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Everyone knows that NFL teams didn't leave the locker room for the Anthem until ±2009... right?
Errrr, no.
It was at the discretion of the team. Not mandated, but it was not uncommon. In fact, during and immediately after times of war, or particular events (such as JFK's assassination, 9/11, etc) it was very widespread.
I got this in an email from a very good friend and I wasn't sure if it belonged in a political forum, but I'll try and I'll leave it up to City Data moderators to determine what to do with it. It's a reminder to all those over-paid professional athletes, who act like spoiled brats by refusing to stand up for the National Anthem. Let's remind them of those who fought, and many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice to defend the freedoms they tend to take for granted.
Take a little trip to Valley Forge in January. If you don't know where that is, just Google it from the sidelines. Hold a musket ball in your fingers and imagine it piercing your flesh and breaking a bone or two. There won't be a doctor or trainer to assist you until after the battle, so just wait your turn. Take your cleats and socks off to get a real experience. Then take a knee.
Then take one at the beach in Normandy where man after American man stormed the beach, even as the one in front of him was shot to pieces and the very sea stained with American blood. The only blockers most had were the dead bodies in front of them . . . riddled with bullets from enemy fire.
Take a knee in the sweat soaked jungles of Vietnam. from Khe San to Saigon . . . anywhere will do. REAL Americans died in all those jungles. There was no playbook that told them what was next, but they knew what flag they represented. When they came home, they were protested, as well as spit on for reasons only cowards know.
Take another knee in the blood drenched sands of Fallujah in 110 degree heat. Wear your Kevlar helmet and battle dress. Your number won't be printed on it unless your number is up! You'll need to stay hydrated but there won't be anyone to squirt Gatorade into your mouth. You're on your own.
There's a lot of places to take a knee. Real Americans have given their lives all over the world. When you use the banner under which they fought as a source for your displeasure, you dishonor the memories of those who bled for the very freedoms you have. That's what the red stripes mean. It represents the blood of those who spilled a sea of it defending your liberty.
While you are on your knee, pray for those that came before you, not on a manicured lawn striped and printed with numbers to announce every inch of ground taken . . . but on nameless hills and bloodied beaches and sweltering forests and bitter cold mountains . . . every inch marked by an American life lost serving that flag you protest.
No cheerleaders, no announcers, no coaches, no fans . . . just American men and women delivering the real fight against those who chose to harm us . . . blazing a path so you would have the right to "take a knee."
You have no inkling what it took to get you where you are; but your "protest" is duly noted. Not only is it disgraceful to a nation of real heroes, it serves the purpose of pointing to your ingratitude for those who chose to defend you under that banner that will still wave long after your jersey is issued to another.
If you really feel the need to take a knee . . . come with me to church on Sunday and we will both kneel before Almighty God. We'll thank Him for preserving this country for as long as He has. We will beg forgiveness for our ingratitude for all He has provided us. We will appeal to Him for understanding and wisdom. We will pray for liberty and justice for all . . . because He is the one who provides those things.
And there will be no protest. There will only be gratitude for His provision and a plea for His continued grace and mercy on the land of the free and the home of the brave. It goes like this . . .
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
i wish i could rep you a thousand times for this post, but this will have to do
Quote:
Originally Posted by pknopp
Taking a knee is NOT disrespectful. We kneel when we pray. We kneel if we approach a king. Kneeling is saying "here I am, I have something to say, please listen".
you are right, there are many times when kneeling is not being disrespectful. kneeling to pray, when meeting a monarch, the pope or cardinals, or many other times, like proposing to your possible future wife. but if kneeling for the national anthem was not being disrespectful then why doesnt the military kneel at that time? can you see a company of marines in their dress blues at a flag ceremony kneeling? no they stand at attention and salute.
