It is the military that pays for the flyovers, the veterans’ ‘tributes’, and the humongous flags that cover the entire field (in violation of flag codes).
.
Unless, of course , by ‘unity’ you mean suppressing things like Black Lives Matter.
The Washington Post has a database on police shootings. If you download it, combine the files, and put it into a spreadsheet and crunch the numbers as I have, you will find that there are close to 1,000 fatal shootings a year of unarmed civilians by police. There are an equal number of blacks and whites shot. On the surface, this seems “equitable” …
… until you factor in that blacks are only 20% of the population. This means that blacks are five times more likely to get shot by police than whites.
While we debate the methods of protest, the shootings go on.
No, the players being on the field was started in 2009 when the NFL was paid millions by the DoD to have a show promoting the military. The players should just stay in the locker room as they did before.
Several people against the players taking a knee have missed the entire idea of a free society. Forced “respect” is something that is in totalitarian regimes.
We live in a great nation. Perhaps the greatest ever. We have much to be grateful for, and much to be proud of. Freedom has been the single most important core value of this nation and wouldn’t it be at odds with this value to force people to salute the flag in a certain way ? Some might choose to salute in a different way. Some may choose not to salute the flag at all And some might choose the moment of salute to register an injustice they feel is happening in society – by kneeling, sitting or otherwise. Why is this so controversial ? Perhaps those protesting have a point to make. We need to listen, not try to silence them. Our nation great as it is had long periods in it’s history where freedom and justice did not cover everybody. We are just getting there. It took lot of struggle, sacrifice and protests to get to where we are now. Protesting is not in any way disrespectful of the country or the the flag that represents it. It’s forcing people to salute that’s disrespecting the flag. We become like any one of the may dictatorships around the world where people worship and salute their leader, flag and country in unison, thoughtlessly and soullessly.
No, Mr. Locke. Some of us measure the good in this, or any other, country by how it treats all its citizens. You sound like the “My Country; Right or Wrong” kind of guy. I respectfully submit, “There are two kinds of patriotism – monarchical patriotism and republican patriotism. In the one case the government and the king may rightfully furnish you their notions of patriotism; in the other, neither the government nor the entire nation is privileged to dictate to any individual what the form of his patriotism shall be. The gospel of the monarchical patriotism is: ‘The King can do no wrong.’ We have adopted it with all its servility, with an unimportant change in the wording: “Our country, right or wrong!” We have thrown away the most valuable asset we had:- the individual’s right to oppose both flag and country when he (just he, by himself) believed them to be in the wrong. We have thrown it away; and with it all that was really respectable about that grotesque and laughable word, Patriotism.” – Mark Twain
It’s not yet clear how all this will develop, but I’m left wondering whether it’s the same in football as in baseball… i.e., you’re not out until the third strike.
Darsan54 Premium Member almost 6 years ago
Except for all the blacks who are shot for living while black.
braindead Premium Member almost 6 years ago
It is not done as a show of unity.
It is strictly a marketing technique.
It is the military that pays for the flyovers, the veterans’ ‘tributes’, and the humongous flags that cover the entire field (in violation of flag codes).
.
Unless, of course , by ‘unity’ you mean suppressing things like Black Lives Matter.
superposition almost 6 years ago
Sad to see United States become just another oxymoron.
DanFlak almost 6 years ago
The Washington Post has a database on police shootings. If you download it, combine the files, and put it into a spreadsheet and crunch the numbers as I have, you will find that there are close to 1,000 fatal shootings a year of unarmed civilians by police. There are an equal number of blacks and whites shot. On the surface, this seems “equitable” …
… until you factor in that blacks are only 20% of the population. This means that blacks are five times more likely to get shot by police than whites.
While we debate the methods of protest, the shootings go on.
ed27 almost 6 years ago
It’s played at the bequest of the military who pay for it as a recruitment tool.
Zen-of-Zinfandel almost 6 years ago
“Let us swear allegiance to a land that’s free.”
Radish the wordsmith almost 6 years ago
Respect our country, do not respect Putin loving fascist and racist Republicans.
Nantucket Premium Member almost 6 years ago
No, the players being on the field was started in 2009 when the NFL was paid millions by the DoD to have a show promoting the military. The players should just stay in the locker room as they did before.
Several people against the players taking a knee have missed the entire idea of a free society. Forced “respect” is something that is in totalitarian regimes.
shakeswilly almost 6 years ago
We live in a great nation. Perhaps the greatest ever. We have much to be grateful for, and much to be proud of. Freedom has been the single most important core value of this nation and wouldn’t it be at odds with this value to force people to salute the flag in a certain way ? Some might choose to salute in a different way. Some may choose not to salute the flag at all And some might choose the moment of salute to register an injustice they feel is happening in society – by kneeling, sitting or otherwise. Why is this so controversial ? Perhaps those protesting have a point to make. We need to listen, not try to silence them. Our nation great as it is had long periods in it’s history where freedom and justice did not cover everybody. We are just getting there. It took lot of struggle, sacrifice and protests to get to where we are now. Protesting is not in any way disrespectful of the country or the the flag that represents it. It’s forcing people to salute that’s disrespecting the flag. We become like any one of the may dictatorships around the world where people worship and salute their leader, flag and country in unison, thoughtlessly and soullessly.
Mr. Blawt almost 6 years ago
Now they just do it to threaten the black man.
Leonmgd Premium Member almost 6 years ago
It wasn’t too many years ago the national anthem wasn’t televised. We had commercials until the kickoff.
Bookworm almost 6 years ago
No, Mr. Locke. Some of us measure the good in this, or any other, country by how it treats all its citizens. You sound like the “My Country; Right or Wrong” kind of guy. I respectfully submit, “There are two kinds of patriotism – monarchical patriotism and republican patriotism. In the one case the government and the king may rightfully furnish you their notions of patriotism; in the other, neither the government nor the entire nation is privileged to dictate to any individual what the form of his patriotism shall be. The gospel of the monarchical patriotism is: ‘The King can do no wrong.’ We have adopted it with all its servility, with an unimportant change in the wording: “Our country, right or wrong!” We have thrown away the most valuable asset we had:- the individual’s right to oppose both flag and country when he (just he, by himself) believed them to be in the wrong. We have thrown it away; and with it all that was really respectable about that grotesque and laughable word, Patriotism.” – Mark Twain
NeedaChuckle Premium Member almost 6 years ago
Hot Dogs and Beer are sold during the Anthem to show RESPECT!
Lou Nattic, né Stan C almost 6 years ago
JLost, you lost big time on this thread, why don’t you tuck your tail under and slink off. Please.
RAGs almost 6 years ago
jlocke, and others of his ilk, if you need “public displays” of patriotism, you aren’t vey patriotic.
gammaguy almost 6 years ago
It’s not yet clear how all this will develop, but I’m left wondering whether it’s the same in football as in baseball… i.e., you’re not out until the third strike.
robnvon Premium Member almost 6 years ago
Actually, part of public service campaign for the military.