Christopher Johnson: Let the players kneel.

[jetgreen13]

it's interesting to me that the people who have never served seem to be the first to bring up the narrative that the players kneeling are disrespecting our flag & our veterans by doing so..

but the veterans seem to be the first to point out that narrative is false.. go figure..

 

[BlindsideD'Brick]

But aren't the playing of the anthem and a variety of other overtly patriotic acts, including those funded by the DoD, political acts, as well. So it's not as though the pregame was apolitical before CK and the others began kneeling.

I suppose the Anthem can perceived as political. I’ve always regarded it as unifying and positive, despite our differences. And most major sports teams have never had a problem with it prior to the start of a game.

The kneeling before the flag is widely considered disrespectful by a majority of Americans, regardless of what it is your protesting. It doesn’t seem unifying to me at all, except for a select group of people who think this country is failing them, despite their multi-million dollar contracts.

I

 

[SackExchange]

I suppose the Anthem can perceived as political. I’ve always regarded it as unifying and positive, despite our differences. And most major sports teams have never had a problem with it prior to the start of a game.

The kneeling before the flag is widely considered disrespectful by a majority of Americans, regardless of what it is your protesting. It doesn’t seem unifying to me at all, except for a select group of people who think this country is failing them, despite their multi-million dollar contracts.

I

To some degree, yes, it is unifying. But there are elements of the national anthem itself which are quite political.

1. It is a war anthem, emerging out of the War of 1812.
2. A later verse of the poem is about slavery.

So while playing the anthem may be a popular political act, it is still a political act. Besides, it was hardly ever played before or during sporting events until World War II. The first time it was played was in 1918, in the midst of US involvement in World War I. Sometimes, such acts can permanently change the narrative. For example, how often was God Bless America played during seventh inning stretches before 9/11? But you can't take it away now, even though 9/11 is more than 16 years ago. Taking it away would be criticized as unpatriotic.

 

[BlindsideD'Brick]

why does every player who does this out of their own conscience have to be someone "validating CK"? are these players not capable of having their own beliefs?

and of course, it is being politicized by people on BOTH sides, including the occupant of the oval office who is only too happy to whip his base into a rage over some perceived outrage.

if someone doesn't want to spend their money or time attending/watching a game because of this, that is certainly their right. personally i think it is crazy to not go to/watch a game because some player(s) take a knee during the anthem. when you watch a game at home, do these same people stand for the anthem? do they get off their couch, put down their beer and nachos, stop talking with their friends, and stand in silence during the singing of the national anthem?

Kaepernick started this movement. The players who followed were showing solidarity with him. (Perhaps you saw the tee shirts “I’m with KAP”?) That seems obvious to me. What else are they kneeling for? Better wages? Better healthcare? No, it was “we’re with Colin”.

Well over 90% of black men being killed in America are at the hands of other black men. But don’t tell that to BLM or any other person pushing this narrative. It’s more convenient to demonize the police, despite the statistics. There are too many fallacies to even mention here. And that’s why this movement is bogus, and has no place in the opening of a sporting event.

And the owners, with the exception of a few, are scared to death to say anything about it, for fear of being labeled one of “those Trump supporters”. Many of them have no balls, and are too concerned over the backlash of speaking truth to this.

 

[BlindsideD'Brick]

it's interesting to me that the people who have never served seem to be the first to bring up the narrative that the players kneeling are disrespecting our flag & our veterans by doing so..

but the veterans seem to be the first to point out that narrative is false.. go figure..

Yeah I know plenty of veterans who are all for disrespecting the American flag. And cops, and regular citizens.

Actually most people I know, of all stripes, hate the kneeling.

 

[BlindsideD'Brick]

To some degree, yes, it is unifying. But there are elements of the national anthem itself which are quite political.

1. It is a war anthem, emerging out of the War of 1812.
2. A later verse of the poem is about slavery.

So while playing the anthem may be a popular political act, it is still a political act. Besides, it was hardly ever played before or during sporting events until World War II. The first time it was played was in 1918, in the midst of US involvement in World War I. Sometimes, such acts can permanently change the narrative. For example, how often was God Bless America played during seventh inning stretches before 9/11? But you can't take it away now, even though 9/11 is more than 16 years ago. Taking it away would be criticized as unpatriotic.

As a person who supports patriotic anthems and God Bless America, I certainly understand why some people would prefer it removed from sporting events. God is not a part of some people’s lives.

I get that argument.

 

[SackExchange]

As a person who supports patriotic anthems and God Bless America, I certainly understand why some people would prefer it removed from sporting events. God is not a part of some people’s lives.

I get that argument.

Given a vote, I think America the Beautiful should be the national anthem, but nobody has given me such a vote.

 

[SackExchange]

it's interesting to me that the people who have never served seem to be the first to bring up the narrative that the players kneeling are disrespecting our flag & our veterans by doing so..

but the veterans seem to be the first to point out that narrative is false.. go figure..

I think this speaks to my point, as well, that the national anthem is supposed to be about all Americans, not a subset within that collective.

