oldmanfan

I agree. I think the anthem thing is overblown personally. I stand, others may not to protest. They have that right. In some other situation I might protest and the players may not agree.

I understand that. Because as I understand it the flag represents the country and its ideals. And one of those ideals is the right to protest what one sees as injustice. I have stated before I stand and will continue to do so, but acknowledge the right for others to kneel to protest. They have said again and again they are not protesting the military. I get some military members are offended and respect that, but I also have talked to military members who believe they served to protect the Constitution and the rights therein. And I respect their opinion as well. In a general sense, our country has become way too polarized on many issues and we need to all realize and accept there are differing opinions.

Not a bad idea.

Do you agree he shouldn’t have been driving drunk?

I said they didn’t need to shoot him. But he’d be alive if he hadn’t fought the arrest. And he was driving drunk. I’m all for reforming policing but folks also need to realize they shouldn’t break the law. Your statement that police and cops can be abolished is naive and potentially dangerous. Again reform is absolutely necessary. But claiming they can be abolished makes reformers look over-reactionary and you'll alienate those who want true reform.

I get the protests. What happened to George Floyd is unconscionable. The Brooks thing is a bit different. He was not hassled with a taser. He was driving drunk. From the video the officers were doing their job, asked permission to frisk him and such. The situation escalated when he started fighting. No, he did not have to be shot. But if he had just not fought a legitimate arrest he’d be alive. Reform policing? Sure. Getting more mental health folks and such to deal with certain issues? Sure. Something like Camden NJ? Looks like it worked there.Completely defund or abolish policing? Anarchy. Sometimes people of all colors commit crimes. And police need to be there to protect us.

Grow up.

And every single protester has said they respect the military and that their protest is not directed at them.

Don’t even try to suggest I’m racist pal. I have a minority daughter that I’ve see deal with crap. No, the Jiffy Lube owner makes his decision and his employees than have a choice to comply or not. Good, then we agree.

And if a Jiffy Lube owner said you can protest things at work than you can. You say NFL players are more privileged. No they are not. Not on the protest issue. Their boss says they can protest. If a Jiffy Lube boss says his employees can so can they. Your issue is with the bosses, not the employees.

I said nothing about a Jiffy Lube worker. But when it comes to comparing about the ability to protest, no there is no difference in privilege. The league has said they support it so the players can do so. If Jiffy Lube says the same their workers can do so as well.

It does not matter. Get it through your head: the league is saying they are OK with it. You want to stop supporting them, fine. But quit making the false comparison between your employer and the NFL.

Their employer is saying they can protest. Why do you refuse to see that?

Their parent organization, the NFL, is saying they’re OK with it. So it has no bearing on what your organization does or does not do. And spare me the protest at work stuff with respect to this. Players work at practice, work at film study, and so on. If you want to say the only time they work is on game day, then strictly speaking they are not working during playing of the anthem as they are not actually playing during that time. When I go to games I stand. I would rather everyone stand and not go to the restroom, or to get a beer, or start cheering before the song is actually over. I also get their protest, and I understand their position that they do not intend disrespect to soldiers. From you user user name it seems clear you want to dictate terms to others. That is not how our country works.

I pledge allegiance to the flag Of the United States of America And to the REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS The flag stands for the republic, not necessarily what folks who are against kneeling suggest. One nation, under God, indivisible WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL So is there liberty and justice for all? That’s the issue being protested.

That would answer the anthem debate. But not the issue at hand which has so many players and the black community so upset.

Then watch the game and look at the flag while standing during the anthem. You might also want to stop and think about what they are kneeling for.

And again the protest does not stop you from doing so. The game is played after the anthem.

Don’t know. If they thought so they’d probably have chosen that earlier.

The point folks are making is no one is listening. So while I see your point something before a game is likely not to be seen or heard.

Their kneeling does not stop anyone from watching football.

I would support 5 minutes before the game. Statements, silent reflection. Something like that. But I don’t think that will make a loud enough statement.

Kneeling on the guy’s neck. When you have a guy down and he doesn’t have a pulse and you keep kneeling on him was a Whoa! Moment. So I started talking to folks I know that are black, and my kids’ friends. And they all tell me of how they have had moments when they are treated differently or pulled over for no reason. All stuff I probably knew but never really thought about. And I guess the final one involved my one daughter who is adopted from China. Her best friend was adopted the same day, went into a grocery store, and was told we don’t wait on your kind. Different ethnicity, same kind of prejudice. It has to stop. It seriously has to stop. So I’ll stand. But I’ll support folks protesting. And I’ll keep supporting the police who have an impossible job but get screwed by the few who abuse their authority.

Then leave. Honest to God, this gets ridiculous. When it all started with Keap he went to a decorated Green Beret for advice and was told that would be the honorable way to approach it. I know some vets who are against it, I know some vets who say that is exactly why they fought, to protect the rights of people. I stand for the anthem, I will continue to do so. But I also get why black players are protesting because the events of the past few weeks have finally opened the eyes of this 64 year old white man that things have got to change. You want to leave, go ahead. If a protest for the 2 minutes for the anthem is going to ruin a football game or team, good for you. But if you’ve ever been at a game talking to a friend or in the restroom during the anthem you’re a hypocrite. And if you can’t see that it’s finally time to see that things need to change maybe you’re something else.

I will say I spent 6 years in Georgia in the 80’s early in my career, and I joined a country club recommended to me by some at the hospital. Played there for two years, and would usually just go play 9 by myself, didn’t socialize there or play in weekend tournaments and such. I mentioned it in passing one day to one of the nurses in the clinic and she was like: “Doctor I’m shocked you would belong there. You know it’s an all white club and they don’t allow blacks?” Quit the next day. Still can’t believe hospital execs recommended it to me, or that they were members. If Fromm grew up with that mentality, it could explain some things.