving you its original promise?

2) Second theme I’ve seen on this site has been isn’t there another way to protest?

Answer : Okay, tell us which way works. Last time I checked, every form of protest we’ve tried we get backlash for it.

- We economically boycott or shop at only black shops ( Think MLK)
* You guys are racist :angry:

-We shoot back violently ( Christopher Droner, Micah Johnson)
* You guys are violent ( insert negative references) :angry:

- We peacefully protest ( Kaepernick, BLM in Missouri)
* You guys are ungrateful :angry:

- We protest in college ( 1950 Missouri group, Berkeley)
* You guys are spoiled :angry:

See a theme here? Backlash for everything. Also, protest aren’t meant to be comfortable BTW.


4) What is the protest for?

That’s easy. Quote by Colin Kaepernick: “I feel like there’s racial inequality in this country, and police brutality is a serious issue”.

5) These athletes should be grateful because of the money they make.

Answer: The money is great, Kudos to them for making it. HOWEVER these are still BLACK men. At the end of the day, money can’t shield you from being treated more harshly than the average white American. They’re plenty of highly educated, wealthy black men who have admitted to being treated harshly just for being black.

The following men have admitted to being racially profiled regardless of status :

- Barack Obama ( Democratic president)

- Tim Scott ( Tea party senator from South Carolina

- Michael Steele ( former Republican leader out of Maryland)

- James Blake ( Tennis star)

-Dr.Dre ( producer out of California).

-Otis Graham ( dual Ivy League educated conservative graduate, and co-creator of the book “our kind of people”)

* As you can see, these guys and players are wealthy, educated etc, and they’ve all still admitted that they were treated unfairly. So, no, money can’t protect you as much as we like to believe.
 
It's their right to protest the Anthem, well it's the peoples right to protest them.

http://deadline.com/2017/09/redskin...r-trek-discovery-donald-trump-nbc-1202176141/

On a day full of criticism from Donald Trump, political protests, linked arms, players taking a knee or not coming on the field at all during the national anthem, and renewed pleas for unity from the league, NBC and the NFL took a ratings hit on Sunday Night Football.

In metered market numbers, the primetime matchup that saw the Washington Redskins beat the Oakland Raiders 27-10 snared an 11.6/20, the worst SNF has performed this season so far. It’s an 8% dip from the early numbers of last week’s game, Atlanta’s 34-23 win over Green Bay. Amid cheers and boos from fans at FedEx Field in Maryland last night, the third week of the SNF season declined 10% from early numbers of the comparable game of last year on September 25, 2016.

http://nypost.com/2017/09/24/about-100-protest-national-anthem-in-loud-nfl-statement/

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2017/09/25/cowboys-sources-plan-for-unity-during-tonights-anthem/

http://nypost.com/2017/09/25/pushed-to-my-limit-stadium-worker-quits-after-bills-protest-anthem/

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2017/...o-villanueva-while-his-jersey-sales-soar.html
He should go to Tomlins face and tell him to go f himself, head coach or not.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/ne...ing-players-who-kneel-national-anthem-1042616
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I try to avoid politics on redmen.com but I wanted to respond to this. Sunday Night ratings are greatly impacted by the matchups and the score. People go to sleep when the game is 14-0 at halftime like last night. Also Oakland doesn't draw as well as at it used to. Finally NFL ratings are down again slightly this year but I don't think it has anything to do with the anthem. NBC also took a hit in the first two Sunday nights as a result of the hurricanes knocking out power.
 
Your wrong I'm right yada yada yada same old sh&@t all the time. I grew up with black Spanish white Jewish friends we all made fun of each other, today kids would need a "safe place" the country is in a downward spiral and both sides are to blame. The same fans extolling the virtues of these players will be the same fans that get upset that the league wants to suspend a player for domestic violence. Gimme a break.
 
Sad story all around. If these guys feel there is racial injustice, which there definitely is, why don't you tackle this on a smaller scale and spend more time in the community? Give back to those struggling with the injustices and help them overcome some of the struggles they endure rather than banking $1 million a game and doing nothing to help the cause......
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This is an unaware take. Let's take the most vocal members of the movement, Colin Kaepernick and the Bennett brothers and see what they do in the community.

Kaepernick - has started a "know your rights camp" for innercity youth so that they are aware of what their legal rights are should they get stopped. he is also donating $1 million over the last 10 months to homeless charities, educational and recreational charities. he also donated all jersey sales from last season to charity.

Michael and Martellus Bennett - has their own foundation in which they've spent over 240k on educational programs, has mobilized over 500 volunteers and have partnered with 40 community organization. they have both won philanthropy awards for their work.