 

[SackExchange]

Yeah I know plenty of veterans who are all for disrespecting the American flag. And cops, and regular citizens.

Actually most people I know, of all stripes, hate the kneeling.

I'm not sure I follow these posts. In one post, you say the owners are too scared to speak out against the kneelers. In the next post, you say how a large majority are against the kneelers.

Are you saying the owners are scared of publicly taking the majority position?

 

[BlindsideD'Brick]

I'm not sure I follow these posts. In one post, you say the owners are too scared to speak out against the kneelers. In the next post, you say how a large majority are against the kneelers.

Are you saying the owners are scared of publicly taking the majority position?

The owners are in a different position. They oversee a group of players who are overwhelmingly black. And any comments they make will be heavily scrutinized by the media and their players. It’s a no-win situation for them. If they take the majority stance publicly, they get accused of not being sensitive to the issues of police brutality, African American concerns, etc. So they either choose silence, or try some middle ground publicity stunt like locking arms at midfield, and trying to please both employees and customers.

Whereas the average Joe like me can sit around the dinner table and say whatever I want without any fear of sanction or pushback.

 

[SackExchange]

The owners are in a different position. They oversee a group of players who are overwhelmingly black. And any comments they make will be heavily scrutinized by the media and their players. It’s a no-win situation for them. If they take the majority stance publicly, they get accused of not being sensitive to the issues of police brutality, African American concerns, etc. So they either choose silence, or try some middle ground publicity stunt like locking arms at midfield, and trying to please both employees and customers.

Whereas the average Joe like me can sit around the dinner table and say whatever I want without any fear of sanction or pushback.

Valid point. They do have more constraints on what they can say than any of us do.

 

[NCgreen12]

The interesting thing is most people support the cause against social injustices which is the essence of their protest. However, by doing the protest during the national anthem they may have alienated the folks who would otherwise support their cause done in another forum. The counter to that is in order to get the attention you need you have to make an ultra bold statement which they have done. I'm not sure which is the right path but nothing has seem to come positive from it except a man of the year award from a fashion magazine.

 

[BlindsideD'Brick]

The interesting thing is most people support the cause against social injustices which is the essence of their protest. However, by doing the protest during the national anthem they may have alienated the folks who would otherwise support their cause done in another forum. The counter to that is in order to get the attention you need you have to make an ultra bold statement which they have done. I'm not sure which is the right path but nothing has seem to come positive from it except a man of the year award from a fashion magazine.

This may come as a shock to some, but I despise police brutality and think any officer who unjustly kills anyone should be stripped of their badge and thrown in jail. I’m not naive enough to think that some cases don’t involve racist actions on the part of police. People should be outraged by it. It’s just a matter of degree for me in stating how prevalent it really is, and where and how to express it.

I believe the problems that exist in our inner cities go way beyond the police presence. Economics, infrastructure, dependency and other self-inflicted wounds have much more to do with it than the police. IMO.

Sorry if this subject got way too deep into politics. It’s nice to see that we can debate in a civil manner, though. I respect the overall intellect of this forum.

 

[jetgreen13]

I think this speaks to my point, as well, that national anthem is supposed to be about all Americans, not a subset within that collective.

LOLz hey, the guy in DC got elected with that very playbook even with having multiple deferments from military service..

 

[Elias]

 

[SackExchange]

LOLz hey, the guy in DC got elected with that very playbook even with having multiple deferments from military service..

I don't want to turn this too political, but it's tough to say how pro-law enforcement you are one minute and then bash the FBI and American intelligence agencies the next. I just want some consistency.

 

[jetgreen13]

I don't want to turn this too political, but it's tough to say how pro-law enforcement you are one minute and then bash the FBI and American intelligence agencies the next. I just want some consistency.

too late.. this thread is both inherently politically & racially super charged..

but threads like this one can be helpful to find out how some of our fellow posters really feel about politics, race & sending dog whistles..

 

[Bigmoe]

This sport has become is a disgrace.
Jet fans again will go back and forth now because Johnson opened it up.Im not joining in , last time I did my posts got deleted.
Giant fans goin at it on to keep or trade OBJ . After all his antics
Lack of dignity and respect in society on all accounts
Next up when do the players get to stand or knell against the NRA?
or is that not in their agenda ?
seems like the hot -go to topic of the moment

 

[cheaterhater]

So, on our old Jet site, we had a beer thread. Anyone want to take part in one here? I admit to being a beer snob. Anybody else? what's your favorite beer? Are there any that you would go out of the way to find? I go out of my way to get just one. Goose Island Bourbon County Stout. If you don't know of it, it is released on Black Friday and generally impossible to find in Ct. by the end of the day.

 

[butterscotch]

So, on our old Jet site, we had a beer thread. Anyone want to take part in one here? I admit to being a beer snob. Anybody else? what's your favorite beer? Are there any that you would go out of the way to find? I go out of my way to get just one. Goose Island Bourbon County Stout. If you don't know of it, it is released on Black Friday and generally impossible to find in Ct. by the end of the day.

Yeah I do Bud:global (31):