What is the controversy surrounding #takeaknee

[TheBeardedDude]

Check out this timeline. He sat for a few games before changing to kneeling.

https://www.sbnation.com/2016/9/11/12869...rshall-nfl

I stand corrected, he sat in the preseason and switched to kneeling because he and Eric Reid felt it was more respectful. Fair enough on that point

[Neo-Scholastic]

Burning the flag is not burning the freedom ...it's exalting it.

"But honey, I had to beat you because I love you so much."

Well, the whole point of a protest is to discomfit the complacent, now isn't it?

Again, time, place and context are important. Would they have done these antics on 9/12/01? No, because for at least a short time, it became crystal clear that it meant something to be American. And we were proud of it. It's not about what we are now, or were long ago, no country is perfect or has a spotless history, but rather what we aspire to be. America, is not and never will be a utopia. And that simple fact is not enough to make it right or proper for every yahoo and ingrate air their pet grievances during displays and rituals of national unity. The list of grievances could be endless such as:

Foreign policy in Syria
The disproportionate suicide rates of white men.
The Holocaust of innocent unborn children
Date Rape
Don't like Trump
Don't like Obama
Save the Whales
VA hospital wait times
Animal rights
...

People pay money to watch games. They do not pay money to watch preachy scolds make them uncomfortable.

[Thumpalumpacus]

I think people who served should be mad they aren't getting more for their time/service/sacrifice.

It comes with the territory. I volunteered, didn't do so for the plaudits -- I had my own reasons. One reason, yes, was the feeling that the country is worth serving, but you know what? No one in this world has to live up to my expectations, and I'd be pretty silly to expect anything more than what the American public has shown time and again. The other reasons were a bit more personal, or you could say "selfish" and not be far off the mark there either.

I'm glad Kaep did what he did, and in a way I'm glad Trump did what he did too, because it fuels this conversation, which is obviously needed in our social discourse.

[Silver]

People pay money to watch games. They do not pay money to watch preachy scolds make them uncomfortable.

In the recent words of a famous footballer, "Don't like it? 'Kay, bye."

[KevinM1]

Burning the flag is not burning the freedom ...it's exalting it.

"But honey, I had to beat you because I love you so much."

What is it with theists and shitty analogies?

A flag is an inanimate object.  It cannot be abused.  Furthermore, your analogy says a whole hell of a lot about you, none of it good.

Well, the whole point of a protest is to discomfit the complacent, now isn't it?

Again, time, place and context are important. Would they have done these antics on 9/12/01? No, because for at least a short time, it became crystal clear that it meant something to be American. And we were proud of it. It's not about what we are now, or were long ago, no country is perfect or has a spotless history, but rather what we aspire to be. America, is not and never will be a utopia. And that simple fact is not enough to make it right or proper for every yahoo and ingrate air their pet grievances during displays and rituals of national unity. The list of grievances could be endless such as:

Foreign policy in Syria
The disproportionate suicide rates of white men.
The Holocaust of innocent unborn children
Date Rape
Don't like Trump
Don't like Obama
Save the Whales
VA hospital wait times
Animal rights
...

People pay money to watch games. They do not pay money to watch preachy scolds make them uncomfortable.

Protests only work if they're at least somewhat disruptive to the status quo.  And, really, white people's discomfort is exactly the fucking point.  So sorry you're uncomfortable.  At least people with your skin color aren't being disproportionately targeted, assaulted, and killed by the authorities for no real reason.

For as much as you masturbate to philosophy, sometimes you don't really think.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Burning the flag is not burning the freedom ...it's exalting it.

"But honey, I had to beat you because I love you so much."

Not at all apt. The difference is that someone burning the flag is not, you know, hurting you. Nor is it criminal.

You're equivocating assault and free speech.

Well, the whole point of a protest is to discomfit the complacent, now isn't it?

Again, time, place and context are important. Would they have done these antics on 9/12/01? No, because for at least a short time, it became crystal clear that it meant something to be American. And we were proud of it. It's not about what we are now, or were long ago, no country is perfect or has a spotless history, but rather what we aspire to be. America, is not and never will be a utopia. And that simple fact is not enough to make it right or proper for every yahoo and ingrate air their pet grievances during displays and rituals of national unity. The list of grievances could be endless such as:

Foreign policy in Syria
The disproportionate suicide rates of white men.
The Holocaust of innocent unborn children
Date Rape
Don't like Trump
Don't like Obama
Save the Whales
VA hospital wait times
Animal rights
...

People pay money to watch games. They do not pay money to watch preachy scolds make them uncomfortable.

Then take your money elsewhere. That's a perfectly valid expression of your own opinions, as is standing hand-over-heart during the same anthem. The opinion espoused doesn't really color my view on the fact that it is expressed legally. So long as the latter condition is met, I am fine with those expressions. Indeed, in this forum I've said that the protesters in Charlottesville too have every right to march peaceably under a swastika flag. That sure discomfited folks as well ... why didn't you take me to task there? I mean, the people went to the park to relax or <snicker> get a history lesson.

This is no different. If you don't like the protest of the players, there's a simple solution: don't watch it. Go get your nachos ready and settle in for the kickoff. Post on Facebook how you're getting ready to watch the game. Or go on social media and complain about those uppity players offending your eyes for 90 seconds of pregame activity. Don't buy the tickets. Express your view in a legal, nonviolent manner.

Trump expressed his own views, too, and that's cool. It doesn't mean he should be exempt from pushback, either.

You have the right to free speech. You don't have the right to be free of offense.

[Losty]

I'm so sad that a stance against inequality and racism makes people uncomfortable. I think people are so complacent with it that they deserve to feel uncomfortable. In any case, no one is forced to pay to watch the games.

[Silver]

But they're forking over their cash, so they expect those in charge to make certain everything is always in accordance with what the "customer wants".

Screw that.

[TheBeardedDude]

But they're forking over their cash, so they expect those in charge to make certain everything is always in accordance with what the "customer wants".

Screw that.

"The customer is always right."

As someone who used to work retail, that's straight-up bogus. 

Now as someone who teaches college courses, I can safely say that it sometimes seems to be more often the opposite.

[Silver]

"The customer is always right."

As someone who used to work retail, that's straight-up bogus. 

Now as someone who teaches college courses, I can safely say that it sometimes seems to be more often the opposite.

Attitudes have certainly changed since I was younger and posting about my disgruntled opinion against the obviously false claim of "the customer is always right".

Now, more and more people are realizing that allowing that statement its power has brought about negative threatment of employees that employers support by siding with the customers.