In regards to the anthem protests and the NFL's new policy

[Mister Agenda]

The players used to stay inside while the anthem was played and ran out on the field after. Then the Pentagon started paying the NFL to have the players out for the anthem to make the teams appear more patriotic (maybe 1990-ish IIRC).

[Angrboda]

There was talk on the NFL channel that any punishment doled out for violating this rule would have to be basically insignificant lest it run afoul of provisions in the player's agreement against unreasonable punitive actions. So it's not clear that this rule actually has any teeth.

[Amarok]

I find this whole controversy kind of ridiculous. The idea that Right Wingers the very people who will whine about being obligated to do this or that .Will throw a hissy fit when people shirk there forced obligations .

[I_am_not_mafia]

People who take a knee are still acknowledging the racist song.  I can see it getting to the point where people simply sit on their butts while it's being played.

I don't understand why they don't do that already. They should be sitting round chatting to each other. Kneeling is still quite respectful and people are loosing their shit over it. What is it with America and the perception of the anthem, the flag and the constitution as something holy that is blasphemous to disrespect? I blame making children say the pledge of allegiance every day at school.

Americans need to learn to shit on their flag in public. Because at the moment it's a tool of the right to enslave them. People need to be free to criticise their own country and what it actually stands for if there is any chance of making it better.

So much for freedom of speech.

[Fake Messiah]

Same assholes didn't like this protest either

[Mister Agenda]

People who take a knee are still acknowledging the racist song.  I can see it getting to the point where people simply sit on their butts while it's being played.

I don't understand why they don't do that already. They should be sitting round chatting to each other. Kneeling is still quite respectful and people are loosing their shit over it. What is it with America and the perception of the anthem, the flag and the constitution as something holy that is blasphemous to disrespect? I blame making children say the pledge of allegiance every day at school.

Americans need to learn to shit on their flag in public. Because at the moment it's a tool of the right to enslave them. People need to be free to criticise their own country and what it actually stands for if there is any chance of making it better.

So much for freedom of speech.

Sitting apparently doesn't draw the same attention. So many in the crowd sit it out themselves, I reckon.

[FatAndFaithless]

How fragile is one's national pride that the mere thought of someone kneeling to draw attention to an issue in society sends them into a frothing tantrum? Not to mention the millions of people sitting at home, or in the stadium toilets, or at the concession stand, or poking around on their phones in the crowd.

Drawing attention to a problem in your country with the hopes of improving it is what I would call the definition of patriotism. Nevermind the fact that the players will simply find other ways to protest, or the creepy fusion between football and the military and the bizarre cultural idea that the flag = the military.

[I_am_not_mafia]

I don't understand why they don't do that already. They should be sitting round chatting to each other. Kneeling is still quite respectful and people are loosing their shit over it. What is it with America and the perception of the anthem, the flag and the constitution as something holy that is blasphemous to disrespect? I blame making children say the pledge of allegiance every day at school.

Americans need to learn to shit on their flag in public. Because at the moment it's a tool of the right to enslave them. People need to be free to criticise their own country and what it actually stands for if there is any chance of making it better.

So much for freedom of speech.

Sitting apparently doesn't draw the same attention. So many in the crowd sit it out themselves, I reckon.

How about standing on their head then with their legs apart forming a sort of pyramid?

[Crossless2.0]

Sitting apparently doesn't draw the same attention. So many in the crowd sit it out themselves, I reckon.

How about standing on their head then with their legs apart forming a sort of pyramid?

Then they'll be Freemasons or some other imaginary agents of the New World Order. The lunatic Right will always find something to bitch about.

I say scrap the whole damned thing. My patriotism begins and ends with the Constitution and the rule of law. These public exhibitions of "patriotism" are juvenile at best. Real patriots don't need to be reminded of their commitments every fucking time someone is about to kick or throw a ball in this country.

[Wyrd of Gawd]

The national anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance are complex issues. I prefer "America the Beautiful" as the national anthem instead of the racist "Star Bangled Banner" that was inflicted on the country because of the effort of the racist Woodrow Wilson and his henchmen.

The Pledge of Allegiance was cooked up by a socialist defrocked Baptist minister. When it started the ideas expressed in it were about at the 10% range in American consciousness. Today it's about 75%. So about a century of constant brainwashing has convinced a majority of Americans that everyone deserves liberty and justice for all and that we are one nation. That should be a good thing.

If you think that playing the national anthem at every sporting event is a good idea then it should be played at the start of every tv show and movie and in every government building across the country at the start of the day. And the Pledge of Allegiance should have to be recited by all in every courtroom at the start of a trial.