when you kneel when the national anthem is being played, you are in effect sticking your middle finger out at the rest of the country, and yelling at the top of your lungs FU!! that is my opinion, and the opinion of a huge majority of americans.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lowexpectations
Unless you pay the athletes directly you aren't the one who decides whom is overpaid. The owners decide and to downplay the fact that these folks just "play a game" greatly ignores the skills they have, if it was easy and so lucrative anyone could do it. Those who also say they just "play a game" also overlook the incredible about of work these folks have to do as it's certainly not a just show up Sunday for 16 weeks and before anyone says "I'd go play a game for a hell of a lot less" we'll go do it, if you can't get hired then realize you aren't skilled enough or worth it. I'd also like to know what makes this group "spoiled" if you'd care to tell me
when you buy a ticket for a game, when you buy a subscription to a cable channel, when you buy NFL merchandise, you are paying those athletes salaries. where do you think the money comes from? it comes from us the fans. the team owners are just a conduit by which the money gets apportioned out to the individual players. and some of those players have decided to give us the fans their middle finger and FU to us. if this is the kind of person you like to admire, then fine, go for it. perhaps there are some convicts you can write to in prison as well and get a pen pal relationship going with them, maybe help them when they get out of prison.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Biker53
With their wealth and name recognition they could easily call press conferences or arrange interviews on TV and on radio or get articles they write published in newspapers and magazines. They can even rent billboards or take out space ads to push their message if they thought that might help. They have many viable and appropriate ways of getting their message out.
absolutely right!these players have many avenues to get their message out, without disrespecting the country and the fans that support these guys. right now the players are generally arrogant enough to think they can do no wrong in the eyes of their fans, but a day of reckoning is coming, and they will find that the fans they gave the finger to will likely turn their backs on these players.
Last edited by Ibginnie; 09-26-2017 at 07:54 PM..
Reason: hot linking
at a campaign rally in Texas, Donald Trump spoke of "open(ing) up libel laws."
I can agree with this to some point. No matter where their bias lies the mainstream "News" media is more interested in ratings and has become entertainment. They are often reporting "news" that is "alleged", anonymous sources, not researched well, misrepresented or simply an outright lie.
If you are the subject of their reporting libel and slander is something very difficult to prove and even if you can prove it collecting any reward is very difficult. Lowering the bar on this would certainly make news organizations carefully consider publishing complete and utter BS.
Trump played soccer, basketball, baseball and tennis, but then his feet hurt too much to serve in the military. And he has the nerve to talk about people dying for the flag?
The word is respect versus disrespect. It appears some don't understand this. Do I think a person should be fired for their views? Obviously no? should they be fired for showing them in a disrespectful way? Yes!!! What our president said, is very true and I agree with him 100%. How he did it, is a different story. It isn't up to the president to react about something like this, there are more important issues for him to attend to, but again, by now, almost a year after his election we all know he beats to his own drum.
I will add, how the stupid, babied players react doesn't affect our watching games, but it still is setting a horrible example for the kids they should be trying to influence in a positive way. We wonder why some young people have no respect for authority, this is exactly why. and many of these kids want to grow up to be pro athletes, many live in poverty areas and admire players when they have little in life to feel good about. These players should be positive roll models, not negative.
And again, no matter who, where, why, how or when people decide to protest ya'll say they are being anti-American and shouldn't be protesting whatever it is they are protesting.
This isn't about how they are protesting. Its just the fact that they are that bothers ya'll. Why is that?
You have some long historical standard in which to judge this? Kneeling has NEVER been considered disrespectful.
I will note again, I bet you were cussing at the television about the players kneeling while sitting on your couch.
Kneeling has NEVER been a sign of disrespect. You kneel when you pray. You kneel when approaching a king. You are saying "Here I am, I have something to say, please listen".
We are not talking about praying or meeting kings. We are talking about the national anthem. When in our history has it been accepted practice to kneel during the anthem? Anyone physically capable of standing up has always been expected to stand up when it is played. That is what society deemed respectful behavior.
Taking a knee is NOT disrespectful. We kneel when we pray. We kneel if we approach a king. Kneeling is saying "here I am, I have something to say, please listen".
Please - these guys aren't kneeling as any sign of respect for the country or the flag. It's a sign of protest. Everyone knows that. Including you.
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