What is the controversy surrounding #takeaknee

[henryp]

That's a bit of an Airplane! quality literal take.  Flag symbolizes America.  America treats black people poorly.  So he doesn't stand for flag.

It seems so straightforward and justified.  I don't see why anyone would complicate such a direct and strong statement.

Responding to this would just be me repeating myself. You oversimplify it, just like Trump and conservative pundits do.

I agree with what Kaepernick said.

I think the left is being a bunch of wishy washy pussies trying to make it a friendlier more palatable message so their spineless progressive base can muster up the courage to support it.  And the right is disingenuously framing it in a way so their white people can be pissed at the black guy, with no interest in addressing Kap's intent. 

And the right is going to win, because rather than standing behind what Kaepernick said which they should just unequivocally support, the left sounds like they are trying to make excuses for Kaepernick which just comes across as condescending and does a disservice to the point he was making.

I think you're all full of shit.

[TheBeardedDude]

Responding to this would just be me repeating myself. You oversimplify it, just like Trump and conservative pundits do.

I agree with what Kaepernick said.

I think the left is being a bunch of wishy washy pussies trying to make it a friendlier more palatable message so their spineless progressive base can muster up the courage to support it.  And the right is disingenuously framing it in a way so their white people can be pissed at the black guy, with no interest in addressing Kap's intent. 

And the right is going to win, because rather than standing behind what Kaepernick said which they should just unequivocally support, the left sounds like they are trying to make excuses for Kaepernick which just comes across as condescending and does a disservice to the point he was making.

I think you're all full of shit.

Reading comprehension isn't your strong suite, is it?

[Minimalist]

Maybe they should protest in front of City Hall or a Police station

That's when the fucking cops shoot them, or is that what you want?

Poor whiddle white 'Murrica.  They just can't stand to see some damn niggers upsetting their mom and apple pie agenda at a football game.

Meanwhile the fucking cops keep shooting.

[henryp]

People like all my family and friends (most EMS and Military) are saying the flag itself is being disrespected and getting all hot and bothered over that. I've tried explaining that the national anthem is racist in itself but they scoff at me. I have also tried to explain the kneeling thing but they don't want to hear that either. You are correct in that we wear and disrespect the flag everyday but they take no notice of that.

It's just narrowmindedness.  "This is how I see things, and I will project that onto everyone else."

This notion that we are all Americans is somehow unifying is bullshit.  We share a geographical closeness, but we might as well be living on different planets.  The country is too big and too diverse for it to matter.  How we experience America is so varied, it seems foolish we're all calling it the same thing.

---

[edit]
I've tried explaining that the national anthem is racist in itself but they scoff at me. 
[edit]

 To say it's the flag or the anthem is deflecting the original purpose/motivation. 

He literally called out the flag and the country.  And he was 100% right to.  Why are people trying to change what he said?  The flag represents America.  America is shit to black people.  So fuck America, and by the transitive property fuck the flag.  Do you not agree with that sentiment?  


“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,”  “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

[mlmooney89]

Not saying that I agree or disagree but can you explain to me how the national anthem is racist? (skoff, skoff, hehehe)

My take, Kap wanted to make a protest and wanted publicity. What other time than during the national anthem would his protest be noticed during a pro football game? What other action could he take during the game that would get noticed? Throw a game? Walk off the field? If he waned to protest during a game this was probably the best action he could take. To say it's the flag or the anthem is deflecting the original purpose/motivation. 

It did look kinda hinky when he just sat in the beginning. Just another player not realizing or caring that the anthem was being played. That had happened hundreds of times prior to Kap.  

The protest, I'm fine with it. The outrage is over blown love it or leave it bullshit. Knowing america's attention span the outrage will all be over within a relatively short time unless dip shits keep fueling the fire.

Here is the whole poem.

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O say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light,  
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?  
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,  
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming;  
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;  
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave  
O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave?  
 
On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,  
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,  
As it fitfully blows, now conceals, now discloses?  
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,  
In full glory reflected now shines on the stream;  
‘Tis the star-spangled banner; O long may it wave
O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!  
 
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore  
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion  
A home and a country should leave us no more?  
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave,  
From the terror of flight and the gloom of the grave;  
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave  
O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!  
 
O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation!  
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n-rescued land,  
Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation.  
Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just.  
And this be our motto— “In God is our trust; "
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave  
O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.

---

Just because we picked out the best parts and ignored the bad part is no different than cherry picking the bible in my eyes.

This link explains in more depth the meaning to the lyrics.
https://www.theroot.com/star-spangled-bi...1790855893

[downbeatplumb]

I don't live in united states but I've noticed there's been a lot of controversy surrounding this. As far as I know rugby players that are against racism is kneeling down before the game as a sign of protest. I saw a video of us president donald trump calling the protestors sob's, what's up with that? Why is there a lot of controversy surrounding this, why are people angry?

The thing is Trumps lawyer Paul Mannaforts house was forcibly entered to remove documents incriminating to Trump so this is all one big "don't look there, look there"

[Foxaèr]

He literally called out the flag and the country.  And he was 100% right to.  Why are people trying to change what he said?  The flag represents America.  America is shit to black people.  So fuck America, and by the transitive property fuck the flag.  Do you not agree with that sentiment?  


“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,”  “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

Yes, we get it. You hate black people.

[Losty]

I don't live in united states but I've noticed there's been a lot of controversy surrounding this. As far as I know rugby players that are against racism is kneeling down before the game as a sign of protest. I saw a video of us president donald trump calling the protestors sob's, what's up with that? Why is there a lot of controversy surrounding this, why are people angry?

Stand for the anthem, kneel for the cross. Murica. Disrespecting the flag (gulps from flag beer that violates the proper way to use a flag)

[TheBeardedDude]

I don't live in united states but I've noticed there's been a lot of controversy surrounding this. As far as I know rugby players that are against racism is kneeling down before the game as a sign of protest. I saw a video of us president donald trump calling the protestors sob's, what's up with that? Why is there a lot of controversy surrounding this, why are people angry?

Stand for the anthem, kneel for the cross. Murica. Disrespecting the flag (gulps from flag beer that violates the proper way to use a flag)

Yep, the hypocrisy of actually going against the guidelines for how to respectfully display the flag (all of the flag paraphernalia as well as displaying flags horizontally or displaying damaged flags or displaying a flag and allowing it to touch the ground, etc) while simultaneously criticizing someone for doing something that isn't actually in the guidelines (it is not considered disrespectful to kneel during the national anthem when addressing the flag), is about as good an example of "pot calling the kettle black" as one could ever hope to find.

Let's see if the link below goes to the tweets I want to reference that highlight this:
https://twitter.com/koopa_kinte/status/9...64?lang=en

[LastPoet]

Stand for the anthem, kneel for the cross. Murica. Disrespecting the flag (gulps from flag beer that violates the proper way to use a flag)

Yep, the hypocrisy of actually going against the guidelines for how to respectfully display the flag (all of the flag paraphernalia as well as displaying flags horizontally or displaying damaged flags or displaying a flag and allowing it to touch the ground, etc) while simultaneously criticizing someone for doing something that isn't actually in the guidelines (it is not considered disrespectful to kneel during the national anthem when addressing the flag), is about as good an example of "pot calling the kettle black" as one could ever hope to find.

Let's see if the link below goes to the tweets I want to reference that highlight this:
https://twitter.com/koopa_kinte/status/9...64?lang=en

I can understand if they putted out their dicks and started pissing that might be construed as disrespectfull, apart from lewdness. bending the knee doesn't sound disrespectfull at all. In a sentimental way its kinda more respectfull in my humble opinion. what's the deal?