jammer wrote:
No, I don't want this to be a big deal so let's get that straight. I want people to move on and let football be the Sunday escape it should be.
Part of me still blames you for the Jets for not respecting the rivalry. I want this to die fast and am afraid you're being a trendsetter here. (I'm teasing you.)
But now this is in the political forum so the gloves can come off, though I don't see us as having a contentious debate but a reasonable argument. (unlike some of the other arguments going on in the thread.)
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But over the last 8+ years people seem to be digging in with their political divides and getting far more vocal/angry.
There is always been deep political divide in the country and in one respect that is good. It forces us to debate and reach a compromise instead making a sweeping change that initially looks right but proves devastating to the country. It also ensure that the minority voices are heard.
But you're right I believe. Nowadays people simply don't stop and listen to the opinions theirs oppose. They don't educate themselves on positions. It's like yes this it the first opinion I thought of and I'm right. I don't have to listen to yours. And that's just stupid.
You and I may be arguing, but I went and looked at things you brought up. I'd rather be wrong and take the right action, then the opposite. (I can see that you looked hard as well, your not simply espousing your opinion and I respect that.) That used to be something that was part of the American DNA, and what confused the crap out of our enemies. Churchill had a great quote on us that I think encapsulates us perfectly: You can count on the Americans to get it right, after they've tried three other things that were just wrong. I don't see that as an insult, but a compliment that makes me proud. We want to say we're great, and we can be, after we're honest with ourselves and say we need to do better.
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The players want to highlight what they perceive to be an ignored injustice, but no one is even discussing it. The focus is now on disrespecting the flag. They injected politics into the event rather than using their star power in other venues to get a message across. This has been handled poorly from the start.
This is what drives me crazy about this. It's fine (for the original issue) if you want to protest and this is the stage you want to use. You need the controversy to get the public's attention. But now that you have it, why are you not using it? Why are you not explaining the problem to us and giving us suggestions on how to fix it? Why didn't CKAP make a public announcement and say I'll retire from football if the president will create a special council to look at the issue, which I'll head. I'll organize my fellow players and we'll go into those communities and try to provide the leadership (which I think has to be Afro-American) they so desperately need. The players that believe in this issue could donate a game check to that council.
As for the fans protesting the protest I have one question: Do you stand at home while watching the game for the anthem? If you didn't, sit down and shut up. You're a hypocrite.
But no, you're right, we just had to turn it into a debate about disrespecting the Flag. Which really scares me. When did the flag or our leaders become symbols that demand our blind loyalty? They tried that in Germany and it didn't work out so well.
The flag started out with 13 stars and grew to 50 and that's symbolic of what it really stands for. It's a collection of principles and ideas that we hold dear, and those develop and adjust for the times because we as Americans can and must always do better. To be an American IMO means that yes you look at that flag with pride, but you recognize that it means you have to do better. You have not only the right but the duty to question the principles and ideas it stands for, and our leaders. You don't pledge allegiance to it blindly.
But while you have the right to protest that flag, you better not do it unless you have a good reason because it stands for all those things. It's not toilet paper. You don't kneel for the anthem because your girlfriend thought it was a good idea...sigh
Now I fear the conversation is going to turn into a racial issue. While it might seem alarmist (and it does to me) are we in danger of making our flag a symbol of oppression?
That's why I feel this is colossal exercise in stupidity. More than you wanted, right? I'll stop now. LOL