[MaRuDolph]

Originally Posted by James

It's an American thing to play their national anthem before (domestic) sporting events. I thought they did it before music concerts also, but I can't find any evidence that happens.

We do before all kinds of live performances. It's not a hard and fast rule though.

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

As it's been said above, if they want to keep politics out of sports then why are they singing the national anthem? Why do they have flags in the stadium? Everything in this world is political and the only reason why this story got such a backlash is because certain people can't handle politics when it doesn't affect them even if it's just a minor gesture like kneeling.

And they can kneel in their own time. When will the pushy left learn there is a time and a place and the more they push the less people listen!

Out of interest:

https://nypost.com/2017/09/26/all-th...ack-homicides/

[Pigeon Lady]

...I guess the ‘umbrella’ of politics is prevalent everywhere, in so many things...but essentially and fundamentally though, the silent protest is about equality...and there doesn’t seem any more appropriate time to ‘silently voice’ those words of inequality as when an anthem is being sung of ‘the land of the free’..the free and the equality of everyone, every citizen in a country...this fine/ban feels so ironic in view of the recent Royal Wedding and the words of MLK being quoted by Bishop Michael Curry...so uplifting, so progressive, so emotional...and I think the very thing that the world we live in right now, so much needs...but sadly no, not the thoughts of the NFL it would seem...this is not the time, this is not the place etc...is there a ‘right’ time and right place to look for equality...very sad, very disheartening.....


..I recall when Tamir Rice’s mother called for peaceful protests..(..because street protests with raised voices were not the thing and not the way it was said...)...so the ‘progression’ is to a peaceful and silent protest with a blended knee because of anthem words that are not always being practised...an absolutely perfect time...and still no, you can’t do that...that ‘no voice’ for me is the only voice which disrespects everything America was built on and the flag and the anthem in what they stand for...very sad, very regressive.....

[Parumpapapump]

Today i am going to sit on my arse all day and do nothing at work in protest against the shocking lack of employee rights in this country.......i will be signing on tomorrow.

[Christmas Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

As it's been said above, if they want to keep politics out of sports then why are they singing the national anthem? Why do they have flags in the stadium? Everything in this world is political and the only reason why this story got such a backlash is because certain people can't handle politics when it doesn't affect them even if it's just a minor gesture like kneeling.

what is political about the national anthem and flag that is for all the people regardless of politics?

[Brillopad]

You don't disrespect your country's flag and anthem, despite all the good it represents and the people who have died fighting for it etc, because you have some issues with Government and their policies etc. It is a low, manipulative blow and unlikely to get much support.

[Christmas Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Brillopad

You don't disrespect your country's flag and anthem, despite all the good it represents and the people who have died fighting for it etc, because you have some issues with Government and their policies etc. It is a low, manipulative blow and unlikely to get much support.

maybe they could forego the millions they make playing sports and go into politics and serve the community?

[Nicky91]

i'm not gonna stand during our national anthem now


and these players should kneel if they want to themselves

[Cherie Christmas]

I heard this morning that they can stay in the tunnel if they don't want to stand for the Anthem so is seems this has been blown out of proportion. If they stay in the tunnel it is still a protest

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by Nicky91

i'm not gonna stand during our national anthem now


and these players should kneel if they want to themselves

Well they should be sacked/replaced if they do.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Brillopad

And they can kneel in their own time. When will the pushy left learn there is a time and a place and the more they push the less people listen!

Out of interest:

https://nypost.com/2017/09/26/all-th...ack-homicides/

He kneeled. That's all he did. You say 'pushy left' but your pushing all this meaning on to him kneeling, it's hilarious.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

what is political about the national anthem and flag that is for all the people regardless of politics?

Both are and have been contentious issues throughout history, they are political whether you like it or not.

Originally Posted by Brillopad

You don't disrespect your country's flag and anthem, despite all the good it represents and the people who have died fighting for it etc, because you have some issues with Government and their policies etc. It is a low, manipulative blow and unlikely to get much support.

How politically correct of you

It's America, people have the freedom of speech and expression (as long as you don't offend the sensitive right wing!) and they should have the right to protest as they wish as long as it's peaceful.

Saying that disrespecting the flag is the same as disrespecting veterans is such a bull**** argument that the right wing love to make, it's an overly emotional approach to try to belittle and shut down opinions that they don't like. Kneeling in response to the national anthem is not an attack on veterans or anything else, it's all a quiet, peaceful protest about the systematic racism and abuse within the US' law system.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Brillopad

Well they should be sacked/replaced if they do.

Freedom of Speech! Now with limitations!

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

He kneeled. That's all he did. You say 'pushy left' but your pushing all this meaning on to him kneeling, it's hilarious.

Not half as hilarious as the fuss those people are making about kneeling in the first place. They should pick their battles wiser.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Brillopad

Not half as hilarious as the fuss those people are making about kneeling in the first place. They should pick their battles wiser.

I agree, the right wing shouldn't be so upset by people kneeling.

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

I agree, the right wing shouldn't be so upset by people kneeling.

Clearly I am talking of those choosing to kneel at a sporting event to make a political point. You really are tiresome.

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

Freedom of Speech! Now with limitations!

You’re the king of attempted shut-down speech, always trying to label people whose opinions you don’t agree with, so constantly trying to turn it round on others is futile and boring.

As usual the ‘kneelers’ and those supporting them are trying to shove their opinions and protests down the throats of others. It’s a sporting event not a political rally!

[Brillopad]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

I agree, the right wing shouldn't be so upset by people kneeling.

They can kneel their little socks off - just not on others’ time.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Brillopad

Clearly I am talking of those choosing to kneel at a sporting event to make a political point. You really are tiresome.

You're getting upset over someone choosing to kneel, you're proving my point.

Originally Posted by Brillopad

They can kneel their little socks off - just not on others’ time.

Again, they weren't kneeling in the middle of the game, the games in which players kneeled went off without a hitch. It's a case of the right wing making a mountain out of a molehill and you are desperately reaching in trying to make out that the left stirred up this controversy when it was the right that took issue with it. Nothing you can say can change the fact that the right wing are who took issue with players kneeling.

Originally Posted by Brillopad

You’re the king of attempted shut-down speech, always trying to label people whose opinions you don’t agree with, so constantly trying to turn it round on others is futile and boring.

As usual the ‘kneelers’ and those supporting them are trying to shove their opinions and protests down the throats of others. It’s a sporting event not a political rally!

It's called having an opinion, i know you only believe that freedom of speech should be reserved for you and people who share your opinion but it isn't. You just brand any opinion you dislike as someone trying to shut you down when that act in itself is you trying to shut down anyone you disagree with. You simply can't handle opinions that aren't your own.

[ChristmasNeeve]

Kim Jong Who?