45 advocates forced ritual in NFL...

[Minimalist]

Why were rich corporate scumbags getting taxpayer subsidies in the first place?  My guess is you are fine with corporate welfare as long as they use your flag for jerkoff material.

[John V]

I guess you missed my earlier post where I said NFL owners are "about the greediest bastards on earth."

[Jackalope]

As a veteran, I fully support the rights of anyone to participate or not in these organized "patriotic" rituals. The backlash against this is fucking stupid. Reverence for flags and anthems is not what patriotism is about patriotism is about doing what is right for the people of your country, and that includes dissent and peaceful civil disobedience when the government gets it wrong.

Patriotism isn't "my country right or wrong", government, policy, or gratuitous displays of jingoism.

The very idea of a mandatory "patriotic" ritual, including forcing kids or anyone else to recite an oath of allegiance is utterly anathema to the ideals that this country was founded on.

[John V]

As a veteran, I fully support the rights of anyone to participate or not in these organized "patriotic" rituals.

I agree with you there. People have the right to be assholes if they want.

The backlash against this is fucking stupid.

That's ridiculous. It's being done because they know it's inflammatory and will generate headlines. They want backlash in order to generate awareness. The big problem with that approach is that, now that they have the attention, they don't have much in the way of solid proposals to talk about.

[Minimalist]

I guess you missed my earlier post where I said NFL owners are "about the greediest bastards on earth."

No, the WLB is the greediest bastard on earth....but they are all part of the same club.


BTW, I don't watch football because I can't stand the greedy owners or the childish antics of the players.  I gave up on it about 15 years ago.  That, however, has nothing to do with their right to protest, however they fucking want to, cops gunning down unarmed blacks because they have a broken tail light.

Do make some effort to understand that at least.

[John V]

BTW, I don't watch football because I can't stand the greedy owners or the childish antics of the players.  I gave up on it about 15 years ago.  That, however, has nothing to do with their right to protest, however they fucking want to, cops gunning down unarmed blacks because they have a broken tail light.

Do make some effort to understand that at least.

Apparently you missed above where I agreed they have the right to do so. Well, as long as their employers are OK with it, which they are for now.

OTOH, people have the right to call them assholes for somehow equating the national anthem/flag with a minority of police officers.

[Minimalist]

This is not about "other people."  This is about the motherfucking WLB.

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/9/...=emaildkre

Donald Trump is actually tweeting about the NFL because they kicked his ass—twice

Donald Trump doesn’t care about the National Anthem. He doesn’t care about the flag. The man who railed against Gold Star families, sneered at Prisoners of War, and developed the world’s most convenient set of bone spurs doesn’t give one damn about the red, white and blue—he prefers gold. What’s really driving Trump’s rally speech, press event, and 15 tweet (and counting) attack on NFL protesters is something else entirely.

[Jackalope]

As a veteran, I fully support the rights of anyone to participate or not in these organized "patriotic" rituals.

I agree with you there. People have the right to be assholes if they want.

Oh, I agree completely, and expecting conformity to jingoistic rituals is definitely assholery.

Doubt that's what you meant, thought.

The backlash against this is fucking stupid.

That's ridiculous. It's being done because they know it's inflammatory and will generate headlines. They want backlash in order to generate awareness. The big problem with that approach is that, now that they have the attention, they don't have much in the way of solid proposals to talk about.

What precisely would constitute a "solid proposal"? Do you have any idea what these people are protesting?

[John V]

What precisely would constitute a "solid proposal"?  Do you have any idea what these people are protesting?

Originally it was police shootings of blacks. Solid proposals could include civilian oversight boards or increased hiring of blacks as police.

It's kind of pointless to protest for change if you can't articulate specific changes you're looking for. Duh...less racism isn't very effective.

[Amarok]

So people should only protest if they have "Solid Proposals" Then you must have hated the tea parties.