What is the controversy surrounding #takeaknee

[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.