Leaders of these movements are usually super active in the community and philanthropically. Do some research.
Most of you who say they should protest "on their own time" or in "different ways" have gripes with every form of protest that disrupts (which is how protests have historically been effective). Boycott going to the White House? "Insulting to the office of the presidency." Having marches in the street? "Why do they have to block/divert traffic?!" Really, what it boils down to is that you want these folks not to do anything that disturbs the norm or our way of thinking. They are there for your entertainment and your entertainment only. They should not have political views that, even for A MINUTE AND A HALF, interjects on your sportsing. God forbid.
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Please, we should respect their political thoughts, why? They are athletes that make millions off of the public. People watch sports as entertainment.
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Because they are citizens just as you or I and deserve to have and express their views. Question: would your reaction be the same if an athlete had taken a knee during the national anthem in order to fight for improved benefits for veterans? (Another important issue which I would like to see more protests over). I would bet, as a "True Patriot", you would find this athlete courageous and urge all of us to turn our attention to the issue itself.
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Theo,
When you say:
"Question: would your reaction be the same if an athlete had taken a knee during the national anthem in order to fight for improved benefits for veterans? (Another important issue which I would like to see more protests over)."
Question to you is "Why didn't you and these athletes/patriots ever express your concerns the past 8 years Obama was POTUS?
I AM a Vietnam era veteran and have always used my benefits as needed, from my first home loan to getting my MBA on the government dime. As a officer dealing with fellow returning vets at that time, there were three major issues that plagued vets: unemployment, substance abuse/psych problems and Veterans Hospitals that were understaffed and poorly administered.
From discussing these issues with younger vets not much has changed.

=0

Now, as far as the "knee" issue. The currently unemployed Colin Kaepernick started the knee protest under Obama's watch. After 8 years as POTUS many critics have claimed that race relations got worse, not better, under a Black POTUS. Where was BLM, ANTIFA, and the street protests prior to 7 months ago and "what" and "whom" were they protesting? Well, let's start with ANTIFA. They were going door-to-door for Hillary Clinton.
BLM? Three black lesbians looked for a much larger forum to protest the "rights" of the LGBT community. Mainstream black civil rights organizations never were part of the process as they have mastered using the courts and civil lawsuits to get redress.
To quote Colin Kaepernick after his first knee:
"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."
He very specifically targeted police officers and before any trials or investigation labeled with a broad brush people that risk their lives every day as MURDERERS. Be aware that he never took the knee until Colin Kaepernick's $11.9 million base salary for the 2016 season became guaranteed. After falling in Quarterback rankings in 2016 to #22, his guaranteed multimillion $ contract became a burden on the 49ers who,as you know, subsequently moved him to the bench. It was at that time Colin rediscovered his "blackness" and became concerned over the oppressed black people. Be reminded that prior to this traumatic experience in his life Colin had lived the life of a pampered "white" athlete, dated only white girls, and associated almost exclusively with whites his age.
Bottom line is that it was when the professional football world was turning against him he used his blackness as a crutch and the death of truly disenfranchised young blacks to bring attention to himself. For him, it backfired and he and his agents have now been claiming discrimination. Some much for Colin. Fuck him!

The current knee?
It has nothing to do with Colin Kaepernick. Nothing to do with the oppressed masses. Nothing to do with the LGBT community. Little to do with police brutality because, unfortunately for the BLM folks, they haven't had enough "innocent" blacks killed since Trump was elected.
The current knee is about the NFL and football players being disrespected. They resent the targeted criticism of the president. They are protesting not having a black president. They are labeling him a racist, a White Supremacist, a Bum, and any other insulting and demeaning name a white athlete could never use or get away with had the target been Barry Obama, let alone Louis Farrakhan. Where were you and your fellow libtards to protest when "Minister Farrakhan" was verbally attacking Jews, white people and the LGBT community?
Finally, as for you and your ilk, who think they are "woke" and others not, I find it not unusual that middle and upper middle class white boys and girls are using African American Vernacular English to paint themselves as having some perceived intellectual superiority to all older white Americans because, you know, you all are Woke. :whistle:

Stick this in your Hanukkah stocking Theo, Black Americans have never enjoyed the freedoms granted to citizens more than today. Black athletes are the highest paid in the world in America. They are moving on up to gated communities and marrying Kardashians and white girls in general in record numbers. They are protesting the Oscars even though they are 12.6% of the American population, and 10% of Oscar nominations since 2000 have gone to black actors. But just 3% of nominations have gone to their Hispanic peers (16% of the population).
Trust me, I understand your white guilt when it comes to black Americans. So while blacks have not taken to the streets in protest of their "oppression" as much as white ANTIFA and other white radicals, they do take to the streets when a police officer (of any color) causes any death of one of their own, even if warranted. In your brave new world it is the police who have a target on their back because of their uniform.
You want to help eliminate the need for BLM? Volunteer your time to reduce the black high school dropout rates which dwarf whites. Find ways to get the message to black teens that unmarried underage pregnancies are not cool. Find ways to reduce black on black crime so black citizens call the police less thereby reducing their need to stop "suspects" that happen to match the complaint. Said complaint usually made by a fellow black.
I have no problem with citizens protesting truly unjust issues. But I have a problem with those that see it as the cool thing to do without ever having experienced oppression or having true empathy for its victims.
Leviticus 26:20 says, .....“keep an open mind, keep a loving heart, keep exploring, do no harm.”
The next time (hopefully joking) you refer to fellow fans as "Red, White (Supremacists)", remember that you are neither being funny, liberal nor open - minded. In your brave new world Theo, you think that is being funny but sadly it is being replicated in the real world such as the "worldwide leader"in sports ESPN, where white staffers get fired for expressing "conservative" views but black reporters are untouched when they refer to the POTUS as a White Supremacist because she doesn't hear what she wants to hear or, in reality, misinterpreted what she heard. So much for you budding sports journalists. :whistle:
 
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